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Holidays are about making the most of your time and taking a break from the routine. If you are looking for plenty of adventure and fun you can choose safari tours where you can get close to nature and explore wildlife like never before. Apart from watching the wildlife you also get the opportunity to learn more about the planet, geography, climate and even local cultures and traditions offering you a complete package.
While many countries in Africa offer you excellent safari packages and plans, Botswana is among the top destinations for most safari enthusiasts. As long as you have a reputed travel company taking care of your Botswana safari arrangements, you are in good hands.
However, you should have information that would help you make your trip to Botswana memorable and convenient.
Here are 9 tips that can help you make the most of your safari tour to Botswana.
Documentation and Paperwork
One of the key tips to make your Botswana trip convenient is that you focus on paperwork and documentation early. This is essential because you want to clear all the visa documentation required for your trip. Completing the paperwork would make things easier for you as you can focus on how you want to design your trip ahead. Also, getting through the documentation would help you move around the country without any restrictions.
Get the Timing Right
When you are planning a safari trip to Botswana you also want to focus on timing. This is because the weather conditions can seriously impact your safari holidays. If you are planning to explore Okavango Delta in Botswana you want to ensure that you come here during the dry season. This means that you need to visit Botswana from May to October months when the land is dry and you can find more animals and predators. You must also focus on knowing the weather while planning because it allows you to pack for the safari the right way. If you are into birds and want to find more migratory and resident birds you may also want to choose to visit from November to March when the air is clear. Hence, a lot depends on what activities you want to do and what weather you choose.
Choose What to Visit
It is difficult to explore all of Botswana’s attractions in a week or two. Hence, it is always a good idea to narrow down the places you want to cover. This is ideal to optimize your safari tour time. Knowing what places you want to cover will help you customize your itinerary. If there are specific activities you are interested in you can let the tour operators know about it and they can design the tour accordingly. The Chobe National Park is a great place to begin with, but you can also include a few game reserves like the Moremi Game Reserve and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for your safari tour. This would ensure that you can focus on activities that you want to do when you visit Botswana. Excellent wildlife sightings are one of the reasons why you should visit the Okavango Delta when you visit Botswana.
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Pace Your Trip
When you are planning a safari trip to Botswana you also want to focus on how you pace your trip. This can make a huge difference because you want to unwind and relax at the same time. Rushing through multiple places will only make things hard for you and your family. Hence, focus on doing two to three activities per day instead of covering more areas. You also want to ensure that you and your family get enough rest after game drive activities and walking tours. You will also need to plan all the activities to ensure that you can move around Botswana at the right pace and make the most of your time.
Know What You Pack
When you are heading to Botswana you also have to focus on what you pack for your safari trip. This is essential because you do not want to dump everything in your travel bag and make it heavier. Choose neutral-coloured clothing which allows you to blend with the surroundings and help you enjoy your game drives. If you are unsure what to pack for your Botswana safari tour you can make a list of essentials for your Africa safari tour. Additionally, you must also focus on luggage weight restrictions especially if you have to use short chartered flights within Botswana. Always carry small soft-sided baggage with you on the flight for essentials and items that you and your family may need quickly.
Stay Hydrated
Always make sure that you carry a water bottle which allows you to stay hydrated. You can buy bottled water which would ensure that you do not have to worry about the quality of the water. However, when you are heading for game drives and walking tours you want to focus on having the right amount of water. If you are heading to Botswana in the dry season the climate would be hot and humid and that means you need to replenish your body regularly.
Focus on Local Food
One of the best ways to explore Botswana’s culture and tradition is you try local food. This can make a huge difference to your safari trip experiences. Most camps would have chefs that would prepare meals and therefore you never have to worry about going hungry. On the other hand, if you are choosing luxury accommodations you can get a private chef who can cook delicious meals for you and the kids.
Hire a Local Guide
When you do not have enough time it is important to make the most of it. Hiring local guides is a nice way to encourage sustainable tourism and give back to the local community. However, it also allows you to save time because you have a local expert who can guide you on your tours and tell you what you should and should not do. These guides have relevant expertise and experience and can tell you facts, trivia and stories about local wildlife, culture, tradition and even geography. Listening to this information only adds to your safari experiences and helps you become better at wildlife.
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Stay Open and Flexible
Safari tours are sometimes more than just wildlife experiences. This is where you meet and interact with many locals and tour-related people. Hence, you need to be open about their culture and traditions. Also, it is likely that things might not go precisely the way you plan but you need to be ready to make quick changes and not worry much about it. Instead, you should take that as a learning experience for your upcoming wildlife tours and safari trips.
