Botswana > Botswana Experience

Advantages: Relatively tourist free, unique.
Disadvantages: Dust, dust, dust.

Compared with other African countries, Botswana has a lower profile among foreign tourists. Say safari and most people think of Kenya, which means you end up seeing 25 trucks around every lion. Go to Botswana and you may have the whole pride to yourself. The Botswanan government has tried to encourage lower volume, higher price tourism in an attempt to keep away the flocks of backpackers who add little to the local economy. Yes you can get around ...
...to turn up at the gates of the gamepark and be able to get in. They only allow a certain number of passes per day, which are mostly pre-booked by organised safari companies. By car hire I mean 4x4 - there aren't that many tarmac roads in Bots so a four wheel drive is essential. The official language of the country is English, but indigenous languages vary with geography. The colonialists cared little for local cultures, so when they carved up Africa ... Read review

Advantages: Not crowded
Disadvantages: Sparce animal sightings

...Then you should go to Chobe National Park in Botswana. Like all National Parks in Africa Chobe has vast variety of Wildlife. However because the game park has such a vast area, the wildlife is very hard to spot. You have to travel for great distances to see a few of the animals, but the game rangers are very patient and polite!The weather there is lovely. Very sunny but often you get hard terrential rain which only last for short period of time. ...
...it seems as there are rarely many visitors there which means the place does not get crowded. Whenever you go to Botswana be sure to visit Chobe National park it is a great place and it is very close to Victoria Falls so that could be your next destination afterwards! ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly Helpful Staff
Disadvantages: Disolate Area

A friend of mine lives in Francistown so I've had to go visit her a few times. I've stayed at The Marang Hotel for a weekend because my friend's place was crowded. The hotel was very pleasant and comfortable. Don't expect a five star building because you won't get it. The hotel is very basic like many hotels in Botswana. However the staff are amazing! Very friendly and helpful. Always greet you with a smile and offer you the best service you can ...
...I particularly enjoyed the food. The menu consisted of a few western dishes that we all know and there is a vast choice of African dishes to choose from. I would personaly recommend the African Dishes, Delicious stuff! All in all I'd recommend the whenever you are in Francistown, make a stop at the Marang Hotel, you won't regret it! ... Read review

Advantages: Good social atmosphere
Disadvantages: small

Gaborone or as it is most widely known - "Gabs" is a great town. This town is the pride of the youth of Botswana. There is great shopping, good night life and the best social place to be in Botswana. From a tourist point of view it is also very good as the people are extremly friendly and helpful at all times. Gaborone is the capital of Botswana and is the primary place to visit in botswana. The languages spoken there are mainly Setswana and English ... Read review

Advantages: Plenty to do
Disadvantages: Transport can be a problem

About four years ago I went to work in Gaborone, Botswana. I spent two wonderful months in what's known as 'Baby Africa' by the majority of the ex-pats living and working there. The people I met whilst working in this beautiful were very friendly and helpful and helped to make my time there most enjoyable. Being based in the capital, Gaborone was a lot of fun. There is plenty to see and do even if you're not working, and there are some great restaurants. ...
...a weekend, but I can definately recommend 'rib night' on Monday night. The Bull & Bush is a pub out in the middle of the bush (with an Indian restaurant next door), so it's all quite weird, but good fun! The Swiss Cottage is a very upmarket restaurant, and right next door to Crash! bar (this is where the owner, Lawrence, crashed his plane in the bush and built a bar around the wreckage). There are two game reserves in around Gaborone, Mokolodi game ... Read review