Johan Calitz Safaris :: Botswana - Country information

Historic summary

Botswana is a multi party, politically stable and democratic country, currently governed by the Botswana Democratic Party under the leadership of President Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

The semi nomadic San people were Botswana's earliest inhabitants. Tribes from the North moved into the area before the first millennium and European missionaries arrived in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1885 Botswana came under British protection to counter the Boer expansion from the South and the Ndebele incursions from the North. The British administered the Bechuanaland Protectorate until 1966, when it granted the Batswana full independence under the leadership of Sir Seretse Khama.

The population numbers about 1, 5 million. The official language is English and the national language is Setswana. The Batswana nation is made up of a number of tribes, among them the Bakgatla, Bamalete, Bamang-wato, Barolong, Bangwaketse, Bakwena, Botlokwa, Batawana, Bakalanga, Basarwa and Bakgalagadi.

The land

Botswana is approximately 581,730km_, and has vast areas (nearly 17%) set aside for responsible wildlife utilization. It is a semi-arid land with an average annual rainfall in the mid east as high as 450mm but as low as 230mm in the Kalahari Desert. The rainy or green season is from November to March.

Climate

Temperatures vary a great deal. March and April are warm, whilst May, June and July are usually cold (5ºC) at night and mild to warm (23ºC) during the day. August and September are warmer, but windy. Daytime temperatures during the green season can get extremely hot, reaching temperatures of well over 40ºC.

Concession areas

We hold large concession areas in both the Okavango Delta and Chobe areas in northern Botswana and also use privately owned hunting areas in the Kalahari as well as the Limpopo region of South-west Botswana (total over 1.2 million hectares). We offer the international hunter/nature lover a wide selection of high quality trophies and various types of hunts in this vast, well populated wilderness with its breathtaking and unspoiled natural beauty.

Okavango Delta area

Surrounded by the parched Kalahari, this emerald expanse, which covers 15,000 square kilometres, is a huge inland delta fed by the flow of the mighty Okavango river. Unlike every other major river in the world, the Okavango never reaches the sea. The Okavango River enters Botswana at Mohembo, having travelled some 1,000km from its source in Angola and is channelled through a 15km-wide corridor between two secondary faults (the pan-handle). The river meanders through papyrus-filled swamps between banks of compacted sand and peat overgrown with Wild Date Palms (permanent swamp) just to disappear into the desert sands of northern Botswana in an endless web of lagoons and lush grassy wetlands (seasonal swamp). The environment fluctuates between wet and dry seasons with the summer rains of the Angola reaching the base of the Delta in the rain-free winter months.

The diverse wildlife, (Buffalo, Lechwe, Sable, Crocodile, Hippo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena, Tsessebe, the illusive Sitatunga and many more) and rich vegetation of this unique area makes it one of Africa's last true wilderness destinations and offers hunters endless challenges and opportunities.

Chobe area

This vast northern area, which gets its name from the great Chobe River, encompasses a wide variety of diverse habitats which are home to great numbers of game and the largest herds of elephant anywhere in Africa. The Chobe is an area of extreme contrasts with a variety of geological features and flora, which vary from the almost tropical habitat of the Linyanti Swamps to the severe, desert-like landscape of the Savuti. It also contrasts from the lush Chobe flood plain grasslands, to the deep sands of the Brachestegia woodland. This is big game country: Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Gemsbok, Kudu and Eland can be found here.

Kalahari area

One of the world's most extensive mantles of sand is the home of the San bushman. The Okavango Delta flows into the Kalahari, and although it is spoken of as a desert, very little of it is.

Most is anchored by sufficient vegetation to attract wildlife that has long since adapted to survival without a permanent water supply in this semi-arid region. Antelope such as Leopard, Gemsbok, Eland, Springbuck, Red Hartebeest, Steenbok, Kudu, Duiker and Warthog can manage without large quantities of water. Game seldom drinks from pans. It is the salts in the clay and the greater variety of vegetation that draws the animals to the pans.

Limpopo region

This is an extremely picturesque and diverse wilderness. It has river-hugging forests, savannah plains, open marshlands and boulder strewn rocky outcrops, punctured by bushveld vegetation. Species that can be hunted include Leopard, Crocodile, Wildebeest, Kudu, Zebra, Impala, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Eland and Giraffe. The area is also known for its prolific bird life.

