Botswana, in Africa, has a network of protected areas and biodiversity reserves where wildlife can thrive freely. The national parks in Botswana: Chobe, Nxai Pan, as well as the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Makgadikgadi National Park and the Gemsbok and Makgadikgadi Pans Reserves are managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) based in Gaborone.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), in 2018, protected areas in Botswana covered approximately 29.14% of the national territory. This amounts to an area of 169,370 km² divided into 22 areas, classified into 5 distinct categories. These areas include four national parks, six forest reserves, six game reserves, three bird sanctuaries, and one game sanctuary. The Okavango Delta, known as the Jewel of Botswana, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the entire delta system is considered a Ramsar site of international importance for wetland conservation.
Additionally, Botswana has designated the Okavango Delta System as a site of international importance under Ramsar, covering an area of 5,537,400 hectares.
The most popular way to explore Botswana’s national parks is through self-guided safaris. Many travelers choose to drive a sturdy off-road vehicle and have experience camping in the wild to camp independently in the savannah. However, it is important to note that DWNP regulates these safaris with strict laws to ensure the safety of travelers and wildlife. For example, it is prohibited to drive at night or at any other time that may pose a danger.
