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Places to explore
biodiversity
Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country in the middle of southern
Africa that occupies an area of about 581 730 km2 and yet has a
population of only about 1.5 million people. It is an amazing country of
contrasts ranging from the harsh dryness of the Kalahari Desert to the lush
waterways of the Okavango Delta.
Endemism of plants and animals is very low largely because
the vegetation and soil types within Botswana extend over the borders into
adjoining countries. Also, there are not high mountain ranges where endemic
biotas have evolved. Species diversity is also not particularly spectacular,
compared to other regions in southern Africa. For example, there are 150 species
of mammal, 570 species of birds, and 2150-3000 species of plant. Nevertheless,
the conservation areas are among the most popular ecotourist destinations in
southern Africa because of the spectacular abundance of wildlife. The Okavango
Delta and Chobe Reserves also have vegetation that attracts a few tropical
species from further north, not represented anywhere else in southern Africa.
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Hippos near Xaxaba, Okavango Swamps. [photo D.
Hamerton ©] |
Conservation areas
A total of 30.2% of Botswana is protected for wildlife,
which is a high percentage by Africa standards.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
At 52 800 square kilometres, this game reserve is one of the largest in
Africa and in area is larger than Denmark or Switzerland. It lies in the
centre of Botswana and habitats include huge open plains, saltpans and
(usually dry) river beds.
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Chobe National Park
At 10 566 km2, this is the second largest national park in
Botswana. It has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa,
including an exceptionally high concentration of elephants.
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Gaborone Game Reserve
A small (600 ha) game reserve in Gaborone that despite its
size is the third busiest reserve in all of Botswana.
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Kgalagadi Trans-frontier Park
A reserve encompassing both South African and Botswanan territory, amounting
to 38000 square km.
See also
Sanparks web page.
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Khutse Game Reserve
Totals 2500 km2 and includes mainly Kalahari
bush savanna. |
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Makgadikgadi
Pans National Park and
Nxai Pans National Park
Huge salt pans.
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Mokolodi Nature Reserve
A 3000 ha private reserve managed by the Mokolodi Wildlife
Foundation that lies 10 km SW of Gaborone.
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Manyelanong Game Reserve
A small reserve 15 km from Lobatse on the Gaborone Road
that is home to an important breeding site for
Cape vultures. |
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Mashatu
Game Reserve
Covers 46 000 ha making it the largest private reserve in
southern Africa. It lies in the region between the Shashe and Limpopo rivers
south of the Tuli Circle and habitats include savanna plains, marshland,
riverine forests and sandstone outcrops. |
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Moremi Game Reserve
Occupies the eastern section of the Okavango Delta,
covering 4871 km2. |
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Okavango Delta
The largest inland delta in the world. There are websites covering specific
projects (e.g.
Ramsar,
Conservation International) in the Okavango Delta or commercial tourism
operations (e.g.
Island Safaris) but there seems to be no single site that impartially
coordinates information about this special region. The Okavango Delta
includes the
Moremi Game Reserve. |
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Links
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