About the Book
This new edition of Bradt's Botswana remains the only full-blown, standalone guide to one of Africa's most popular and rewarding safari destinations. Acclaimed by tour operators and travel writers alike, this is the only guide to focus on the most popular tourist areas of Botswana: the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and the Northern Kalahari, and this new edition includes a new full-colour wildlife guide, backed up by detailed flora and fauna information for each safari area.
Fully updated accommodation options, from top lodges in the Okavango Delta to small guesthouses (including many new to this edition) are also included, as are detailed maps, comprehensive GPS coordinates (invaluable to self-drivers) and coverage of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls - ideal as an add-on trip to a safari in Botswana
With this guide, explore one of the world's most stunning wildlife destinations, read up on superb safari lodges, from traditional tented camps to those offering five-star luxury and top-class cuisine, and make the most of the excellent birding (with almost 600 species identified). Also included are details of how to arrange mobile safaris around the national parks and reserves with your own guide, often staying in private campsites; boat cruises on the Chobe River, where herds of elephant cross every evening; and when and how to view one of the great gatherings of zebra on the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Botswana's wilderness is pristine. The permanent waters of the Okavango Delta attract year-round wildlife, now including all the 'big five' - the rhinos are back thanks to a successful re-introduction programme. Spreading out from the Delta, Botswana has tremendous variety, from the arid Kalahari to lush, well-watered forest glades and the broad Chobe River. And then there's Botswana's rich history, from the ancient rock paintings at the Tsodilo Hills, to Stone Age arrowheads on the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Written and updated by experts, Bradt's Botswana is the definitive companion to discovering this enchanting destination.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
PART 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 go and highlights, Organising and booking your trip, Red tape, Getting there and away, Money and budgeting, Maps and navigation, Photography and optics, Electrical appliances Getting around, Accommodation, Food and drink, Crafts and curios, Communications, The media, Travelling positively
Chapter 6 Health and Safety
Health, Safety
Chapter 7 Into the Wilds
Driving, Bushcamping, Walking in the bush, Boating, Minimum impact
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 8 Maun
Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, 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, South of Kasane
Chapter 10 Chobe National Park and Forest Reserve
Background information, Getting organised, Chobe riverfront, Chobe Forest Reserve, Liambezi area, Driving from Kasane to Savuti, Ngwezumba Pans, Ghoha Hills, 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, The Mopane Tongue, The private areas of Moremi (NG28)
Chapter 13 The Okavango Delta - Private Reserves around Moremi
Mapula and Kadizora (NG12), Khwai Private Reserve (NG18), Kwara (NG20), Xugana, Camp Okavango and Shinde (NG21), Vumbura and Duba Plains (NG22 and NG23), 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 (NG41) and Mankwe and Tuskers (NG43)
Chapter 14 The Okavango Panhandle and Northwest Kalahari
The Panhandle, The Delta's western fringes, The northwest Kalahari
Chapter 15 The Kalahari's Great Salt Pans
Background information, Getting organised, Nxai Pan National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Towns around the pans
Chapter 16 The Central Kalahari
Background information, Practical information, What to see and do
Chapter 17 Livingstone and the Victoria Falls
Livingstone, What to see and do
Appendix 1 Tracks and Signs
Making tracks, Droppings, Who's at home?, Feeding signs
Appendix 2 Language
Appendix 3 Further Information
Acknowledgements
Index
About the Author :
Chris McIntyre 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 around extensively, mostly with a backpack. In 1990 he co-authored the UK's first guidebook to Namibia and Botswana, published by Bradt, before spending three years as a shipbroker in London.
Since then, Chris has concentrated on what he enjoys most: Africa. He wrote the first guidebook to Zambia for Bradt in 1996, the first edition of their Namibia guide in 1998 and this Botswana guide in 2003; he also co-authors guides to Tanzania and Zanzibar. Whilst keeping these guidebooks up-to-date, his day job is managing director of Expert Africa - a specialist tour operator which organises high-quality trips throughout Africa for individual travellers from around the world, including a very wide range of trips to Botswana. This also includes the Wild about Africa programme of small guided groups through Botswana.
Chris maintains a keen interest in development and conservation issues, acting as advisor to various NGOs and projects associated with Africa. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and contributes photographs and articles to various publications. Now based in Surrey, Chris and his wife, Susan, still regularly travel and research in Africa.
Chris can usually be contacted by email on chris.mcintyre@expertafrica.com
Review :
'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
'A good overview of the parks' - Wanderlust
'...excellent companion for your Okavango trip.'
Travel Africa
