I returned with as many memories as an ordinary tourist can save with African elephants.. Of course, Botswana played the leading role in the formation of this situation, as you probably guessed.. What kind of country is it, why did it affect me so much, what are the reasons for being shown as the number one safari destination in Africa? I tried to convey some information that may be needed by those who are considering travel planning, together with their answers, under the name of Botswana Travel Notes.

• General Information About Botswana

• Botswana and Elephants

• Transportation and Visa to Botswana

• Transportation and Road in Botswana Status

• Police Control

• Currency

• Accommodation

• Weather and Best Time to Travel

• What to Pack in the Suitcase?

• Things to Know

Botswana Travel Notes

General Information About Botswana / Botswana Travel Notes

Botswana, which is located in the south of the African continent and has no ocean coast, was one of the poorest countries in the world before it gained its independence from Britain – not so much, 50 years ago. Today, it has become one of the most developed countries of the continent with an admirable policy and economic management.. How did that happen? The British did not feel the need to invest in this hot and arid country, where there is nothing that can be benefited from on the ground and where contagious diseases are rampant. saying. That’s why they missed a blessing that lies under the land of the country: Diamond! Botswana, which discovered its diamond deposits when it gained independence, is now the world’s largest diamond producer after Russia and Canada.. Considering its area and the ratio of the output, it is number one.

Diamond production is the country’s main source of income.. There is so much money coming from this sector that they don’t care much about the money that will come from tourism.. Therefore, the more the wilderness in tourism-dependent East African countries has begun to degenerate, the more protected it is in Botswana.. Due to the presence of the Kalahari Desert, which covers a large part of the country’s land, agriculture is not practiced much, but animal husbandry has an important place.. The meat industry, which is developed enough to export meat even to Europe, is the second largest in the country.. major source of income.

Botswana and Elephants

Botswana has the highest elephant population in Africa – some sources even say the world – country of possession. Although the exact number is not known, it is estimated that the country is home to around 130,000 African elephants.. Although most of the elephants are around the Chobe River, there is a possibility that you will encounter elephants at any time, anywhere, since the natural life is protected until the end.

Well, the reason behind the high elephant population in Botswana is just that. Is it natural life being protected and hunting prohibited? unfortunately the answer is no. After gaining its independence, Botswana, which has never experienced civil war and terrorism, unlike neighboring countries, is one of the most peaceful and safe regions in Africa.. “What does this have to do with elephants?” you might think. We are not aware of it, but wars are a phenomenon that negatively affects animals in the wild.. Elephants, which should have migrated to other countries by crossing the Chobe River under normal conditions, stopped migrating due to the civil war in Angola and the struggle for independence in Namibia.. In addition to the damage they received during the war, these animals, which became a target for target practice by independent organizations, chose to live as refugees in Botswana in order to survive.. Today, as the waters calm down in Angola and Namibia, some of them have started to migrate again, but some of them have a fresh memory.

Transport and Visa to Botswana / Botswana Travel Notes

One of the most frequently asked questions by those who want to go to Botswana from Turkey is “How to get there?” is coming. As I mentioned in my previous African articles, we entered Namibia by road and left Zimbabwe, since we had an Overland safari that included 4 countries.. You may not be able to make a plan that lasts that long, but as many tourists do, you may want to include one of the largest waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, in your program when you come to Botswana.. That’s why you have the option to choose your transfer point as Livingstone or Victoria Falls.

The airport in Maun is not the largest in Botswana, but the busiest.. This is the point with the highest number of international flights.. Therefore, it would be logical to choose this place as your departure or arrival destination.. You can use Johannesburg, Cape Town or Doha as a transit point.

“How to get a Botswana visa?” If you say, you can get a visa without paying any fee when you enter the country, but I could not figure out how many days it can be obtained.. We filled out a small form at the entrance and wrote the number of days we will stay.. We were going to stay for 5 days, they gave a 7-day visa.

“HOW TO ARRANGE THE OVERLAND SAFARI TOUR IN AFRICA?” CLICK TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Transportation and Road Conditions in Botswana

Settlements in Botswana, which is mostly covered by the Kalahari Desert, are mostly concentrated around wetlands. case. To get from one place to another, you have to go around the desert.. Although Botswana is very developed economically, it is still a country where life continues in the countryside and modern opportunities are limited.. This situation is also reflected in transportation.. Although the roads between cities are asphalt, they are asphalted, but they are so neglected that there are huge holes all over them.. High probability of crashing the car while driving at speed. “If you put a giraffe in a hole in Botswana’s roads, only its head will show.”

Unlike Namibia, I can’t say I’ve come across many solo travelers in Botswana.. Is not there? Sure, but not common.. In general, the great majority was moving in tours.. Even if you do not participate in the tour, it would be healthy to do the activities you would do in the wild with a guide in a country that is so intertwined with wildlife.. Let me not pass without mentioning that the traffic is flowing from the left.

Police Control

This is the first time I am opening such a topic because I am traveling between cities in Botswana. It would be a miracle if you didn’t pass the police check.. I talked about the importance of the meat industry in Botswana.. There are some rules taken in this context; For example, it is strictly forbidden to bring meat from outside into the country.. (Except chicken! Because chicken is not considered meat for an African :)) Likewise, it is forbidden to carry meat from one region to another without permission in the country.. That’s why there are always police checkpoints on the roadside, they can stop cars and search inside.. In addition, during these controls, you get on a liquid-filled boat and disinfect your shoes against the risk of spreading epidemics.. Routine check-ups, not something to worry about. If there are shoes and slippers around in the vehicle, they may ask you to disinfect them, keep in mind.

