Okavango Delta

The second largest game park in Botswana, Chobe comprises four regions; the river floodplains and teak forest, the Savute marshes, the Linyanti swamp, and the dry hinterland. Chobe is especially well known for its immense elephant population, counting more than 70,000, and it is not uncommon to encounter herds in excess of a hundred members at a time. The Chobe River forms the northern border of the park, and makes for excellent game-viewing by boat. There are a number of game lodges, hotels and camps in the Chobe area and at Kasane, the main town in northern Botswana, which has an airport and good road network. Close to the Zimbabwean border, Victoria Falls lies barely an hour's drive away.

Website : www.chobenationalpark.co.za

The Makgadikgadi Pans are located in the north-east of the country and are among the largest salt flats on earth, covering 6,200 square miles (16,000km²) of the Kalahari basin. During the annual rains, the pans become a source of fresh water and grass for migratory wildlife, especially the massive wildebeest and zebra herds that move through the area. Self-drive visitors are advised to use only four wheel drive vehicles as the terrain can be testing. A good map and a GPS system are also essential, as getting lost in the desert can be disastrous. Also, as a general rule, it is advised that visitors drive in the tracks of other vehicles and keep to the edge of the pan.

Address : About 200 miles (322km) south-east of the Okavango Delta.

Moremi, about 37 miles (60km) from Maun, is a 1,160 square mile (3,000 sq km) reserve in the middle of the Okavango Delta, in one of the world's most pristine wilderness areas. Accessible by air or road from Maun, self-driving is recommended for experienced four-wheel-drive enthusiasts in the dry months. Alternatively visitors can join safari packages from the reserve's luxury lodges. A wonderful way to see the delights of the Delta is on a mokoro (a dug-out canoe), which is poled through the waterways by experienced guides. Stay in unfenced camps and experience nature at its purest in the heart of Africa.

Website : www.botswanatourism.co.bw/destination/moremi-game-reserve

To the west of the Okavango Delta area, about 33 miles (53km) from the town of Shakawe, is a mysterious site shrouded in myth, legend and spiritual significance for the local San people, who have inhabited the area for 35,000 years or more. The Tsodilo Hills are believed by the San to be the site of first Creation. The area is festooned with thousands of rock paintings representing a variety of scenes, some of which date back to 1,300 AD. Several trails lead to more than 350 rock painting sites. The area is remote, with no shops or accommodation facilities, but it is possible to camp and draw from borehole water.

Website : www.botswanatourism.co.bw/destination/tsodilo-hills