Safaris in Botswana have become big business, a major factor in why the economy here has seen rapid expansion over the past decade.
It’s an easy trip from Johannesburg -- the Okavango River delta is home to elephants, leopards, lions, and many of the other animals people venture to the bottom of the Earth to see. But you’ll see far fewer safari jeeps in Botswana than in neighboring South Africa or Tanzania.
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are another scenic wonder, vast stretches of white sand that look like snow in triple-digit heat. Take a 4x4 though for the best experience, but pack a dust mask. Botswana is also an ideal destination for anthropology, where you can walk with the San bushmen and see how they’ve been living the same way for centuries.