18 Best Things to Do in Botswana

The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most remarkable natural landscapes—a vast inland delta where the Okavango River meets the sands of the Kalahari Desert, creating a rich habitat for wildlife. One of the most immersive ways to explore it is by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe used by local guides. Unlike motorized safaris, a mokoro ride offers a quiet, slow-paced journey through narrow waterways lined with papyrus, where you may spot birds, frogs, or even a hippo, all without disturbing the environment.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area focused on rhino conservation, offering a safari experience that’s less commercial and more intentional, and an opportunity to see both black and white rhinos in Botswana. In addition to rhinos, the sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife and birds and can be explored through self-drives or guided tours.

Many of Botswana’s lodges are built with sustainability in mind, offering comfortable stays while minimizing environmental impact. These lodges often support local communities and conservation projects and are typically located in remote, wildlife-rich areas.

Eco-friendly accommodations often feel more peaceful, more rooted in nature, and more intentional in how they operate, and nowadays, there is no need to compromise. Many of these lodges offer incredibly high-end amenities.

Nxai Pan is a national park, part of the ancient salt flats that once formed a giant prehistoric lake, and it’s known for its massive open pans, iconic baobab trees, and seasonal wildlife migrations. The Baines Baobabs are a group of seven monumental baobab trees named after British explorer and painter Thomas Baines, who painted them in 1862. The surrounding salt pans and grasslands make the area ideal for photography and wildlife viewing, especially during the rainy season.

Maun isn’t just a gateway to the Okavango Delta—it’s also a great place to explore Botswana’s local flavors. Join a guided food tour or craft your own by sampling street food favorites like vetkoek (fried dough filled with savory meats), seswaa (slow-cooked beef), and pap (maize porridge). It’s a delicious way to connect with locals before heading into the wild.

Camping in the white world of Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is otherworldly—vast, silent, and magnificently starlit. Fall asleep by a crackling campfire, wake up among meerkats dancing on salt, and follow paths once tread by San hunters and migrating wildlife.

Botswana’s vibrant capital gets overshadowed by its wilderness, but Gaborone is worth a morning or two. Visit the bustling Kgale Hill, the thought-provoking National Museum, and local craft markets for fresh perspectives on urban life.

From a micro-plane or helicopter, the Okavango Delta transforms into a shimmering mosaic of channels, islands, and wildlife. It’s the only way to fully appreciate the scale and magic of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

While it’s technically two tripoints rather than a true four‑way meeting, the Kazungula bridge region is the closest thing Africa has to a true quadripoint, where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana borders converge along the Zambezi River. From a riverboat, you can float through “no-man’s land,” chatting about being in four countries simultaneously.