Aren’t you afraid of Botswana? A popular question asked by family and friends a lot back in the Netherlands. Uncles, aunts, friends and former colleagues often find it hard to imagine travelling through Africa themselves. For some reason, they do not have a good image of a safari in Botswana. Botswana used to be one of the poorest countries in the world, it can’t be safe’, is a common thought.
That is why we understand questions like;
– Isn’t it dangerous to sleep in a rooftop tent in the middle of the bush?
– What do you do when you need medical care?
– Can the people there be trusted?
– And is it safe to drive your own car?
In this blog, I would like to elaborate on that. I will answer those questions and discuss the 5 biggest dangers of a safari in Botswana. And I can already tell you; that the last and biggest danger will surprise you!
Ok, first let’s brush up on our general knowledge. Here is some trivia. Botswana is a country with over 2,3 million inhabitants and has a population density of 4 inhabitants per km2. Just to give you an idea: in the Netherlands, there are 482 inhabitants per km2. So, you can say that Botswana has plenty of space. Enough about that, time for our promised top 5.
1. Crime in Botswana
Sounds exciting, but let’s get right to it. Botswana is a safe country with little crime. Of course, there are pickpockets and thieves, but mainly in the bigger cities. With our trips and safaris in Botswana, you will spend a lot of time in the beautiful nature, far away from the big city. By using your common sense you’ll come a long way and you’ll never really have to be afraid, no matter what kind of situation you’re in.
With our trips and safaris in Botswana, you will spend a lot of time in the beautiful nature.
2. Self-travel in Botswana
Of course, there are also organised group tours in Botswana and you can decide to travel with a driver. But we do advise you to get behind the wheel yourself and choose your own adventure (we will be happy to help you with that). Why? It makes the journey so much more intense and exciting. And you know, the Botswana people are really sweet and always helpful. So if you need help along the way or have a breakdown, there is always someone around to lend you a hand.
'We can downplay it, but to be honest, we’d like to be straight with you. This is the seriously big danger of a safari in Botswana'.
3. Medical assistance in Botswana
Are you venturing a little further from civilisation, in the middle of unspoilt nature, and do you need acute medical assistance? Nowadays, that is not a problem either. Just call 995 and doctor Misha from Okavango Air Rescue will come to you by helicopter. The experienced doctor will give you the medical care you need, anywhere in Botswana. We always offer this service in our customized safaris… Okavango Air Rescue is stationed in Maun, the beating heart of this fantastic safari country. This way, travelling in Botswana becomes a little less scary or dangerous.
4. Sleeping in the Botswana wilderness
Sleeping on top of your Land Cruiser in a rooftop tent in the middle of the wilderness, that’s mega dangerous, isn’t it? Fortunately, it is not that dangerous. Especially when you know that 99% of all animals will never attack you. Of course, at all times it is important that you stay calm and don’t start screaming and running. As Botswana Specialist Willem wrote on the cover of his book: If you run, you die! Even during the night, when you are lying in your rooftop tent, you might hear a lion roaring in the distance. Or a hippo runs past your car. Relax, enjoy the adventure, there is absolutely no reason to panic. Truth be told, at this point, the wild animals already see a car with a rooftop tent as part of their environment.
‘Even during the night, when you are lying in your rooftop tent, you might hear a lion roaring in the distance.
5. Botswana’s biggest danger!
Watch out! This is really the biggest danger of travelling in Botswana or going on safari in Botswana. Do you have these plans? Keep the following in mind at all times. Write it on the front of your travel journal. Share it with your friends and family so they are also prepared for this danger. Because we can downplay it, but to be honest, we’d like to be straight with you. This is the seriously big danger of a safari in Botswana? This country is so beautiful, so pure, so wild, so cool, so fantastic… that the chances of you never wanting to go back home are very high. When Botswana gets into your veins, you are hooked.
Do you want to defy that danger? Let’s take a moment to chat over a casual call.
