Ever been to Botswana?

[unclebilly]

I spent the last 2 days working with a fellow from South Africa who has spent a great deal of timing working in Southern Africa in the diamond mines.

He has me convinced that I need to take my family on a vacation to Botswana next summer. We would rent a Landcruiser and camp for a week between Maun and Kasane and do it unguided. Possibly check out Victoria Falls.

Have you done it? Have you been there? Am I crazy?

Apparently there is no need for a guide in Botswana and it’s very safe. Some of the neighbouring countries perhaps not so much. He reccomended a rental company and it looks to be pretty affordable. My son will be 15 and my daughter 12. There probably won’t be too many more family vacations as the kids come into their own.

By the way, this is my wife’s dream. I was thinking I could surprise her with this for her 50th in a couple years but there is no time like the present…

[LWJ]

Oh wow!!! Keep us posted.

I have a very good buddy who grew up in Cape Town (different Country. I understand). He has stories that would give most of us the absolute shivers. His sister still lives there.

But when he was a kid, he was a boy scout. He said they drank from the streams and had amazing camping adventures. The only thing to look out for was a puff adder (I think). It was a deadly snake that didn't move out of the way because they are lazy. You step on them and they bite. And you die. You also run out of your tent in the am because snakes cuddle up with you in the cold night.

What I have heard about poverty and crime in S. Africa make it somewhere to probably avoid. But, if there were a more crime free place to explore in Africa, I am very interested.

Side notes: I have a buddy and his son who climbed Kilmanjaro (sp?). They said it was hard and sounded cooler than it was.

I just returned from Morocco two weeks ago. First time touching Africa. It was cool. Zero crime. I did have an idea about getting a Land Cruiser or similar and driving down the coast of Africa.

Last side note - The Uncle Billy family all rides dirtbikes. Combining Botswana + dirtbikes + staying with local people could be the stuff of a lifetime adventure.

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, but half a lifetime ago.

It was alright. Just another poverty stricken African country. Much the same as Zambia, and a lot poorer than Zimbabwe.

[stevej37]

Follow Itchyboots travels through there.

[Tobra]

Never been to Spain either

[1990C4S]

Do you follow DeBoss on YouTube? He just did an Africa overland adventure. It's very interesting...but he spent a (%^& of a lot of time fixing his Land Rovers.

[Otter74]

Yes, but only for a day. In 2019 I was in Zambia for two weeks visting my sister and BIL and we drove down to Livingstone, near the Zambia/Zimbabwe/Botswana/Namibia border, spent a night, then spent a day (self-drive in their LC) in Chobe National Park in Botswana, which is spectacular. then cocktails at the Victoria Falls Hotel overlooking the falls and dinner at a place with good Zim food, another night in Livingstone and drive back to Lusaka. I don't know what the guided tours are like in Chobe but if you want to do a self-supported trip in a rental truck it would be a great place to do it.

By reputation Botswana is quite safe, and my sister (who has been there a number of times) said the same. Also politically stable, and democratic. Zambia is also a nice country to visit, and South Luangwa National Park (which I've been to twice now) is fantastic. Malawi (where she lives now, and where I've also been) is also very safe and enjoyable to visit, if also very poor, notably more so than Zambia. I don't really know about Zimbabwe.

[Jeff Alton]

My wife has been.

I spent time growing up in Kenya. We travel there 6 weeks every 18 months for the last 11 years, and are looking to purchase property.

My wife owns an African Travel Consultancy business that specializes in custom trips in the continent. Let me me know if you would like to get in contact with her.

Cheers

[herr_oberst]

A good friend of mine just got back from a cycling trip in South Africa, and kept a blog of his adventures. I don't know how relevant this would be to your trip, but I think it could have some good information, or at least give you a sense of what to expect. "Hot" is one of the words that keeps reoccurring.

Here's a link to the Boswana leg of the journey - I think it goes from about page 28 to page 33 before he crossed borders..

Hafrica: Botswana Fun Facts: Little Known Facts about Botswana (from Beth!)