Get the top tourist attractions in Botswana for both wildlife and cultural Botswana safaris. Botswana is considered not only one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations, but also one of the most remarkable wilderness areas on earth.
Botswana is a country like no other as a safari destination, with vast protected areas, pristine landscapes and a wide variety of wildlife.
You will get top tourist attractions in Botswana in southern and eastern parts of Botswana are made up of the stunning Kalahari Desert and the moon-like deserts of Nusay and Makgadikgadi.
Meanwhile, to the north and west stretches the dazzling water world of the Okavangohi delta and the Chobe River ecosystem.
Some top tourist attractions in Botswana offer topographic diversity with endless variety of activities, attractions and explorations.
Whether it’s your first trip to Botswana or your tenth, there’s always something unique and exciting to experience when visiting one of Africa’s most extraordinary safari destinations. Here are the top 17 attractions in Botswana to visit on your Botswana safari tour.
Top Tourist Attractions in Botswana for Wildlife
Okavango Delta
Starting the list of our top tourist attractions in Botswana is Okavango delta. One of the largest inland deltas, the Okavango Delta’s vast and largely pristine freshwater wetlands are considered one of the most important natural areas in the world.
This delta is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of his seven natural wonders of Africa in 2013.
This delta stretches from 6 to 15,000 square kilometers in the Kalahari Desert of northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River.
The Okavango River cuts through the heart of the Kalahari Desert, forming a unique inland water system that supports a wide variety of bird and wildlife life, forming the dynamic ecosystem of the Okavango Delta.
Unlike most deltas, the Okavango River flows into open land and floods the savannah, creating a unique ever-changing inland delta.
The Okavango Delta is subject to seasonal flooding, flooding more than 16,000 square kilometers (6,175 square miles) of the delta each year. The main flood season in the delta occurs from May to October (the water level is highest from June to August).
The delta’s main flood season coincides with the dry season in Botswana, coinciding with the mass migration of lowland game animals from the arid hinterland. During the Okavango Delta’s dry season, an estimated 260,000 mammals congregate around the delta area for pristine wildlife viewing and encounters.
This delta is home to world-famous predatory animals and is also known as an excellent birding area, home to approximately 530 species of birds. Along with full-scale African safaris, Mokoro through the Okavango Delta is his one of the best activities in Botswana.
Mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe used to navigate and explore the waterways and canals of the Okavango Delta.
A Mokoro trip across the delta is not only a unique safari experience that should be on your to-do list, but it also gives you the chance to see and explore hidden gems, secret places, rare sights and little things you don’t want to miss increase with a traditional game drive.
Chobe National Park
Also in the list of the top tourist attractions in Botswana is the famous Chobe National Park contains four distinct ecosystems. Chobe National Park is home to over 120,000 African elephants and is one of the best places on earth to observe these giant mammals in their natural habitat.
The best time to enjoy the spectacular sights of these gentle giants inhabiting the African scrublands is between May and September, during his cool winter (dry season) in Botswana, when they roam the banks of the Chobe River and crowd gathers.
The pristine nature of Chobe National Park is not only home to the world’s largest African elephant, but also a large number of buffaloes and an amazing variety of wildlife and birds. The Sabti Wetlands in particular have one of the highest levels of wildlife in Africa all year round.
Chobe National Park is also home to popular and endangered African wild dogs, jackals, leopards, and a variety of predators, to name a few. The Sabti region of Chobe National Park is known for its fierce clashes of lions and hyenas, as well as the region where mighty pride takes down Africa’s biggest game animals such as buffalo, giraffes and even elephants.
Chobe National Park is self-driveable, making it the perfect park for road trips and African wildlife adventures. Day trips are also easily accessible from Zimbabwe and Zambia. A wide range of accommodation options are also available.
Turiblock
Turibrok which borders South Africa and Zimbabwe at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, is a beautiful and game-rich region in eastern Botswana.
Dramatic rocky landscapes, towering baobab trees and dense riverside forests make this a delightful corner of Botswana unlike any other.
Turi Street was once an area of private farms, but decades ago the land was transformed into a well-managed nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary.
