With its breathtaking wilderness and biodiversity, Botswana ranks as one of the best travel destinations in Africa-- especially for those interested in wildlife viewing and outdoor activities.  Botswana is home to the mighty Kalahari Desert, the rich Okavango Delta, and the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Pan, which is one of the largest salt flats in the world.

Botswana has some of the best locations for Big Game safaris and has more elephants than any other country in the world.  Life in Botswana revolves around the rain, and the months of November to April are called the â??green seasonâ? due to the abundance of greenery and baby animals flourishing from the life-giving rains.

Here are some of the best things to see and do when visiting Botswana:

Chobe National Park

The first national park of Botswana, Chobe National Park is one of the best destinations for a true African safari experience.  There are several wildlife-watching areas within the park, with a diverse abundance of wildlife including buffalo, giraffes, and exotic birds.

Linyanti Wetlands
Situated in the far reaches of Chobe National Park, the Linyanti Wetlands are home to large concentrations of lions, elephants, and birds, as well as wild dogs, Nile crocodiles, and much more.  The best time to visit the wetlands is during the drier months of July to October.

Moremi Wildlife Reserve
The Moremi Wildlife Reserve is situated in the fertile Okavango Delta and its diverse range of habitats make it ideal for going on safari.  Here you will easily see the â??Big Fiveâ? game, which includes elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, buffalo, and leopards. The Moremi Wildlife Reserve is full of other African wildlife including warthogs, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, exotic birds and rare antelope.  The Okavango Delta is also a great place to rent a canoe and take in the amazing surroundings only found on the African continent.

Nxai Pan & Makgadikgadi Pan
Surrounded by the Kalahari desert, these large salt flats are fossilized lake beds, giving them the perfect conditions for riding quad bikes/ATVs during the dry season.

Central Kalahari Desert
Witness the longest land migration in Africa with the zebra migration that takes place from December to April each year, as thousands of zebras travel north through the Kalahari to the Makgadikgadi Pans during the rainy season.

Gcwihaba Caverns
The remote Gewihaba Caverns located in the dunes of the Kalahari Desert are an elaborate cave system featuring formations of massive stalactites, stalagmites, and dripstones.  The Gcwihaba Caverns are exceptional for their natural beauty and unique in that they occur in a desert environment.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Tour

Not everything in Botswana involves big game safaris-- fans of the popular Alexander McCall Smith series The No. 1 Ladiesâ?? Detective Agency will appreciate this tour in the capital, Gaborone, where the series takes place.

Tsodilo Hills
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tsodilo Hills consists of more than 400 sites and over 4,500 rock paintings, some of which date back more than 20,000 years.