Botswana Travel Guides for Backpackers
Cruising in Chobe National Park
A Low-Cost Safari Stretched upon the shores of the mighty Okavango River, Chobe National Park offers you exciting wildlife sightings: elephants, lions, buffalos, and if you're very lucky: leopards. So far the 'big five' specimens you might encounter. You'll also find plenty of hippos close to the river, and crocodiles sunbathing under the morning sun. Although Botswana is a rather expensive country according to many tourists, you can save a lot of money if you are willing to sleep in a tent and arrange safaris by yourself. The shores of the Okavango River THE OTHER SIDE Our trip to Chobe came rather unexpectedly. We just visited the Victoria Falls and were still lingering in the neighboring city of Livingstone – in the south of Zambia – when two Australian backpackers shared with us their knowledge of this park in Botswana. They promoted it as a cheap but exciting trip, which came to our surprise since, in our hotel (Jollyboys backpackers), tours in Chobe were advertised at $150 per person. Together with two Swedish friends we met on the road, we decided to give it a shot. Taking a shared taxi from Livingstone to the Motswana border (yes, “Motswana” is truly the adjective of “Botswana”) will cost you about $3.5, and Botswana has no visa fees! You enter the country by crossing a river on a ferry that can also transport one truck at the time. Hence, there is a waiting queue of up to six weeks if you want to cross the border with cargo. From the border to Kasane, the ideal operating base to visit Chobe National Park, you can take a taxi. Taxis in Botswana, or at least in the area around Kasane, are extremely cheap. The ten-kilometer drive to Kasane cost barely $2. We were dropped off at the 'Chobe Safari Lodge', an extremely luxurious resort with surprisingly cheap accommodation for backpackers. A night in the tented camp can be arranged for $10 per person – and you have still access to the swimming pool! In this camp, you can overlook the Okavango and already see a glimpse of Chobe. Wild animals such as warthogs and monkeys roam freely between the tents as if no one was there. Just next to the lodge, 4×4 cars can be rented at a rate of $75 per day. We picked up the car at 4 p.m. and agreed with the rental company to bring it back the next day at 6:00 p.m. Crossing the border between Zambia and Botswana CHEEKY MONKEYS AND EDGY ELEPHANTS The next morning, we got up early with the prospects of witnessing the sunrise within the national park. However, the park only opens at 6:00 a.m., so waiting at the entrance gate, we missed the birth of a new day. Nevertheless, this minor setback could not compromise the pleasure of self-driving a proper 4×4 in a park filled with ferocious animals.We started off on the road that guided us […]Maun:your stay at Old bridge backpackers
A Backpacker's home away from home A soothing, calm and peaceful place, Old Bridge BackPackers is one for the books.It is located in Maun, Botswana and it is one of mother nature's masterpiece to humankind and I am proud to be the one writing about it.Attracting everyone from around the world, being it a backpacker or a business man for a meeting, this place is a magnet for all the good that can be offered.Neither claimed by locals nor people of other countries, backpackers is that place where everyone feels foreign yet at home, does that make sense?it is its own little world, immediately when you enter its premises you are introduced to everything good and pure,you forget your troubles outside,oh!what a therapy it is.i have visited this place so many times, being it to catch up with friends,to go eat and drink around nature, for my birthday or just to come clear my thoughts and get my head right, I have always found myself there and I am always going to find myself there.A few kilometers from Maun shopping center this beauty is a gift you owe yourself.So, if you find yourself anywhere near Maun, be sure to come check it out. Very friendly people, from different countries, you are sure to see families with kids, couples, and friends, they cater for every group possible. Not many people during the day, they are always out and about, having their fun and experiencing exciting things but come evening, they are all like one big happy family, sitting around conversing, feasting and enjoying the breeze from the river. With The bar overlooking the river, a flowing breathtaking river which is surrounded by green vegetation, you won't be much homesick.A bonus fountain made of brownstones, with water from the fountain to the river back to the fountain and a small spring in between, the features of this place are overwhelmingly stunning, it is a beauty.With the pictures I added hopefully you will get a better view of BackPackers, I feel like am understating it, it is truly beautiful, the designs that went into it came from nothing but the love of nature. What to bring with you A camera mosquito repellent outside blanket(to cover yourself and cozy up) How to get there Ask for Matapana directions from the locals, whilst driving you will see signs on the road for Old Bridge Backpackers detailing the distance left, drive until you reach a bridge, immediately after the bridge turn right and follow the road along the bridge,there is a sign showing the direction to follow after that it is easy,their boards will direct you until you at their gate.I recommend hiring a car or bringing your car so that you can be flexible with your mobility, Maun is a very big interesting city, it will be nice to see most of it, even though you will most likely need a local to show you around.Taxis are great too, they are really safe and pocket-friendly, […]A Trip To Kasane
NB: Please note, I do not own any of the above. Found in the North – Eastern corner of Botswana, near the Zambian, Zimbabwean and Namibian borders – is Kasane. This small town is among top tourism destinations with different tourist attractions such as; THE CHOBE NATIONAL PARK There is beauty in the hidden treasures. How true are these words? My heart thumped hard with an irregular rhythm, as we approached this beauty – the nerves, the thrill. My initial thought about what I saw before me was “that is one gigantic statue” but the crux of the matter is that the giant figure was real and alive. Like royalty, she coyly paraded over the road as my friends and I silently watched and waited in awe. She took frantic steps towards us and carefully approached our vehicle – examining us before she started caressing our tour guide with her trunk – my heart skipped and stopped for a second, literally. She stood at about three meters – her body towering above us. Then off she ran, we watched as she ran off into the bush. What just happened? That was the first time I saw an elephant up close. The Chobe National Park is an abode for an abundance of animals. After a warm welcome from the beautiful, witty creature, just outside the entrance of her home – we proceeded and met some friendly staff members who made sure that our tour ran smoothly. What I loved about the Chobe Park was the number of activities that count for the best safari experience. The park offers the following; GAME DRIVE I think the game drive is the epitome of perfection when it comes to safari tours. It is a must do activity when touring Kasane. Our four by four Safari vehicles with open seats finally hit the dusty road that eventually led us to paradise. Whoever said real life animals compare to framed pictures did not tell the truth. True beauty is seeing them with your naked eyes. Real life is the truth. I loved it when we drove around the Chobe and stopped in order to observe some animals – that is by far the best experience I have ever had. It is like viewing the world from a different perspective. Hearing about the animal's food web is different from witnessing, at first sight, the way the animals are codependent on each other and how their food web operates. At one end I could see a herd of Zebras graze and drink water by the Chobe river, the giraffes eating from the taller trees, some impalas seeking shade under the trees to protect themselves against Botswana's scorching sun (You should bring sunscreen for that). While here, expect to spot buffalos walking to the river bank. Baboons and chimpanzees tending to and playing around with their young ones. Vultures suspended in the air on the lookout for the next leftover meal to feast on. While others graciously fly about […]Load More