Botswana can be divided into several tourist regions. These regions are not the official districts. They include: the Okavango Delta and its surroundings, the Chobe region, the Tuli region, the Makgadikgadi Pans, central Kalahari, the south and west of the Kalahari, and eastern Botswana.
Tourism is, after diamonds, the most important source of national revenue. Botswana is one of the African countries with the highest number of national parks, including the largest, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which is as big as Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands combined.
The Okavango Delta and Its Surroundings
This entire region in the northwest, formerly known as Ngamiland, is dominated by the Okavango Delta: the world’s largest inland delta, about the size of Brittany. It is also the most famous area in Botswana. The Okavango Delta region is home to the greatest diversity of wildlife in Botswana (apart from elephants) and lush vegetation.
The Chobe Region
Another interesting region: The Chobe Region is the smallest tourist region in Botswana, but one of the most well-known. It features a unique geographical quadripoint where Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana meet, formed by the riverbeds of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers. This region has the highest concentration of elephants in Botswana. The town of Kazungula, on the banks of the Zambezi, plays a key role in the region’s development, as trucks traveling between Zimbabwe and Zambia often detour through Botswana to refuel.
The Tuli Region
This small region, located in the Central District, is the ideal place to observe animals in peace. Few people know about it, so tourism remains limited compared to other regions. It is here that two rivers converge to form the border with Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Shashe River forms the border with Zimbabwe and flows into the Limpopo River, which forms the border with South Africa.
The Makgadikgadi Pans
The third-largest salt pans in the world are filled with rainwater during the southern summer, which evaporates in winter—a seemingly strange phenomenon. Thousands of years ago, these pans stretched from the Zambezi River to the Orange River in South Africa/Namibia, covering an area roughly the size of France, Belgium, and Switzerland combined. Tourism in this region is still relatively unknown.
Central Kalahari
This is where the geographical center of Botswana is located. Here, you’ll find the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, an area as large as the Benelux countries. With places like Deception Valley, endless pans, and the Sunday Hills, the Kalahari showcases its most beautiful treasures.
South and West Kalahari
The most notable spots are the two national parks: the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Mabuasehube Game Reserve. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park extends beyond Botswana’s borders into South Africa and Namibia. It is home to numerous pans.
Eastern Botswana
Last but not least. In eastern Botswana, there are many places unknown to most foreign tourists. Most visitors are Botswanans from major cities like Francistown, Gaborone, Mahalapye, or Selebi-Pikwe, the capital of this region. The Solomon’s Wall and the Tuli Circle in Zimbabwe are also worth visiting when exploring eastern Botswana.
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