Wildlife Conservation | National Parks of Botswana

Examples of this include the extremely popular 4x4 trails, the Transfrontier Park, the anti-poaching activities of the Botswana Defence Force and carefully regulated private sector involvement both in and outside National Parks. Privatisation of DWNP itself is probably accepted in principle, but how much and when remain to be decided.Botswana earns itself a certain amount of regional opprobrium for what some see as unreasonably high Park entry fees. For one night in a Park, an independent South African family of four will spend close to R900. Officials in Botswana acknowledge the cost but point out that to a similar group of visitors from the UK or USA such experiences, costing something less than £100, seem good value.Botswana is one of the world's leading diamond producers and one of Africa's wealthiest countries. However, over-dependence on a single commodity is economically unsound and Botswana knows it must take every opportunity to diversify its economy. Wildlife is such an opportunity: diamonds may not be forever.Mention Botswana and most people think of the Okavango Delta. This seemingly limitless wilderness of flood plains and papyrus-flanked channels justly attracts many visitors. For bird life and predators it is unparalleled. I have photographed leopard, lion, cheetah and wild dogs, all in a single morning. I especially like the northern area of Chief's Island, which is a private concession area where you can observe the game undisturbed by other people.But it is the wilder, less visited parts of Botswana that I find the most exciting. Nothing can rival the shimmering image of an elephant, plastered ghostly white in Kalahari dust, emerging from the heat haze at Nxai Pan; or the play of golden light on a herd of springbok skittering away into the desert; or the startling pink flower of a Brunsvigia lily in an area that appears to defy any life or colour. The discovery of a solitary gemsbok lost amidst the empty waste of the Kalahari feels far more rewarding than an easy view of a lion in a game-rich area. To reach the Kalahari's soul, head for the Tsodilo Hills and search for 1000-year-old bushman paintings on the remote rock walls.
Okavango Delta and Moremi
Established 1963. 3900km2; Moremi is the first sanctuary in Southern Africa created on its own land by an indigenous tribe. Combined with the Okavango Delta, the wildlife area now covers about 22,000km2.Read a Guide to Moremi
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park witnesses staggering concentrations of up to 50,000 elephant. The flood plain of the Chobe River provides a stunning backdrop for these vast herds and in the hills overlooking the plains, there are other treats such as roan, sable and one of the highest concentrations of Greater kudu in Africa.Read a Guide to Chobe
Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan
Combining the 39,000km2 Makgadikgadi and 21,000km2 Nxai pan reserves has created a vast, unfenced park about the size of Portugal. It's 4x4 country that requires cautious driving.Read a Guide to MakgadikgadiBy Mike Main & John Warburton-Lee. Copyright © 2002 Travel Africa. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the author is prohibited.
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