Wildlife in Botswana
Botswana represents wilderness on a grand scale. From the water-rich expanses of the Okavango Delta in the north to the arid emptiness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, wildlife is in its natural element.
The sheer range of Botswana’s ecosystems translates into a correspondingly wide range of animals. Huge herds of buffalo and elephant roam across the north, revelling in the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta, and out to the Chobe, Kwando and Linyanti rivers.
Further south, on the great salt pans of Makgadikgadi and Nxai, zebra congregate in their thousands during the rains, in a migratory pattern that remains far from understood.
Water-dependent antelope such as waterbuck and red lechwe thrive in the wetlands of the north; springbok and oryx seek out the arid grasslands of the pans and the CKGR.
Of the predators, lion are omnipresent, the availability of prey influencing the size of the pride. Cheetah, too, are at home across the region, though arguably more common in drier areas where competition for prey is less fierce. More specific, leopard favour riverine woodlands; wild dog the open savannah.
Great wildlife safaris to Botswana
The possibilities are endless; here are just a handful of ideas for great safaris in Botswana.
Wild Dog Safari
13 days • 5 locations
KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
An in-depth discovery of northern Botswana’s wilderness, from Chobe and the private Kwando Reserve to the Moremi and iconic Okavango Delta with a great variety of activities and wildlife.
US$12,230 - US$21,930 per person
Porcupine Safari
11 days • 4 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Visit dramatically contrasting landscapes boasting a variety of species during this exploration of Botswana’s top-safari destinations. A combination of national parks and private reserves allows for a range of activities.
US$10,710 - US$16,860 per person
Spring Hare Safari
9 days • 3 locations
KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
An authentic and diverse safari to Botswana combining the Chobe Forest Reserve, Savuti Marshes and the Okavango Delta. Strong wildlife viewing, a variety of activities and excellent value camps.
US$7,290 - US$13,320 per person
Large-spotted Genet Safari
9 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
A luxury safari exploring the Okavango Delta and Linyanti–Savuti, two of the best wildlife viewing areas in Botswana, staying at three top camps renowned for their guiding for a first-class experience.
US$10,930 - US$23,640 per person
Red Lechwe Safari
9 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Superb guiding from three fabulous camps full of character in three contrasting areas for a fabulous safari to the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert.
US$10,800 - US$28,240 per person
Steenbok Safari
9 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
A classic Botswana safari exploring the Moremi, Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. Excellent wildlife viewing and a variety of activities from three of our favourite traditional tented camps.
US$7,260 - US$13,480 per person
Pangolin Safari
8 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Three relaxed, local feeling camps in pristine settings – the Kwando Reserve and Okavango Delta. Guided by a driver and tracker at each, this a great trip for spotting Botswana’s top predators.
US$7,760 - US$16,190 per person
Bushbuck Safari
8 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Discover three of Botswana’s best game-viewing regions with stays in the private Linyanti, Chitabe and Vumbura reserves. Intimate, smart camps offer a range of activities by which to discover these stunningly varied habitats.
US$13,570 - US$31,740 per person
Reedbuck Safari
8 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Focussing on the Okavango Delta and combining the crème de la crème of Botswana’s camps – Zarafa, Vumbura Plains and Mombo – this is one of the finest safari experiences in Africa.
US$18,160 - US$36,280 per person
Tsessebe Safari
7 days • 3 locations
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT
Visit three sister-camps in and around Moremi Game Reserve during this thorough exploration of the Okavango Delta. A range of activities provide excellent opportunity to observe the local birdlife, mammals and fauna.
US$7,790 - US$11,820 per person
Botswana's top camps for wildlife safaris
Click on the dots on the map to show the sightings from that lodges or camps for the species selected. It's based on 8240 reports by 954 groups of our our travellers since May 2018.
