How to best experience the culture in Botswana
Look hard and there are some fascinating cultural experiences in Botswana.
One of the most interesting groups for outsiders to visit are the scattered groups of hunter-gatherer people that we would refer to as Bushmen, or the San.
The San lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, with a culture that's very different from most other African tribal groups. Several camps offer fantastic Bushmen walks, with authentic San trackers, happy to share their wealth of knowledge about the bush with you. It's a great opportunity to get a real insight into the zoology, geology and anthropology of the places they call home.
If you want more, then ask us about a luxury mobile safari that enables you to spend much more time with bushmen and experience their culture and traditions, living near to them in their village.
Botswana's only World Heritage Site is well worth a visit. The Tsodilo Hills have one of the highest densities of Bushmen rock art in the world, dating back at least 100,000 years. This rocky outcrop, rising 1400m from the rolling plains of the Kalahari, is little visited, but is definitely worth the effort, once described as “The Louvre of the Desert”.
Best camps & lodges for Cultural experiences in Botswana
Karangoma
Karangoma has the local Bukakhwe San at its heart. The lodge is a genuine partnership with the San community and there are excellent opportunities to learn about their culture and lifestyle here, as well as the challenges of living alongside wildlife. At Karangoma, you can learn about how the ingenious measures being employed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and learn about the collective measures being taken to promote conservation in the area. It is also possible to fly-camp in the village for a night of your stay at Karangoma.
Khwai Lediba
Guests at Khwai Tented Camp who would like to experience a bit of Botswana culture may visit the nearby Khwai Village. This is an ordinary village, many of whose inhabitants are from the Bayei group, sometimes referred to as river Bushmen. A visit could well add a social perspective to your safari, but we stress that it's not a “tourist attraction”.
Nxamaseri Lodge
Botswana's first World Heritage Site, the Tsodilo Hills, are easily accessible from Nxamaseri Lodge, which offers guided and catered day trips here. Get a taste for this ancient culture, see the amazing density of historic San rock paintings and take in the stunning views.
Tsodilo Sleep-Out
Close to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Tsodilo Hills, with their wealth of ancient rock art, the Tsodilo Hills Sleep-out Camp offers visitors interested in Botswana’s culture the opportunity to immerse themselves in the traditional culture of the Bushman people.
Camp Kalahari
Camp Kalahari offers a fascinating and authentic walk with Bushmen, which we consider to be one of the best cultural experiences in Botswana. You'll go out with Bushmen guides, looking at the surrounding flora and fauna, and hearing about their traditional culture.
San Camp
Bushmen walks from San Camp offer a sensitive, authentic and really interesting experience. You'll learn about the vegetation, maybe dig up some roots and even taste some of them; it's an excellent introduction to some of the traditional culture of Botswana.
Jack's Camp
Jack's Camp offers an insightful and authentic walk with Bushmen. Going out with Bushmen guides, you'll learn about the flora and fauna integral to their lifestyle, and hear about their culture. We consider that this is one of the best such walks on offer.
Kalahari Plains Camp
As a result of Kalahari Plains’ partnership with local San Bushman, we strongly recommend the camp for traditional cultural experiences in Botswana. Guests gain a glimpse of how this fascinating culture has survived for centuries in harsh conditions.
Machaba Camp
Machaba can arrange excursions to meet local villagers, so you can see what life is like in this fairly remote corner of Africa. This takes time, but can be fascinating and always varies depending on what's happening in the village when you visit.
Feline Fields
Feline Fields is usually situated in a remote part of the northwestern Kalahari, where many of Botswana’s Bushmen live. This gives the lodge unprecedented access to the culturally significant areas of Xai Xai, Aha Hills and Gcwihaba Caves.
Cultural experiences elsewhere in Africa
Our top ideas and inspiration for Cultural experiences in other countries.
Where to see wildlife species in Botswana
Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.
Lion
Panthera leo
Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.
81% SUCCESS
3,459 sightings from 4,276 observations
Leopard
Panthera pardus
The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.
47% SUCCESS
2,234 sightings from 4,757 observations
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.
33% SUCCESS
1,188 sightings from 3,609 observations
Wild dog
Lycaon pictus
African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.
32% SUCCESS
1,005 sightings from 3,130 observations
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.
55% SUCCESS
2,473 sightings from 4,531 observations
Brown Hyena
Parahyaena brunnea
This largely solitary scavenger is one of the more elusive and little-known of Africa’s carnivores. Shaggier than its spotted cousin, it occurs only in the arid southwest of the continent.
16% SUCCESS
282 sightings from 1,778 observations
Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
These highly sociable little mammals have an endearing appearance and comical antics. Found in the drier areas of Southern Africa, close encounters are a sought-after experience.
20% SUCCESS
95 sightings from 470 observations
Elephant
Loxodonta africana
By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.
91% SUCCESS
4,180 sightings from 4,595 observations
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.
83% SUCCESS
2,925 sightings from 3,516 observations
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.
86% SUCCESS
4,030 sightings from 4,695 observations
Hippo
Hippopotamus amphibius
The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.
90% SUCCESS
3,046 sightings from 3,403 observations
Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.
30% SUCCESS
707 sightings from 2,332 observations
White Rhino
Ceratotherium simum
The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.
43% SUCCESS
569 sightings from 1,328 observations
Oryx
Oryx sp.
Oryx are impressive antelopes, with a powerful physique and elegant markings set off by rapier-like horns. They cut a distinctive dash in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.
70% SUCCESS
1,541 sightings from 2,207 observations
Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.
49% SUCCESS
1,651 sightings from 3,370 observations
Roan antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.
25% SUCCESS
581 sightings from 2,341 observations
Sable antelope
Hippotragus niger
Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.
24% SUCCESS
555 sightings from 2,357 observations
Sitatunga
Tragelaphus spekii
The sitatunga is the most aquatic of Africa’s antelopes and specially adapted to its swampy habitats. Though widespread across Africa, only a handful of places offer reliable sightings.
19% SUCCESS
70 sightings from 377 observations
Wildebeest
Connochaetes sp.
Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.
67% SUCCESS
2,820 sightings from 4,202 observations
Zebra
Equus sp.
The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.
84% SUCCESS
4,394 sightings from 5,228 observations
Pangolin
Smutsia sp.
Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.
2% SUCCESS
65 sightings from 3,804 observations
Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.
2% SUCCESS
81 sightings from 3,758 observations
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