Week 2: Botswana DAY 1-4: OKAVANGO DELTA The Okavango is one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders, continually shifting shape and scale with the seasons. The delta is crisscrossed with streams, oxbow lakes and wetlands that draw prides of lions, herds of wildebeest and families of elephants — not to mention hundreds of species of birds, whirling around the heads of log-like crocodiles. Setting out on a guided mokoro (traditional
dugout canoe) safari is one of the best ways travelers can immerse themselves in the environment, and feel the land move and breathe. Visiting in the dry season — May to October — is great for optimal wildlife viewing and unblemished sunshine. The rainy season — November to April — sees the landscape burst into verdant life and offers better rates.
DAY 5-7: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK Chobe became Botswana’s first national park in 1968 and continues to draw visitors to its deep emerald forests, biodiverse wetlands and wide-open savanna. The full constellation of southern Africa’s
wildlife appears here, with elephants shining brightest. Tens of thousands wander through the grasslands and bush, including rarely glimpsed infants tottering around the legs of their giant parents. Packs of African wild dogs and prides of lions stalk wary herds of grazing antelope and zebra, while hippos and crocodiles cruise the waterways.