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Botswana Holiday Packages
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The African success story of Botswana as a peaceful democracy with a diamond-rich, economic stability, has led to its high standard of living, education and health care. However, it remains a country for the explorer and adventurer, as the largely roadless wilderness of vast spaces with exceptional wilderness are roamed in search of expansive game encounters, both by vehicle and boat.
The wetland sanctuary of the Okavango Delta provides an enormous area covered by swamp and river where most southern African mammal species occur in large numbers, with migrating herds of zebra, wilderbeest, buffalo and antelope can be encountered. Large groups of elephant track the waterways, which are home to an incredible variety of birds and reptiles, including crocodiles which can be seen feasting on large barbell fish trapped in the mud, while Fish Eagles cry evocatively from overhead branches.
The Kalahari, a semi-arid expanse of sandy valleys, covers most of the southern part of the country, and features a strikingly different terrain to the wet north. Salt pans, Bushman paintings and game of hardier type including jackals, desert antelopes and hardier predators provide their own unique attraction.
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Best Time to Visit Botswana
The months between April and November, when large number of animals migrate towards the waterways of the Okavango Delta, is best time to go.
November and December - the calving months - are an excellent time to witness nature's own timetable of regeneration. The rainy season, from January to March, sees the migration of large numbers of game into the summer grazing areas, while the delta comes alive with sounds of hundreds of bird species.
In March and April thousands of zebras and other animals migrate towards the Savuti area of Chobe National Park.
Summers (particularly from December through to February) can become exceptionally hot, and rain may make some roads muddy and impassable.
During the rainy summer season, animals in many game areas disperse, while in the dry winter season they congregate around water sources, making for good game viewing. This does not mean, however, that game viewing is impossible during the summer season.
Climate
Botswana's climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable and highly regional. Often a heavy downpour may occur in one area while 10 or 15 kilometres away there is no rain at all. Showers are often followed by strong sunshine so that a good deal of the rainfall does not penetrate the ground but is lost to evaporation and transpiration.
'Pula', one of the most frequently heard words in Botswana, is not only the name of Botswana's currency, but also the Setswana word for rain. So much of what takes place in Botswana relies on this essential, frequently scarce commodity.
Seasons
The summer season begins in November and ends in March. It usually brings very high temperatures. However, summer is also the rainy season, and cloud coverage and rain can cool things down considerably, although only usually for a short period of time.
The winter season begins in May and ends in August. This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas, especially in the southwest.
The in-between periods - April/early May and September/October - still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.
Rainfall
The rainy season is in the summer, with October and April being transitional months. January and February are generally regarded as the peak months. The mean annual rainfall varies from a maximum of over 650mm in the extreme northeast area of the Chobe District to a minimum of less than 250mm in the extreme southwest part of Kgalagadi District. Almost all rainfall occurs during the summer months while the winter period accounts for less than 10 percent of the annual rainfall. Generally, rainfall decreases in amount and increases in variability the further west and south you go.
Temperatures
Summer days are hot, especially in the weeks that precede the coming of the cooling rains, and shade temperatures rise to the 38°C mark and higher, reaching a blistering 44°C on rare occasions. Winters are clear-skied and bone-dry, the air seductively warm during the daylight hours but, because there is no cloud cover, cold at night and in the early mornings. Sometimes bitterly so - frost is common and small quantities of water can freeze.
Humidity
In summer during the morning period humidity ranges from 60 to 80% and drops to between 30 and 40% in the afternoon. In winter humidity is considerably less and can vary between 40 and 70% during the morning and fall to between 20 and 30% in the afternoon.
For tourists, the best visiting months are from April through to October - in terms of both weather and game viewing. It is during this period that the wildlife of the great spaces gather around what water there is - the natural waterholes and the borehole-fed dams - and are at their most visible.
Packing suggestions for Botswana safaris
A suggested list of items which should be used as a guideline whilst planning your trip. Please keep in mind the luggage restrictions on the light aircraft transfers is restricted to 20kg per person and in soft carry bags only.
Clothing:
· Sun hat/bush hat.
· Headscarf/bandana
· Golf-shirts and/or T-shirts – preferably with a sleeve to protect your shoulders from the sun.
· Long-sleeved cotton shirts
· Shorts and /or skirts – (short skirts are not practical for getting in and out of game drive vehicles)
· Long trousers/slacks
· Track suit
· Pyjamas – summer and warm for cooler nights
· Underwear (sports bra recommended for game drives as the roads can by bumpy and uneven) and socks.
· Good closed walking shoes (running/tennis shoes are fine)
· Sandals – preferably low heeled or flat if you are going on safari.
· Swimming costume
· Warm winter jersey
· Warm anorak or parkas and scarf / gloves for cold winter months (May to September)
· Light rain gear for summer months (late November to April)
Equipment/Other:
· Good quality sunglasses – preferably polarized. Tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light.
· Torch
· If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses in case you get irritation from the dust.
· Southern African bird guide if you are a keen birder.
· Personal toiletries
· Malaria tablets (if applicable)
· Anti-histamine tablets if you suffer from hay fever.
· Anti-nausea tablets if you suffer from air/travel sickness.
· Moisturizing cream and suntan lotion – SPF 20 or higher recommended.
· Insect repellent for body application
· Basic medical kit (aspirins, plasters, Imodium, antiseptic cream and anti-histamine cream etc)
· Tissues
· Camera equipment and plenty of memory sticks
· Binoculars
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