Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked and sparsely populated country in southern Africa, full of vast reserves which are blessed with some of the greatest wildlife viewing in the world.

The Okavango Delta makes up one of the richest ecosystems in the world, teeming with animals that gather around the waterways and lagoons, including Africa’s Big Five (buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros – although there are very few of these and sightings are rare) plus hippo, crocodile, giraffe, wildebeest, cheetah, impala, wild dog and numerous species of birds.

Chobe National Park, another wildlife-rich reserve is situated in Botswana’s north-eastern corner, close to Victoria Falls. It is particularly famous for large herds of elephants.

Thanks to Botswana’s strict control of tourist numbers, a safari in this region feels truly wild. However, you do pay for this exclusivity.