Currency

The currency of Botswana, Pula, is today the South African Rand even more valuable than. Although Pula is used throughout the country, you can also use South African Rand or Namibian Dollars with a commission in places such as markets and hotels.. Currency exchange in city centers is not as comfortable as we are used to.. Hard to find currency exchange anywhere. In some regions, you have to exchange currency at banks.. Remember to have your passport with you when you exchange currency.

Accommodation

As you can stay in luxury hotels in Botswana, especially around Chobe National Park You can also set up a tent in the heart of nature.. One of the details that made this trip unforgettable for us was our accommodation preferences.. We either set up tents or stayed in ready-made tents, both because it was economical and because we wanted a trip in harmony with nature.. If you want to collect unique memories such as being stranded among a herd of elephants, going to the toilet at night for fear of encountering a hippopotamus, experiencing life without electricity and water, rather than seeing animals from afar, my advice is to stay in a tent.

As for where we stay. ..I don’t mind using the word “legend” for Pepere Island in the Okavango Delta. This is a camping area in the middle of the delta, in the lap of nature, with ready-made tents, where there is no settlement, only accessible by boat.. You can come and stay here through Swamp Stop Camping. This island, like the other islands in Okavango, is in the Big Five region.. Apart from the boat tour during transportation, you can get on the Mokoro and cross to other islands, join nature walks or go bird watching.. I couldn’t find out the price because we were visiting as part of the tour.

Our other point was the starting point of Makgadikgadi salt flats.. There are no facilities here, so we set up our tent in the middle of nowhere.. A place where you can lay down your sleeping bag without even having to set up a tent in suitable weather conditions.. I have to admit that it is a different comfort to come and sleep in a place where there are not even insects here.

Our last stop was the Drifters Lodge in Maun.. It is called “Lodge”, but there are also ready-made tents here.. There is also a suitable area for those who come with their own tent.. Facilities such as bar, wi-fi, resturant are available. 10€ per person for those who come with their own tent. Bed and breakfast price is 60€ per person. Click here to review lodge alternatives in the region.

Weather and Best Time to Travel

“Botswana’ what time do you go?” In order to give a clear answer to the question, it is important to decide what you expect from the trip.. If you are planning a safari-focused trip, you should choose the dry season when the rainfall is the lowest and animals congregate in the wetlands.. However, this varies according to the regions you will be on safari.. For example, while there are no animals in the Makgadikgadi salt flats in the dry season, the number of animals increases in the rainy season.. Botswana is a country that is home to many bird species.. If you are more into bird watching, you may need to choose the rainy season.

The peak season for a safari-focused trip is August-September. Especially September, a time when Okavango and Chobe are boiling elephants.. We were in Botswana at the very end of August-early September.. Although it was winter for the Southern Hemisphere, the weather was extremely hot.. Another advantage of going during this period is that there are few flies due to drought and reptiles rarely appear due to hibernation.. Despite this, a Black Mamba snake was seen at the campsite in Maun, even though we did not expect it.

What to Put in the Suitcase?

* The spikes in the evening you must wear long clothes to protect against flies. Temperatures are generally high in Botswana, except in the Kalahari Desert.. For this reason, it is useful to have something long and thin that will not make you sweat.

* Insect & fly repellent lotion and sunscreen are a must.

* If you are going to take a nature walk -in Botswana It is the number one activity you can do – you need to wear clothes that are in harmony with nature. You can choose green, cream color, brown and yellow tones.. White, pink and red are among the colors you should not wear.

* Even if you are going to stay in a tent or lodge, having a headlamp can be very useful in the evenings.. The lighting event is not as extensive as we are used to.. It is important to pay attention to where you step in Botswana.

CLICK TO READ THE ARTICLE “BAG PREPARATION FOR SAFARI IN AFRICA”.

Things to Know

* When you take a lunch break by the roadside, a lot of people may gather around you.. Most of them watch you from afar without even coming near you, and when you’re done, they continue their work from where they left off.. But there is such an event Don’t forget to share your meal if they come close enough to chat.

* Botswana’s mother tongue is Setswana, but the official language is English. That’s why most people speak very good English. There’s also a language they call “Click”, used by the San Bushmen tribe.. They get along by making strange noises from the mouth.. Other locals may also know. If you have the opportunity, you can ask someone who knows to talk because it is very interesting.

* This warning is for those who want to travel with their own vehicle… An elephant may come across you in the most unlikely place.. You should not approach him for reasons such as loving or taking pictures.. If he gets angry and tries to run towards you, you shouldn’t run, even if you’re Usain Bolt, you can’t. a country you must protect against. Before you go, you need to stop by the Travel Health Center and get detailed information.

“WHERE TO GET TRAVEL VACCINATIONS?” CLICK TO READ THE ARTICLE.

I think there is a city or country that every traveler places in a special place in his life.. For me this country became Botswana. In addition to being greatly influenced by its untouched natural life, it also plays an important role in shaping my new itineraries.

If you like “Botswana Travel Notes: Free Elephants and Beyond…”, safari in Africa click to read the articles about. To be updated about other articles, you can subscribe to the e-mail group by filling out the form at the bottom of the page or follow my social media accounts.

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