When it comes to the savannah, I remember somebody once saying that if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all! Much to the displeasure of the one who coined this opinion, I would have to disagree; to some degree if not completely altogether. And I just love it when I am right; particularly in advocacy of this emerging safari destination in the South African neighbourhood. If you are fond of truly living all the days of your remaining life and being catered to sensible opinions, this one is for you. With all the makings of Xanadu and something of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Botswana is simply mind-blowing (and I don’t use that word very frequently!)
Botswana does not leave much in the way of haziness regarding which of its facets it wants you to see and safaris are the determining traits of the country at large. The natural premise and pastoral setting of the Chobe National Park alone is inviting enough and right from the get-go, the travellers are charged with hype. If you have ever been to a safari before, anywhere in Africa, then you have an idea of what to expect from Botswana; but with a few cosmetic changes in the tectonics of course. Instead of the dry Sahara, you have got the temperateKalahari Desert; instead of two dry seasons of Eastern Africa, the Southern portion bears only one. Not much of an infrastructure embellishes this savannah; its only adornment is a jeep drive across the geography, surrounded on the sides with local huts and resorts where travellers usually retire and divert their attention with cards, carom or Wi-Fi. So let your eagerness get the better of you. Travelhouseuk is more than happy to provide you with cheap flights to Botswana.
So much is Botswana tagged with the safari motif, of which the country itself is no doubt a promising folio of unspoilt vegetation with generous helpings of diverse wildlife, little wonder as to why it is so much sought after by naturalists and nature lovers; gamers and thrill-seeking daredevils. Last time I checked, nearly 40% of the nation’s land is under wildlife protection and anti-poaching surveillance which only exploded the numbers of fauna species across the territory. Generally speaking, Elephants and the collective body of the bovine offshoots graze around in large herds along with most of the mainstream predators of Africa – lions, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas. The Moremi Game Reserve and Khama Rhino Sanctuary round off the main lot of tourist spots a traveller must visit
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Big-game hunting is, of course, a proper compliment to the place and environment of game reserves and this is much to the taste of the country’s tourism sector, for which the rise in revenue is of prime importance, and a great deal is pretty much furnished by the safari-fandom alone. Those with the least bit of respect for animal rights might not find much of a delight in this but no five fingers are equal in the same respect. Nevertheless, the country owns its tourists and provides for them as much convenience as it can. Take for example the improvement of road routes, concessions for hunting and the prevention of illegal poaching. In our day, Botswana possesses a network of roads and quality highways. Still, travelling to far-off quarters requires a 4×4 at least- not much of a concern for the posh fortune-hunters who usually comprise the majority of the hunting parties.
Be that first-hand witness to fame falling short of the truth. Now safaris are not all about the glitz and glamour of sizes and breeds. There is so much taking place, covertly and overtly, that it is tough to make sense of it as a whole. Leaping beyond the archetypical status of thatTV footage on that ah so well-known channel- the name is so familiar to all of us that my saying it out loud would not be necessary- the conscious awareness of seeing the animals in action and yourself being a part of it, perhaps, gives the genuine feel to it. Calling them dead meat before their breath and blood runs out might be a bit of a stretch. Let the game carry the show through its entire run, which sets hunting apart from other ventures in the realm of adventure. Every hunting episode is action-packed, usually with impossibly hot pursuits, hit and runs, face-offs and checkmate! But that is half the fun. Showcasing your ‘merchandise’ later on gives your blood a tincture of pride that perhaps only a hunter can relate to. Now and then, poor natives seeing the action going on from the background may approach you with humble stoops, praising your feats of bravado in taking down the big game and finally requesting for a little share of it for themselves. All the more reason to go after the big game you see? The phenomenon is so localized yet so universal in feel that it reminds you of the cemented ties that man has with nature. Take a look inside and discover your hitherto dormant psychological undercurrents- there is fever as well as fervour at play here, under the garb of passionate gaming rhapsodies. Safari pays you in its own coin after all.
While Botswana might be an enormously more lucid example of the safari trademark, it shares a lot of common traits with those of its neighbouring states; the difference lies chiefly in its focus on making it appealing for fewer people, selected people. The real gems of the expedition are the great resorts. Having a taste of European standards in resorts like Belmond Eagle Island Lodge and Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, with lots of guided safari activity for amateurs is sure to leave a lasting impression on you, such as only Botswana can deliver. The shifting line-up of episodic activities gives this trip the feeling of an anthology, and it is very much likely that just as I can have my own preferred set of epic chapters, others will find their own list to brag about. Marching on to the wilderness or wheeling around for the resorts, Botswana is a safe haven for all those safari fans who have taken the pains to read the article this far.
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