Chobe National Park
May-OctHome to the largest elephant concentration in Africa — over 50,000.
Africa Wildlife Guide
Wildlife in Botswana
7 animals · 2 destination guides · responsible ways to visit
Start With the Habitat
Planning a Wildlife Trip to Botswana
Botswana is shaped by the Okavango Delta, Chobe riverfront, Kalahari, salt pans, and large unfenced wildlife landscapes. Trips can combine water-based viewing with conventional game drives and dry-country species.
Water levels, road access, and camp style affect the experience as much as the month. Compare mobile camping, permanent lodges, self-drive routes, and fly-in transfers on total cost and time in the field.
Inland deltaRiverfrontKalahariSalt pans
Where to Go
Featured Wildlife Destinations in Botswana
Compare the animals, seasonal context, travel logistics, experiences, and booking links in each destination guide.
6 key species
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland deltas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Okavango River fans out across the Kalahari Desert to...
Plan a visit →
6 key species
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is home to the largest elephant population in Africa, with an estimated 120,000 elephants moving through the park and s...
Plan a visit →From Our Species Guides
Wildlife Locations in Botswana
These field locations are referenced by our animal guides. Viewing windows are approximate and should be checked locally before booking.
Okavango Delta
May-OctLarge hippo pools accessible by mokoro (dugout canoe).
Species Directory
Animals in Our Botswana Guides
Open a species guide for habitat, wild locations, seasonal context, safety, photography, tours, zoos, and conservation status.
African Elephant
ENLoxodonta africana
Savanna, forest, desert, marshland
Where to see →
Lion
VUPanthera leo
Savanna, grassland, open woodland
Where to see →
Leopard
VUPanthera pardus
Savanna, rainforest, mountain, desert
Where to see →
Giraffe
VUGiraffa camelopardalis
Savanna, woodland
Where to see →
Hippopotamus
VUHippopotamus amphibius
Rivers, lakes, wetlands
Where to see →
Cape Buffalo
NTSyncerus caffer
Savanna, swamps, floodplains
Where to see →
African Wild Dog
ENLycaon pictus
Savanna, open woodland
Where to see →Ways to Explore
Wildlife Experiences in Botswana
Compare how each activity works, the conditions involved, questions to ask an operator, and responsible wildlife-viewing standards.
Safari
Safari Game Drives
A game drive uses a vehicle to explore protected landscapes with a guide or, where rules allow, as a self-drive visitor. It is the most…
Read the experience guide →Safari
River and Boat Safaris
River and wetland safaris reveal wildlife that roads cannot reach. Trips range from quiet canoe or mokoro outings to motorboat searches for…
Read the experience guide →
Safari
Walking Safaris
A walking safari shifts attention from covering distance to reading an ecosystem at ground level. Tracks, dung, plants, insects, alarm calls,…
Read the experience guide →
Specialist
Wildlife Photography Tours
A wildlife photography tour should improve access, fieldcraft, and learning without turning animal welfare into a competition for the closest…
Read the experience guide →Country Planning Library
Wildlife Travel Guides for Botswana
Compare itineraries, seasons, costs, photography advice, and responsible wildlife experiences connected to this country.
Destinations
Okavango Delta vs Kruger: Which Safari Should You Choose?
A detailed comparison of two iconic safari destinations. Cost, wildlife density, exclusivity, self-drive options, and the overall experience compared side by side.
Read guide →
Where to See
Best African Safari Destinations: Big Five and Beyond
Compare the top safari destinations across Africa — Serengeti, Masai Mara, Kruger, Okavango Delta, and more. Find the perfect safari for your budget and style.
Read guide →
Destinations
Botswana vs South Africa: Which Safari Fits You?
Comparing Botswana and South Africa safaris by cost, exclusivity, wildlife, and overall experience.
Read guide →Protect What You Visit
Responsible Wildlife Travel in Botswana
Keep noise low around breeding colonies and riverbanks, and choose guides who limit approaches rather than surrounding animals with vehicles or boats.
6 threatened species in this guide: African Elephant (Endangered), Lion (Vulnerable), Leopard (Vulnerable), Giraffe (Vulnerable), Hippopotamus (Vulnerable), African Wild Dog (Endangered).
Explore Threatened SpeciesKeep Exploring