Safari in Botswana: exuberant wildlife alongside elephants and lions

From the window of the twin-engine plane, high up, I see a herd of elephants drinking water in a lagoon. The raw, wild nature reveals itself even more exuberant on the ground: on the way to the hotel, giraffes, leopards and even families of lions are just a few meters away from me, indicating that the trip to Botswana It’s more than a nature show: it’s a life transformation.

With landscapes marked by Kalahari desert and by Okavango Delta Botswana is a country of Southern Africa which is famous for its memorable landscapes and immersion in nature through safaris.

They are diverse national parks and reservations that help with the task, with abundant animal life: to give you an idea, the country has one of the largest elephant populations in the world with estimates of around 150 thousand individuals.

Showing some of this richness was my mission during the recording of CNN Viagem & Gastronomia, as the 8th season ended with two episodes in the African country. They were days of great excitement, with constant surprises and animals that I had never imagined seeing so close up.

Botswana is definitely one of those reciprocal destinations: at the same time that we leave a little of ourselves, we carry new learnings for the next journeys.

The arrival

After touring the natural and gastronomic wonders of Cape Town, South Africa, the trip to Botswana was a task divided into stages.

The first flight landed in Maun a city that is the gateway to tourism in the country. From there, I took another flight, this time in a twin engine, towards Savute my first destination in Botswana.

Savute is an isolated area bordering the Okavango Delta to the west and the Chobe National Park to the east, which results in a land of raw and surprising nature.

Before arriving in Savute, the small aircraft made stops at other locations to drop off passengers along the way. From above, the savannah horizon appeared and the animals ran free.

After three stops, I arrived at Savute International Airport. But make no mistake: there is no control tower, terminal or parking, just a track that cuts through the savannah, an indication that adventures are waiting for us.

And they had already begun: the transfer to the Savute Elephant Lodge from the seal of Belmond Safaris is already a safari in itself.

The car is one of those adapted for the activity and the path gives a sample of what we found in the region: giraffes ate leaves from the trees, lionesses played with cubs and even a leopard watched us from the top of a rock. And check-in at the hotel hadn’t even been done yet.

Savute Elephant Lodge: unparalleled accommodation

THE Chobe National Park protects an area of ​​10,700 km² in the north of the Kalahari Desert, featuring floodplains and mopane trees, a southern African species adapted to arid environments. Elephants, herds of buffalo, prides of lions and birds of the most varied types call this area home.

It is in the middle of this enclosure that the exclusive Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge which offers us 12 luxury tents, with capacity for just 24 people. The beauty of the place is breathtaking and the goosebumps begin upon arrival, when the team gathers at the door with typical singing and dancing in a welcome ritual that is exciting from beginning to end.

The commotion doesn’t stop there: the hotel is right in front of the Savute canal, where a water fountain attracts elephants day and night just a few meters from the rooms. Waking up and coming face to face with them in their natural habitat is an invaluable experience.

Over the days, we become accustomed to the sounds that mammals make. At first, it is normal for fear to be present, but, over time, we understand the meaning: screams occur mainly when an individual from outside the herd enters the group and when parents want to protect their children from predators.

Rustic and with a sophisticated simplicity, the accommodations are in 52 m² tents, each one elevated on a wooden platform to allow animal sightings. From breakfast to dinner, everything is included even certain rituals and fireside meals.

A swimming pool and massage space help you relax in this unparalleled environment, but walks around the surrounding area are the highlights of the stay. Baobab groves, visiting cave paintings, picnics in the savannah, stargazing and, of course, the longed-for safaris are on the list.

Safaris: immersion in animal life

Lions, elephants, hippos, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes and hundreds of species of birds are just some of the animals we encounter along the way in a safari through Chobe National Park .

Real animal life unfolds before our eyes and the tours carried out in the area are as respectful as possible, in which we contribute to the preservation of species and the income of local life.

I had already taken other safaris in other African countries, but, once again, the lesson is that a safari is synonymous with patience. It is understanding that nature does not follow our clock. Therefore, it is a unique opportunity to acquire more knowledge, with a taste of wanting more with each trip.

All of this is better utilized alongside local professionals who transfer all the learnings to us, leaving us confident and safe. The advantage of safaris in Chobe National Park is that each one is different: morning, afternoon or night, they all have unique characteristics and unexpected encounters, as the animals do not follow a script.

On one of the trips, the guide at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge showed me an elephant skeleton. After some time in the savanna, we came across lions sleeping with cubs just a few meters from the open vehicle.

On one of the tours taken at sunrise, we stopped the car and had breakfast just a few steps away from a herd of calm elephants. The meal was washed down with Amarula and, without a doubt, it was on the list of the most incredible and unusual activities I’ve ever done.

Encounter with elephants

Going on a safari in this style is also expect the unexpected : At one point, when I was very close to the lodge, a smaller elephant came towards the car. “Don’t worry,” the guide said calmly. To reassure him, the solution was to remain still, without sudden movements, so that we would not be read as a threat.

At the same time, a male elephant approached the car from another point. With his hormones raging, he was looking for a female. Understanding the situation, the guide assessed that the solution was to leave calmly. My heart raced, of course, but the knowledge of the local team was a balm to reassure us.

One of the most memorable moments happened when more than 90 elephants gathered in front of the lodge to drink water, an impressive and rare scene to witness.

To crown the end of this day, Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge organized a bar on top of a small dune with stunning views of the horizon at sunset. The moment entered my memory and, from this point on, I started to take a little bit of Botswana with me on other trips around the world.

When and how to visit Botswana

Brazilians do not need a visa to enter Botswana with tourist stays of up to 90 days. According to Anvisa, the African country requires yellow fever vaccine certificate for our entrance.

Another important decision is: when to go? Generally speaking, Botswana has the rainy season and the dry . In Chobe National Park, the first occurs between December and April, and the second between May and November.

For a first visit to the region, the dry season is the most recommended, when most of the animals are around the riverbank. During the rainy season, a greater variety of birds appear and the lodges become emptier.

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Source: CNN Brasil