The Turi Mining Area now includes several reserves, including the Mashatu Game Reserve and the North Turi Game Reserve, one of the largest civil game reserves in Southern Africa.
Turi is among the top tourist attractions in Botswana because it not only does Turi Coupon offer animal and nature lovers a special safari experience in Africa, the abundance of wildlife with guaranteed spectacular sights all year round is also one of Turi Coupe’s greatest attractions.
There are large herds of elephants, different types of antelopes, many lions, leopards, wildebeests and even cheetahs. With at least 350 species recorded.
Tullibloc is also one of the bird watching hotspots of southern Africa. As it is privately owned, visitors to the Turi Township can enjoy exciting guided walking safaris and night drives. There are also some great luxury lodges and camps where you can stay.
Makgadikgadi
Making it to top tourist attractions in Botswana is Makgadikgadi Salt Flats. This is one of the world’s largest salt pans, Makgadikgadi was once his 10,000-square-kilometer lake in northeastern Botswana.
The cracked and arid Makgadikgadi Salt Fields may not seem like a habitat for a lot of wildlife, but visitors to this unique part of Botswana will be pleasantly surprised.
In summer, Makgadikgadi’s remote drylands come to life in lush grasslands, attracting a wide variety of wildlife such as springboks, wildebeests and zebras, followed by lions and cheetahs.
Shallow water begins to flow past the seemingly endless pot, attracting thousands of flamingos. For him, one of the biggest highlights of visiting the Makgadikgadi Salt Fields during the wet season in Botswana is being able to observe the largest migration of zebras in southern Africa from the Boteti River.
During the annual zebra migration, visitors have the opportunity to see thousands of zebras migrating through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi and Nsaipan National Parks. The annual zebra migration is his second largest wildlife migration in Africa.
Tsodilo Hill
The Tsodilo Hills is undoubtedly he one of the top tourist attractions in Botswana. The Tsodilo Hills were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and are known for their religious significance. They consist of rock paintings, shelters, depressions and caves.
Tsodilo Hills, also known as an outdoor spiritual art gallery, displays over, 000 ancient Sanghi Bushman rock paintings, and more than ,500 of his cave paintings can be found on the grounds.
There are also around 100 locations where you can see hunting scenes, ritual dances and typical safari animals. Some rock carvings are said to date him to over 20,000 years old, and archaeologists have determined that the area was inhabited by him up to 100,000 years ago.
Sambushman also believed that this sacred area was the place of the first creation of mankind and where the spirits of the dead rest.
When visiting the Tsodilo Hills of Botswana, you can expect him to hike the three main hills with the help of a local guide (especially if you want to experience a full exploration of the Tsodilo Hills). There is a simple campground and a small but informative museum on site.
Nusaipan National Park
Technically, Nsai Pan is part of the Makgadikgadi Salt Fields, created as an extension to expand the protected area. Nusaipan also make it to the top tourist attractions in Botswana.
It is home to the spectacular and popular wilderness and safari destination, Nusaipan National Park.
Magnificent views and expansive landscapes, including stunning sand dunes, towering baobab trees, and of course the salt pans themselves, are one of the main attractions of the region, but Nusai Pan and Nusai Pan National Park have much to offer.
During Botswana’s wet season (November to April), the lake bed is beautifully lush and home to an incredible variety of wildlife that roams the area.
When flooded, this pot also makes a great opportunity for birdwatching and wildlife watching. Another highlight of the rainy season is the annual zebra migration.
Thousands of zebras migrate through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi and Nsaipan National Parks. The Serengeti and Masai Mara migrations are the most famous and largest land migrations in the world, but the Botswana zebra migration is actually the longest migration in Africa and the second largest animal migration.
Although Nsaipan and Nsai Pain National Parks are open to tourists and nature lovers all year round, the best time to visit this majestic part of Botswana is arguably the rainy season (wet season – November to April).
In addition to the annual zebra migration, visitors at this time of year can spot large herds and a variety of wildlife including lions, giraffes, kudus, springboks, impalas, wildebeests, ostriches, jackals and bat-eared foxes are more likely to be seen here.
