Botswana Safari Guide

Chris McIntyre (expertafrica.com) went to Africa in 1987, after reading Physics at Queen's College, Oxford. He taught with VSO in Zimbabwe for almost three years and travelled extensively before writing his first guidebook (Bradt's guide to Namibia and Botswana) in 1990. He has since written all Bradt's guides to Namibia - and co-authors (with his wife, Susie) Bradt's guides to Botswana, Zanzibar and Zambia, and (with Philip Briggs) Bradt's guides to Tanzania. Alongside keeping these guidebooks up to date, Chris is managing director of Expert Africa. This specialist tour operator organises high-quality trips for individual travellers throughout Africa, offering a wide range of trips to Botswana. McIntyre maintains a keen interest in development and conservation, acting as advisor to various NGOs. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, McIntyre lives in Surrey with his wife and co-author Susie and their two children; together they regularly travel to Africa to update guidebooks.Susie McIntyre had an adventurous childhood in Zambia and Saudi Arabia, camping in the wilderness under the Milky Way and bouncing around in Land Rovers across large swathes of southern Africa. She has since spent decades promoting responsible global travel, both as a PR and marketing consultant, and more recently as travel writer and journalist, co-authoring Bradt guides to Botswana, Zanzibar and Zambia. She is passionate about Africa: its people, wildlife and diversity. From off-grid adventures to cutting-edge conservation, community development to family travel, Susie is dedicated to thorough research. Whilst focussed on ensuring that Africa's complexities are accurately represented, she is both candid and enthusiastic about travel on the continent. When not roaming around African savannahs, Susie lives in the British countryside with her husband and co-author, Chris, and their well-travelled children.

• Introduction viiPART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 The Natural Environment Physical environment, Habitat and vegetation, Conservation Chapter 2 Botswana Wildlife Guide Mammals, Reptiles and amphibians, Birds Chapter 3 History, Politics and Economy History, Government and administration, Economy Chapter 4 People and Culture Population overview, Social groups or 'tribes', Language, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 5 Planning and Preparation When to visit and highlights, Organising and booking your trip, Red tape, Getting there and away, What to take, Money and budgeting, Maps and navigation, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Shopping, Media and communications, Travelling positively Chapter 6 Health and Safety Health, Safety Chapter 7 Into the Wilds Driving, Bush camping, Walking in the bush, Boating, Minimum impact PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 8 Maun Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities,What to see and do, Beyond Maun: getting organised, The road north of Maun: to Moremi and Chobe Chapter 9 Kasane and the Northeast Kasane, Around Kasane, Heading south from Kasane Chapter 10 Chobe National Park and Forest Reserve Background information, Practical information, Chobe riverfront, Chobe Forest Reserve, Lake Liambezi area, Driving from Kasane to Savuti, Ngwezumba Pans, GhohaHills, Savuti, Driving south from Savuti, Linyanti Chapter 11 Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando Reserves Background information, Linyanti Concession (NG15), Linyanti Enclave (CH1), Selinda Concession (NG16), Kwando Concession (NG14) Chapter 12 The Okavango Delta - Moremi Game Reserve Background information, Practical information, The Mopane Tongue, The private areas within Moremi (NG28) Chapter 13 The Okavango Delta - Private Reserves around Moremi Mapula and Kadizora (NG12), Khwai Private Reserve (NG18), Khwai Community Concession (NG19), Kwara (NG20), Xugana, Camp Okavango and Shinde (NG21), Vumbura and Duba Plains (NG22, NG23 and NG23A), Jedibe Community Area (NG24), Jao, Kwetsani, Jacana, Tubu and Pelo (NG25), Abu, Seba and Macatoo (NG26), Pom Pom, Kanana and Nxabega (NG27A), Delta, Oddballs', Gunn's and Eagle Island (NG27B), Xigera, Mombo and Chief 's Camp (NG28), Xudum, Xaranna and OHS (NG29 and NG30), Chitabe and Sandibe (NG31), Stanley's, Baines', Gomoti Plains, Qorokwe and budget mokoro trips (NG32), Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust (NG33 and NG34), Santawani Partnership (NG33), Mababe and Mankwe (NG41 and NG43) Chapter 14 The Okavango Panhandle and Northwest Kalahari The Panhandle, The Delta's western and southern fringes, The northwest Kalahari Chapter 15 The Kalahari's Great Salt Pans Background information, Practical information, Nxai Pan National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Towns around the pans Chapter 16 The Central Kalahari Background information, Practical information, Where to stay, What to see and do Chapter 17 Livingstone and Victoria Falls Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do Appendix 1 Tracks and Signs Appendix 2 Language Appendix 3 Further Information Acknowledgements Index

'There can be few people better qualified to write a travel guide on Botswana than Chris McIntyre...Like all good guide books, this is packed with all kinds of practical and wide-ranging advice - from driving near elephants to maps with GPS references and how to shake hands Botswana style....What's more, even the nuts-and-bolts sections are well-written and make enjoyable reading. In particular, the region-by-region chapters on the country's reserves, camps and lodges had me longing to jump on the first plane to Maun. Each area is painstakingly described - clearly the result of meticulous first-hand research...If you can take only one book to Botswana, make sure it's this one.'BBC Wildlife'Gives a complete coverage of this unique ecosystem and its bird and plant life.'NHBS (Natural History Book Services) 'The definitive guide for wildlife enthusiasts.'Wanderlust '...excellent companion for your Okavango trip.'Travel Africa