Best chances to see
Good chances to see
Some sightings
No sightings yet
Lion
90%
Quick facts about Lion
Scientific name:
Panthera leo
Habitat:
Savanna & woodland
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
120–225kg
Leopard
64%
Quick facts about Leopard
Scientific name:
Panthera pardus
Habitat:
Savanna, woodland, forest, mountains
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
30–90kg
Cheetah
40%
Quick facts about Cheetah
Scientific name:
Acinonyx jubatus
Habitat:
Grassland & woodland
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
50–70kg
Wild dog
52%
Quick facts about Wild dog
Scientific name:
Lycaon pictus
Habitat:
Savannah & woodland
IUCN status:
Endangered
Adult weight:
20–36kg
Spotted Hyena
59%
Quick facts about Spotted Hyena
Scientific name:
Crocuta crocuta
Habitat:
Semi-desert, forest, savannah
IUCN status:
Least Concern
Adult weight:
40–80kg
Brown Hyena
16%
Quick facts about Brown Hyena
Scientific name:
Parahyaena brunnea
Habitat:
Semi-desert & savannah
IUCN status:
Near Threatened
Adult weight:
37–43kg
Meerkat
55%
Quick facts about Meerkat
Scientific name:
Suricata suricatta
Habitat:
Semi-arid desert
IUCN Status:
Least Concern
Weight:
650g
Elephant
96%
Quick facts about Elephant
Scientific name:
Loxodonta africana
Habitat:
Woodland and savanna
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
2,500–6,500kg
Buffalo
84%
Quick facts about Buffalo
Scientific name:
Syncerus caffer
Habitat:
Floodplains, mixed bush & moist grasslands
IUCN status:
Near-threatened
Adult weight:
500–950kg
Giraffe
95%
Quick facts about Giraffe
Scientific name:
Giraffa camelopardalis
Habitat:
Woodland savanna
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
800–1,200kg
Hippo
96%
Quick facts about Hippo
Scientific name:
Hippopotamus amphibius
Habitat:
Freshwater rivers & wetlands
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
1,300–2,600kg
Black Rhino
1%
Quick facts about Black Rhino
Scientific name:
Diceros bicornis
Habitat:
Scrub & open woodland
IUCN status:
Critically Endangered
Adult weight:
800–1,400kg
White Rhino
8%
Quick facts about White Rhino
Scientific name:
Ceratotherium simum
Habitat:
Woodland savannah
IUCN status:
Near Threatened
Adult weight:
1,800–2,700kg
Oryx
57%
Quick facts about Oryx
Scientific name:
Oryx beisa and Oryx gazella
Habitat:
Arid savannah
IUCN status:
Endangered (O.b) /Least Concern (O.g)
Adult weight:
120–210kg (O.b) /180–240kg (O.g)
Eland
27%
Quick facts about Eland
Scientific name:
Taurotragus oryx
Habitat:
Open savanna & grasslands
IUCN status:
Least concern
Adult weight:
340–940kg
Roan antelope
32%
Quick facts about Roan antelope
Scientific name:
Hippotragus equinus
Habitat:
Savannah woodland
IUCN status:
Least Concern
Adult weight:
180–300kg
Sable antelope
37%
Quick facts about Sable antelope
Scientific name:
Hippotragus niger
Habitat:
Savannah woodland
IUCN status:
Least Concern
Adult weight:
220–235kg
Sitatunga
19%
Quick facts about Sitatunga
Scientific name:
Tragelaphus spekeii
Habitat:
Swamps and swamp forest
IUCN status:
Least Concern
Adult weight:
24–119kg
Wildebeest
87%
Quick facts about Wildebeest
Scientific name:
Connochaetes sp.
Habitat:
Open savannah & grasslands
IUCN status:
Least concern
Adult weight:
250–290kg
Zebra
95%
Quick facts about Zebra
Scientific name:
Equus quagga
Habitat:
Woodland and savannah
IUCN status:
Near Threatened
Adult weight:
155–322kg
Pangolin
2%
Quick facts about Pangolin
Scientific name:
Smutsia temminkii
Habitat:
Savannah woodland
IUCN status:
Vulnerable
Adult weight:
5–27kg
Aardvark
3%
Quick facts about Aardvark
Scientific name:
Orycteropus afer
Habitat:
Grassland & woodland
IUCN status:
Least Concern
Adult weight:
60–80kg
Some Botswana wildlife highlights
Wildlife proliferates in northern Botswana’s vast areas of pristine wilderness.
Botswana: Africa’s sanctuary for beleaguered wildlife
Botswana is home to around a third of African elephants, along with a similar proportion of wild dogs. It also provides refuge for a small but slowly growing population of both black and white rhino. The key is a combination of factors, among them are the vast unfenced spaces and plenty of permanent water – and genuine government backing for wildlife, with tough legislation and serious enforcement.
An estimated 130,000 elephants live in Botswana. As migratory creatures, they tend to break up into smaller groups during the rainy season, returning to areas of permanent rivers when water sources elsewhere dry up.
For the endangered wild dog, whose population has probably slipped below 1,500 mature adults, Botswana represents a last stronghold. Strictly territorial, the dogs hunt in packs, each covering an area of 400km2 or more – for which the Okavango Delta is ideal.
Other top destinations for wildlife
To understand more about the the wildlife in our other key destinations in Africa, click on the countries below.
