go!

South Africa’s number one travel and outdoor lifestyle magazine. We pay our own way and tell it like it is. We drive back roads and speak to real people, giving you practical information about affordable destinations in southern Africa. Each issue is crammed with excellent photography, honest gear reviews and delicious recipes to make at home or in the bundu. Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or a month, your journey starts here.

From our veld office

go!

AT THE BORDER

CHECK THIS • When good summer rains fill up the north-eastern section of Sowa Pan (part of the Makgadikgadi Pans), thousands of greater and lesser flamingos gather there to breed. This photo was taken from a Robinson R44 helicopter during a scenic flight that departed from Jack's Camp (naturalselection.travel) in January 2023.

Space and time • During the four decades of her life, Serowe-raised Leanne Rencken keeps crossing paths with her grandparents.

NORTHERN BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN BOTSWANA

Place of plenty • Joining a guided tour takes the stress out of visiting a truly wild place. Bhejane 4x4 Adventure's Trans Botswana Tour connects bucket list destinations like Kubu Island, Tsodilo Hills, the Okavango Panhandle and Chobe National Park – it even includes a visit to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe!

The power of Panda • Several South African farmers have settled on the fertile plains around Pandamatenga in recent decades. Although moving to a different, wild place requires a good dose of vasbyt, those who've stuck it out plan to stay for good.

It keeps getting Gweta • Gweta, on the A3 between Nata and Maun, is an important little town, especially if your fuel light suddenly comes on! Rush past at your peril, for the area offers excellent birding, meerkat encounters and the glittering white dancefloor of Ntwetwe Pan.

Elephants in the Kalahari! • On a map, Khutse Game Reserve is like the tiny passenger compartment below the massive Zeppelin balloon of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Khutse is easily accessible from South Africa and a spectacular destination in its own right. Here's your guide.

Memories of Savuti • Savuti is a game-rich part of Chobe National Park. The famed conservationist, author and wildlife artist Clive Walker spent many happy weeks there in the late 1970s and 1980s. Join him as he looks back on some favourite memories.

A healthy dose of delta • Photography magic happens where the long fingers of the Okavango Delta meet the animal life of Moremi Game Reserve…

Mokoro me up! • Did you know that you can take a mokoro ride from just north of Maun into the Okavango Delta, and then sommer camp under a tree for the night? Does this sound too good to be true? It's for real! And you don't have to check in at a pricey lodge either…

Feel the pull of the pans • While its most famous destination is the baobab-studded outcrop of Kubu Island, the Makgadikgadi Pans complex includes other must-see places like Mosu on the southern edge of Sowa Pan. Here's what you need to know.

Dine out in Kasane • From sipping craft beer overlooking the Chobe River to sharing Indian food with friends and family, Kasane's eateries pack a punch. Dig in!

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

PLACES TO STAY • A holiday in Botswana means you'll be driving long distances… A good overnight spot is a necessity. Our writers recommend these places in Botswana and along its borders. Unless stated otherwise, the rates listed are for 2024. Use them as a guideline only. Always call or e-mail to double-check beforehand.

CENTRAL BOTSWANA

NORTHERN BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

LETTER FROM Nata • Somewhere north of Nata, in an otherwise deserted stretch of bush, is a waterhole that attracts tens – sometimes hundreds – of...