Here are just a few of the wildlife highlights. Not to mention the incredible variety of bird species you will encounter. Nusaipan National Park is located in the northeastern part of Botswana, so it can easily be combined with a trip to the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park that lies within the park.
Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve cannot miss in the top tourist attractions in Botswana. It is also known as the Moremi Wildlife Sanctuary, occupies one third of Botswana’s Okavango Delta and borders the Chobe National Park.
This is a small reserve with a high density and diversity of African wildlife. This makes the Moremi Game Reserve undoubtedly one of Botswana’s top tourist attractions for nature lovers.
Known for its exceptional and abundant wildlife, the private property adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve and Okavango provides the perfect setting for observing endangered wild dogs and other rare wildlife species in their natural habitat.
These rare species include the black-maned Kalahari lion, the sitatunga antelope, the puku and red lechwe antelope, the brown hyena, the African skimmer, and the aardvark.
Moremi Game Reserve is also considered one of the best sanctuaries to see the famous Big 5 of Africa (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo) due to the recent reintroduction of black and white rhinos to the area.
It is if you’re an avid bird lover, you’ll be delighted to find that the birdlife at the Moremi Game Reserve is truly unparalleled with over 500 species. The best time to visit this stunning part of Botswana is between July and October.
Combining a Botswana safari with a traditional Mokoro he water ride is the best and most unique way to see the rich wildlife of the Moremi Game Reserve.
Kalahari Transfrontier Park
With dunes, salt pans and a wide variety of wildlife, the Kalahari Border Park is one of the best parks to visit in Botswana during the wet summer months (November to April) and therefore one of the top tourist attractions in Botswana
The Kalahari Border Park is considered one of the largest parks in Botswana, with an estimated area of 38,000 square kilometers / 1, 670 square miles.
Its size is largely due to the fact that it encompasses two of his previously separate parks: South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park.
You won’t find all of Africa’s Big 5 here, but the migratory herds of wildebeest and other antelopes attract large numbers of predators and birds of prey and are quite spectacular.
The Kalahari Frontier Park Reserve has no fences, allowing wildlife to follow ancient migration routes. If you are an avid adventurer and nature lover and want to experience the remote adventures of Africa, a visit to the Kalahari Border Park should definitely be on your safari list.
Accessing the Kalahari Border Park is not easy, especially from the Botswana side. A WD and the ability to camp independently are required if you want to explore and experience this majestic wilderness of Botswana.
Kalahari Desert
This three Kalahari parks in Botswana, namely Nusaipan National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Makgadikgadipan National Park, are very different from the popular image of sandy wasteland that many expect.
Instead, the Kalahari has beautiful forested grasslands, seasonally flooded lakes and amazing wildlife hence one of the top tourist attractions in Botswana.
The Kalahari Desert and its vibrant landscapes are so different from the popular destinations of Botswana that they are ideal destinations for experienced travelers seeking a unique and authentic African safari experience.
In addition to classic Kalahari wildlife such as zebras, wildebeests, oryx, eland, springboks and giraffes, his three famous Kalahari parks in Botswana are known for their high levels of predator activity.
When visiting the Kalahari Desert, nature lovers may come across Kalahari black-maned lions, cheetahs, black-backed jackals, brown and spotted hyenas, leopards, and rare and endangered wild dogs.
Kalahari safari also offers the chance to see some of Africa’s smaller and rarer animals such as wildcats, porcupines, aardwolves, meerkats and honey badgers.
The birdlife of the Kalahari Desert is surprisingly exceptional, especially during Botswana’s wet summer months from December to April.
Avid birdwatchers will enjoy spectacular sightings of flamingos, snake eagles, Steller’s sea eagles, bunting pelicans and Steller’s sea owls.
Kama Sai Sanctuary
Established in 1992, the Kama Rhino Sanctuary aims to save Botswana’s endangered rhinos from extinction hence part of the top tourist attractions in Botswana. It aims to reintroduce wildlife into the region so that communities can benefit from tourism.
To this day, the Kama Sai Sanctuary plays a key role in conserving one of the world’s most endangered species. The rhino sanctuary has white and black rhinos.
