Botswana: Africa's Best Wildlife Safari Destination

Botswana is renowned as the best destination in Africa’s for a wildlife safari. Although a landlocked nation, Botswana has been attracting tourists from all across the world in recent years.

The abundant wildlife and tourists attractions on offer in Botswana has made the country one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Southern Africa region.

Botswana is the land of the Big Five –  African Elephant, Rhinoceros, Lion, Leopard and the Cape Buffalo. Besides the abundant wildlife, 70 percent of Botswana’s territory is covered by the famous Kalahari Desert. Sandwiched between South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, the country has become a popular tourist destination – both regionally and internationally.

Best Wildlife Safari in Africa

In 2019, Botswana won the coveted title for the ‘Best Country for Safaris in Africa” for the second year running. The ranking, carried out by Safaribookings,com, considered and analyzed more than 4,000 reviews of safaris across Africa before deciding on a winner.

The famous Okavango Delta is undoubtedly one of Botswana;s main tourist attractions. A vast inland river delta located in the in northern half of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is known for its sprawling grassy plains with an abundance of wildlife. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region where dugout canoes are used to navigate past hippos, elephants and crocodiles. An overland safari in the the region brings you face-to-face with a variety of wildlife including lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos.

But, the Kalahari Desert, which is spread over 900,000 square kilometres, is also a major attraction for tourists. The Kalahari is home to desert wildlife such as meerkat, bat-eared foxes, cape fox and brown hyenas. All three African big cats can be found here – cheetah, leopard and the famous black-maned Kalahari lions.

The country has the largest population of elephants in the world, having more than 130,000 of them. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are now just 415,000 African elephants left in the world.

In Botswana, tourism is a key contributor to job creation, with the sector employing more than 90,000 people. In the northern areas, tourism provides 32% of jobs. It’s also a fundamental contributor to skills transfer and the development of new competencies. Few industries in the world cover the range of skills that are required in tourism.

Tourism also brings in massive resources to the country, with more than US$2 billion being poured into the Botswana’s economy every year. For every guest that comes into the country, staff are hired, and food and beverages are purchased from local suppliers, adding to their own revenue.

Tourism lies at the centre of Botswana’s future development, also creating opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises that can help to drive economic growth. Importantly, in addition to economic activity and direct employment for locals, tourism creates a sense of pride in communities, encouraging the preservation of natural resources, historic locations, and traditional cultural activities. It is vital that we, as a country, keep our focus on bolstering the long-term sustainability and profitability of our tourism market.