Camps

Accommodation in the government and community concession areas is provided in luxury/safari-style tents, which can accommodate two people. Comfortable beds, tables, chairs, cupboards, linen and insect repellent are provided. En-suite ablutions offer hot/cold water showers and basins and flush toilets. Basic toiletries and towels are provided. The tents are serviced daily and a laundry service is provided. Scrumptious meals and drinks are served around a campfire on a communal dining deck. In the Kalahari and Limpopo regions, clients are accommodated in similar tented camps or safari lodges.

Health and safety

Fully equipped medical kits, radio communication and satellite phones are available in case of an emergency. Botswana, especially the Okavango Delta, is a high-risk malaria area - consult your doctor or travel clinic and take the necessary precautions. Medical casavac insurance is recommended and can be arranged, at a nominal fee, by the Outfitter. Always carry your travel documents, travellers' checks and cash on your person or ask the outfitter to keep it in safe custody. Consult the World Health Organisation’s website (http://www.who.int/en/) for more information on possible health risks in countries you may visit during your travels to/from Botswana.

Travelling

Please request your local travel agent to assist you with your travel and accommodation arrangements prior to and after the contracted period. Clients fly to JOHANNESBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SOUTH AFRICA) from where they get a connecting flight on Air Botswana to MAUN, BOTSWANA. Private Air charters into Botswana are available. Upon your arrival in Maun, you will be welcomed by our staff and transported to the camp/lodge by either ground transport (hunting vehicles) or air charter. All hunting vehicles are fully equipped and well maintained. Reputable charter companies are used.

Customs, visas and insurance

Customs clearance is operative at your port of entry into South Africa and Botswana. You must have a valid passport and depending on your country of origin, a visa (USA, EU, Common Wealth and SADC citizens do not need visas). Insurance for personal effects, luggage and trip cancellation as well as medical casavac is strongly recommended.

Other documentation

No hunt may take place without valid rifle permits, trophy licenses and hunting cards accompanying the hunting party. Wildlife officials will accompany the hunting party on certain hunts in certain controlled hunting areas to ensure compliance with the law.

Currency & Spending money

The local currency is the Pula but US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted. Traveller's checks and cash are preferred. Personal checks and credit cards are only accepted by the Outfitter upon prior approval. Some hotels, shops and charter companies do accept credit cards but not all. Please enquire beforehand. It is customary to tip staff in recognition of good service. The government levies 10% Value Added Tax on all non-export items, i.e. charters, accommodation, ground transport, etc.

Arms and ammunition

An import/export permit is required for South Africa (SAP311 form - free of charge if you complete the application form at the airport), as well as Botswana (Refer to price list for applicable fee). Two rifles and one shotgun are allowed into the country with a maximum of 100 rounds of ammunition each. No permits are required for bows. Soft bags are preferred, especially if clients are making use of air charters. Assistance with permits when entering SA is available, at a nominal fee, upon request. Application for import/export permits of firearms into Botswana must be applied for on the applicable form and returned to the Outfitter well in advance. Firearms entering Botswana without a valid permit will be confiscated.

Most shots are taken at medium range. We recommend a medium calibre rifle, such as a .270 Winchester to a .375 H&H Magnum. A minimum of a .375 H&H Magnum is required by law for dangerous game. No handguns, semi automatic or military style firearms are permitted. Firearms and shotgun ammunition can be hired by prior arrangement.

Packing list

The following is recommended -

•	Lightweight cottons and linens in natural coloured cloth (laundry service daily);
•	Comfortable walking shoes, natural fibre socks;
•	Long trousers, a tracksuit or sweater and warm weather resistant jacket;
•	Hat, sunglasses;
•	Binoculars, camera, flash, film;
•	Step-down converter (220 - 110 volt);
•	Gas operated hair dryer/hot brush;
•	Anti-malaria medication, prescription drugs, personal toiletries, sun-block;
•	Raincoat;
•	Ammo belt
•	Satellite phone (if regularly required)

Packing, dipping and shipping of trophies

An import and export CITES permit for Appendix I and an export CITES permit for Appendix II animals are required for each shipment. Field preparation of trophies are done in camp and transported to the nearest shipping agent designated by the outfitter. Where possible, clients will be taken to the shipping agent to discuss their requirements and arrange for the payment of services, prior to clients' homeward bound flight. Clients should have sufficient trophy tags and full shipping instructions handy and should make sure that their skinning instructions are clearly recorded in the outfitter's hunting register.