Botswana

Botswana has some of the most extensive and unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa, and the Okavango Delta is one of the world's most spectacular wetlands. Landlocked, a little larger than France, and with an average elevation of about 1 000m, much of Botswana is semi-deseert - the wide plains of the Kalahari extend over two-thirds of the country, opening out to form a massive delta of almost 15 000 km².

The Okavango Delta is a complex series of channels, lagoons, floodplains and islands, entirely surrounded and flowing over the Kalahari sands. The area is alive with wildlife and to explore it by dugout canoe is one of the best ways to experience its beauty and tranquility.

Many of Botswana's national parks and game reserves, including Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park are world renowned. Here some of the largest herds in southern Africa roam free and wild. Here too, visitors delight to some of the continent's most spectacular and varied birdlife.

A wide variety of fish are to be found here. The main fishing season in Botswana is between September and April and the best areas are the Okavango Delta and on the Chobe River.

Botswana is famed for its basketry, wood carvings and Bushmen craft. Visitors are afforded many opportunities to purchase unusual and attractive mementoes of a visit to this exciting country.