Chobe National Park covers 11700 square kilometers in northern Botswana and holds one of Africa's highest concentrations of African elephants. Population estimates place the number between 50000 and 120000 elephants within the park boundaries. The Chobe Riverfront forms the park's northern boundary and attracts dense wildlife aggregations during the dry season from April to October. Boat safaris operate year-round from Kasane, allowing approach to elephants, hippos, and crocodiles along the water's edge. The Savuti Marsh occupies the western sector and experiences highly variable water levels dependent on tectonic activity affecting underground water channels. Predator viewing centers on this marsh, particularly during the dry months when prey animals concentrate. The park's southern reaches extend into mopane woodland with minimal tourist infrastructure.
The Okavango Delta covers between 6000 and 15000 square kilometers depending on seasonal flood patterns. Water originates from rainfall in Angola's highlands and takes approximately one month to reach the delta's apex at Mohembo. The flood peaks between June and August, directly following Botswana's dry winter season. UNESCO designated the delta a World Heritage Site in 2014. Access occurs through Maun, which sits at the delta's southern edge. Mokoro trips involve poling through shallow channels in dugout canoes traditionally carved from ebony or sausage trees. Modern mokoros increasingly use fiberglass construction. Islands within the delta contain permanent safari camps ranging from basic mobile units to fixed lodges. Chief's Island forms the delta's largest landmass and lies within Moremi Game Reserve. Walking safaris operate on the larger islands under armed guide escort. The Okavango supports approximately 200000 large mammals including red lechwe, sitatunga, and African buffalo. Birdlife exceeds 400 recorded species.
Moremi Game Reserve occupies roughly 5000 square kilometers in the eastern Okavango Delta. Chief's Island and the Moremi Tongue constitute the reserve's primary landmasses. The reserve was established in 1963 through the initiative of the Batawana people and specifically the wife of Chief Moremi III. This marked one of Africa's first conservation areas created by an African community on its own land. Game viewing focuses on mixed woodland and floodplain habitats. The Xakanaxa Lagoon area produces consistent predator sightings including leopard, lion, and spotted hyena. Wild dog packs range through the reserve though sightings remain unpredictable. The reserve permits both self-drive camping and lodge-based visits. Entry fees separate into vehicle charges, per-person fees, and camping fees totaling approximately 240 pula per adult foreign visitor per day as of recent years.
Makgadikgadi Pans comprise one of the world's largest salt flats covering approximately 12000 square kilometers. The pans are remnants of an ancient lake that dried roughly 10000 years ago. Sua Pan and Ntwetwe Pan form the two main salt surfaces. During the rainy season from November to March, water collects in shallow sheets and attracts thousands of flamingos, both lesser and greater species. Zebra and wildebeest migrations converge on the pans during these wet months after calving in the Boteti River area. Kubu Island rises from Sua Pan as a granite outcrop containing ancient baobab trees and Stone Age tool sites. Access to the pans requires four-wheel-drive vehicles. The surface hardens during the dry season and becomes traversable, though navigation remains challenging without GPS coordinates. Tour operators in Gweta organize guided pan excursions including overnight camps on the salt surface.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve spans 52800 square kilometers, making it one of the world's largest protected areas. The reserve was established in 1961 partially to protect the territory of San communities who had inhabited the area for thousands of years. The San were controversially relocated from the reserve in the 1990s and 2000s, leading to court cases that partially restored their residence rights in 2006. The reserve's interior contains fossil river valleys and grasslands. Wildlife densities are lower than northern Botswana but include gemsbok, springbok, and Kalahari lions adapted to semi-arid conditions. The Deception Valley forms a prominent fossil riverbed running northeast to southwest through the reserve. Black-maned lions inhabit this region and were subjects of long-term research by Mark and Delia Owens documented in their book "Cry of the Kalahari" published in 1984. Tourist access requires self-sufficiency in fuel, water, and supplies. Designated camping sites exist but offer no facilities.