Trip to Botswana

Botswana for their date and stay . 
Prince Harry booked a stay at the bush camp Meno a Kwena in August 2017, buying two plane tickets from London to Johannesburg, before boarding a private two-hour flight to Maun International Airport.

there’s plenty more to enjoy in Botswana. Read on for 12 surprising facts and compelling reasons to follow in the royal couple’s footsteps...

1. It has more elephants than anywhere else

The African elephant is found in greater numbers here than anywhere else on the planet. Poaching is pushing these gentle giants to the brink across the continent, but Botswana’s conservation efforts have seen its population triple over the last 30 years to as many as 160,000. Indeed, they are so numerous that earlier this year the country made the controversial decision to overturn a ban on elephant hunting.

Botswana has more elephants than anywhere else in the world Credit: getty

2. It has a thriving metal scene

Yes, really. Proving heavy metal isn’t just the preserve of caucasian head-bangers is Botswana’s booming underground scene, which has moved into the mainstream more recently thanks to bands like Overthrust, whose brand of death metal has graced the stages of European music festivals.

3. And one of Africa’s healthiest big cat populations

You don’t have to have the eyes of a hawk to spot big cats in Botswana, particularly Chobe National Park, which is one of the best places in Africa to see leopards, lions and cheetahs. Their bountiful numbers have made the country one of the best safari destinations in Africa.

The country is also a sanctuary for big cats like this lion 

• Where to see big cats in the wild

4. Nearly half of the country is protected

Botswana has set aside 45 per cent of its land for protection, which is one of the reasons why the country has such an abundance of wildlife.

The world's 17 greatest countries for animal lovers

5. There’s plenty of space

With just 3.5 people per square kilometre, Botswana is one of the world’s least crowded countries. Just the tonic if you live in bustling Britain, which, by contrast, is one of the most crowded, with a claustrophobic 262 inhabitants per square kilometre.

6. It’s home to the Okavango Delta

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, the Okavango Delta also enjoys World Heritage status – and it’s easy to see why. Spreading out across 15,000 sq km, this dramatic delta provides a vital habitat for some of Botswana’s most celebrated wildlife, including the African elephant, Nile crocodile, spotted hyena and black rhino.

The vast Okavango Delta is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa 

7. There’s a “Louvre” in the desert

World Heritage status has also been bestowed upon Tsodilo, which Unesco describes as the “Louvre of the Desert”. And with good reason: this corner of the Kalahari Desert is home to one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world. Revered by the Hambukushu and San communities, Tsodilo boasts some 4,500 paintings, some of which are 100,000 years old.

Tsodilo boasts 4,500 odd rock paintings earning it the nickname "Louvre of the Desert" Credit: ALAMY

8. It’s landlocked, but you can go on a cruise

And not just any cruise: a cruise down the Chobe River, one of Africa’s richest waterways. Teeming with wildlife – from hungry hippos to boisterous buffalo – a boat trip down this life-giving river gives passengers the chance to quaff a G&T whilst watching elephants go for a dip. To experience all of this in unabashed luxury, book a cabin aboard the opulent Zambezi Queen, which plies this limpid waterway.

A cruise up the Chobe River offers the chance to see hippos 

9. It boasts one of the world’s largest salt flats

The Makgadikgadi Pan is all that remains of the defunct Makgadikgadi Lake, which once covered an area the size of Switzerland. Tourists can traverse the arid salt flats on quad bikes by day and watch zebra and wildebeest migrating across it by night. 

The Makgadikgadi Pans

10. It’s one of the freest countries in Africa

According to Freedom House, there are only eight countries in Africa that can truly be described as free – and Botswana is one of them. The other seven are: Cape Verde, Senegal, Tunisia, Ghana, Benin, Namibia and South Africa.

11. It’s big on rhino conservation

Another beleaguered African species, the rhino, which is hunted for its horn, is the star attraction at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in the east of the country. Home to white and black rhinos, the reserve’s inhabitants are closely monitored by conservationists, who are keen to boost the number of rhinos living in Botswana.

Rhino populations are facing a poaching crisis, but Botswana is working to protect them Credit: AP/FOTOLIA

12. You don’t need a visa

At least not if you’re travelling on a British passport, which allows travellers to spend up to six months exploring the country


Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/  telegraphtravel