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North-West Travel Blogs

Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

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By Shannanigans
November 18th 2009

Fabulous Failures Africa » Botswana » North-West » Maun

The Gender Thing

THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE MINE PERSONALLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR PEACE CORPS. I returned from IST (Peace Corps In-service training), head crammed full of all the wonderful activities that dedicated Peace Corps Volunteers accomplish, and, well okay, feeling a bit old and out of touch compared to these fast thinking, fast talking, world-saving youth that join the Peace Corps, apply to PhD programs and strategically plan additions to their resumes for the next decade. When I arrived back at site, I found a packet about GLOW Camp (GLOW is for Girls and [View Full Entry]

By Kirstie Cadger
November 9th 2009

Croc Farm, Tsodilo Hills and Other Recent Escapades + Photos Africa » Botswana » North-West » Okavango Delta

Sam

Written: Monday November 9th, 2009 at 10:00pm I paid a visit to the local crocodile farm the other day which is a few kilometres away from Shakawe and home to 9000 crocodiles including a massive one named Sam. The purpose of the farm is to breed crocodiles and release them into the wild, for tourism purposes and to produce crocodile leather which is then exported. I went there just to check it out but then I went back a second time for a different reason and found out that someone had left the door open to one of the areas where [View Full Entry]

By Tamserku
October 30th 2009

Beautiful Botswana I will Never Forget You Africa » Botswana » North-West » Okavango Delta

Wild Dog, Chobe National Park, Botswana

After Leaving the natural wonder of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, we headed west into Botswana where the highlights were camping out in Chobe National Park and then two nights in the Okavango Delta. More animals and natural beauty abounds in this small country. Only about 1.6 million people; there seems to be more wildlife than humans. Chobe is a large national park that is famous for its large elephant herds. Whether it was driving through in 4x4s or floating down the Chober River, you quickly understand why. Huge elephants everywhere. The Delta is the largest inland delta in the world. [View Full Entry]

Elephant Baracade, Chobe National Park, Botswana

By AdamandLouise
October 24th 2009

Our trip through the wilderness Africa » Botswana » North-West » Moremi Game Reserve

After spending a few days in Maun getting ourselves organised and the Land rover fixed ready for our trip through the centre of Botswana, 550 miles through Moremi, Savuti and Chobe. We would spend 8 nights travelling through these areas which can only be described as wilderness areas. They are all national parks with lots of game and very rough 4 by 4 tracks, but no food, water or petrol so we had to pack all our supplies, plus extras in case we hit any problems. So we did all this…but nothing can prepare you for what it was like, there [View Full Entry]

By KaylaRichard
October 22nd 2009

Botswana Wild Day 17 - Oct 14 Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park

Lion Resting in Shade

Savute to Chobe RiverWe left camp early for the morning game drive (6:00 AM) and almost right away spotted two lions resting under an acacia tree. At one point along the way a huge male elephant came directly towards us where his track crossed our track. Guess who got priority for crossing! We followed a firebreak for quite a while, going over many sand ridges that changed colour from deep red to light yellow. Very pretty. Leaving the firebreak, we traveled along a horrible wash-boardy gravel road that ran through a few villages. Beside this road was another road under construction [View Full Entry]

By KaylaRichard
October 22nd 2009

Botswana Wild Day 18 - Oct 15 Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park

Chobe River camp

Final Safari Day During the night we heard lions roaring several times. Apparently their sound carries quite some distance and it's hard to tell how far away, or how close they really are. Until morning, that is. If there are fresh tracks in or around camp, we know they were there. As usual we were up early for a morning game drive along the Chobe River flood plain. We saw lots of cape buffalo and elephants crossing in front of us from the river to the forest, and lots of new and repeat birds. By now we are old hands at [View Full Entry]

By KaylaRichard
October 21st 2009

Botswana Wild Day 16 - Oct 13 Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park

Hyena On His Way Home for the Day

Savute Marsh and Bushman Paintings Up and away for a morning game drive at 6:30 AM. for a complete circuit of Savute Marsh, once a wet marsh but since 1981 a dry grassy plain. We visited two man-made water ponds with water pumped from aquifers for the wildlife. At the one we visited this morning, there were two bull elephants with their trunks sucked on right where the water came out. A black-backed jackal and hyena were waiting their turn, clearly wary of the elephants. Finally the jackal inched his way down for a drink, but the hyena wouldn't brave it, [View Full Entry]

By chimelleinoz
October 21st 2009

Discovering Botswana Africa » Botswana » North-West » Okavango Delta

Cruising the delta in the Mokoro

27/09 - 2/10 I must confess that my main reason for wanting to visit Botswana was because of a beautiful photo I had seen in a guide book of a Mokoru boatsman poling a dug out canoe through the Okavanga Delta. Other than that, I'm ashamed to say how little I knew about the culture and history of the country (ok....and also the precise location...yikes). Anyway, I guess this is what travelling is all about - putting something tangible to a name and fleshing out a point on the map with faces and colours and sounds. We had found Zambia [View Full Entry]

By KaylaRichard
October 20th 2009

Botswana Wild Day 14 - Oct 11 Africa » Botswana » North-West » Moremi Game Reserve

Our Abode

Along the Khwai RiverWe were up at 5:00 AM, had a light breakfast and away at 6:15 for a morning game drive around the Khwai River area. Chris was determined to see Leopard but no luck. However we came close to 2 very large bull elephants, lots of impala and the lilac breasted roller (Botswana's National Bird) was photographed by all our 12 cameras (but alas no video - sniff, sniff). Returning to camp to wait out the hot afternoon, we tried to lie down in the tents but it was simply too hot (40+ C again). So like the lions, [View Full Entry]

By KaylaRichard
October 20th 2009

Botswana Wild Day 15 - October 12 Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park

Sunrise at Khwai

Travel day - Khwai to Savute This was a long travel day between two national parks. It started with an unsuccessful look for Leopard at the Khwai public campsite. One had been spotted in a tree just before we arrived. Again no luck. We were able to help a tourist (from North Van, no less) get out of a mud hole where he was stuck in his Toyota SUV. Yet another self-drive issue. Coincidentally, we saw him later in the trip on his way to Kasane, where he bid us farewell before going on to Zimbabwe. We crossed the Khwai River [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Botswana » North-West