In addition to rhinos, the reserve is home to several endangered and rare species, as well as a wide variety of wildlife, including the popular wild dog, caracal, aardvark, leopard, cheetah and elephant.
Located about 25 km outside Serowe, the, 300-hectare reserve is closely monitored by the Botswana Defense Forces to ensure the rhinos are always protected.
The reserve is centered on Serwe Pan, a large grassy depression with several natural water holes in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana.
If you’re driving to Botswana’s Northern Game Reserve, we recommend stopping at the Kama Sai Sanctuary to see these stunning endangered species firsthand. Within the park, you can also enjoy guided walking safaris, game drives or rhino trails on foot.
Gweta
Gweta mainly serves as a stopover for tourists heading to Muang and Kasane, but true to its name, it is well worth a visit to see the bullfrog species native to the area thus makes to the list of top tourist attractions in Botswana
Frogs hide in the sand until rain wakes them from their sand sleep. There’s little to see in Gweta other than these amazing creatures, but the petrol stations here are easy to navigate, so you’ll likely stop by at some point during your stay.
Sabti
Sabti is one of Botswana’s most popular safari destinations due to its prime location in the corner of Chobe National Park.
Thanks to the river, some of the most popular and impressive animals (with the exception of rhinos) visit the area all year round and among the top tourist attractions in Botswana.
The landscape here is wide and somewhat barren, but it was once a huge lake that filled a ditch in northern Botswana. The area has many luxury lodges for travelers who want to spend their money on the best. There are also great motor campgrounds in the area.
Jwanen
Built atop one of the richest diamond mines in the world, the name Jwaneng literally means ‘place of small stones’. But these small stones are much more valuable than your average pebble.
In just one year, the mine has produced over 13 million carats from a staggering 10.5 million tonnes of ore value. There are plenty of facilities such as inns and restaurants in the town. The mines here also support the nearby Jwana Game Park, which was recently settled by two white rhinos.
Francistown
Francistown It is the oldest city in Botswana and his second largest city in the country. Francistown was founded in gold mining before the Europeans came and tried to profit themselves from gold mining.
In fact, the name of the city is of British origin. Daniel Francis. His one of the city’s most important attractions is the Spangwhao Museum, which documents the life and culture of the Kalanga people through various exhibits.
There is also a sanctuary for orphaned wildlife called Bird and Hunting Botswana. The city is now experiencing economic growth thanks to the recent resurgence of gold mining.
Gabane
Not far from Gaborone, this village is a great place to explore the hills on foot. The village is surprisingly busy and home to many small manufacturing plants, including glassworks, metal and pottery workshops that live up to the name Peregano Village Industry.
The Gabane pottery factory, which sells items such as tableware, vases, and other handcrafted ornaments, is especially worth a visit. But the most popular reason to visit this village is that it is a great place for hiking.
Kasane
Kasane is located between the four corners of Africa. Where Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia meet. It is the perfect place to visit Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls or Botswana’s Chobe National Park.
Among the city’s attractions are the giant baobab trees, which were once used as prisons because their trunks are big enough for a human to fit inside and makes it one of the top tourist attractions in Botswana.
There is also a snake park with about 50 snakes of 17 species. Kasane is also perfectly located for exploring the Chobe River.
Maun
Maun is often used by tourists as a stepping stone to the Okavango Delta, but there are enough places to warrant a stay for a few nights.
The hotels, restaurants and tourist facilities here are among the best in the country, mainly because the city is the largest tourist attraction in the country.
The town itself doesn’t have much to offer, but it attracts a wide range of people, from luxury safaris to volunteers. There are several riverside campsites perfect for a few nights stay.
Gaborone
Gaborone is the largest city and capital of Botswana. Gaborone’s modern buildings in this African country’s tropical backdrop are a rare sight, and despite its size, there aren’t many reasons to visit the city.
The large residential area has several good hotels and restaurants. The city’s modern flair is heightened by its lack of history, but it certainly paves the way for the country’s future, making it the perfect place to experience what Botswana feels like in the 21st century.
This are just but a few of the top tourist attractions in Botswana which those on Botswana safari tour can venture onto.