FOOD ON SAFARI - The food on safari is delicious and ranges from simple to gourmet. You can expect lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and wonderful homemade soups. Chicken, lamb, beef or pork are usually served at lunch and dinner as well fish and vegetarian dishes. Breakfast is buffet with lots of tropical fruits, hot and cold cereals, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, breads and pastries and eggs to order. Lunch can be either buffet or served at the table and always starts with soup. Dinner is usually a 4 or 5 course sit-down affair, although there is no need to dress up.

THE BEST TIME TO GO - The best time to visit Botswana is from April through mid November. This is during the dry season, and the animals tend to gather along the winding waterways of the Okavango Delta and near rivers and water holes in the dryer areas. Temperatures are fairly moderate during this time. The rainy season is from mid-November through March. During this time of year millions of migratory birds descend on the water filled pans and swamps so it is a great time for bird watching and for the dryer areas such at the Kalahari Desert or the pans of the Makgadikgadi. The wildlife viewing is good to, but the animals tend to be harder to spot because of the tall grasses.

BOTTLED AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - Wine, beer, liqours, bottled water, sodas and alcoholic beverages are available at all camps and lodges and are usually included in the trip price.

CLOTHING ON SAFARI - Comfortable, casual clothing that is lightweight and easy to care for is the best bet while on safari. It can be quite cool in the early mornings, so you'll want to dress warmly in layers, until the sun has a chance to warm up the air. "Botswana Convertibles", khaki pants with zip-off legs, are perfect for cool early morning game drives that turn warm before you're back in camp. Walking shorts, long pants, cotton shirts and tees are just right. For ladies, shorts are not generally accepted on streets in Africa. A cotton bush jacket or wind-breaker will be useful along with a warm sweater or fleece jacket for the cool nights. And, a hat that ties on is a must. There is not a good deal of long walking or hiking on most safaris, so a comfortable pair of walking shoes or tennis shoes and a pair of sandals should be adequate. You will need thorn-proof soles.

EXERCISE - Generally there are no places to jog and there will not be much time for exercise, although we do try to include some walking where it is safe and legal. It is possible to do some walking and exercising within the lodge or camp grounds but because the wildlife is "wild" it is not safe to venture away from the grounds. Also, walking in not allowed in the national parks without permission and is usually escorted by an armed guard.

MONEY AND CASH - The local currency in Botswana is the Pula. Major credit cards are accepted at hotels and some safari camps "in the bush". However - don't even think about finding an ATM machine! US dollars, Euros and South African Rand, are readily accepted. Travelers Checks can be cashed at Banks and some Hotels but small denominations are recommended.

CHILDREN ON SAFARI - Children are welcome in most safari camps, however they often will require that you use a private vehicle (sometimes at an additional cost) if for those under 12 years old. Many camps also have separated family accommodations that may be required for you to use. There are also several camps that specialize in families.  

TIPPING AND GRATUITIES- As a custom, tipping is not compulsory, but is usually expected as a sign of appreciation of good service in lodges, bars and restaurants and tented camps. Safari guides depend on tipping for a large part of their income, so be sure to bring extra cash for tipping your guide at the end of your safari. You will receive tipping guidelines prior to your departure.

ELECTRICITY - Most of the remote safari camps rely on solar power, or have limited use of generators. This provides enough electricity to recharge cameras, but is not powerful enough for hair dryers.  In larger lodges and hotels they use 220V with South African, or UK standard plugs.   You can also bring an Inverter, that plugs into the cigarette lighter of the safari vehicle.

TRAVELING ON YOUR OWN - Botswana is a vast and wild country with a regulated tourism industry. Unlike some areas of South America, South Africa and other wild places, tourists can not go it alone, as a 4x4 vehicle is usually needed, along with park permits, camp permits, lodging reservations, and dangers from wild animals.