Recently, I was lucky to enough to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Botswana for a Science competition. In between the examinations, I had the chance to tour Botswana, and visit its most prestigious places. Here, I will be talking about the attractions to look out for when you’re in Botswana.
If you’ve never seen a lion before, or if you’re tired of the swealtering heat, or if you’re in the mood for a roller coaster thrill, then the Lion Park Resort is your best resort (see what I did there?) Lion Park has it all–be it a 360 degree loop roller coaster, flying swings, teacups, ferris wheel, lazy river, swimming pool which has a wave machine, kids swimming pool , water slides, a train that goes around the park, lions that sit behind an electric fence for everyone to gaze and amaze, and most importantly, it has a periodic table right next to its entrance (believe it or not!) I, as a competitor of a science competition, naturally took tons of photos in front of it. Apart from the regular theme park stuff, tourists can actually set up camp, literally, in the campsite in Lion Park. All you need to is to bring a tent and some food, and you are set for the night! The Lion Park resort is just 15 km from Gaborone, the largest city in Botswana. Don’t hesitate to take a look!
What if you’re tired of both amusement parks and lions? No worries, try the Mokolodi Nature Reserve! It is a private non-profit game reserve also situated near Gaborone. They host a variety of events, such as game drives (safari trucks drive you around the reserve to look at animals), camping sites, and they have a wonderful restaurant (Don’t worry, they cook with meat bought from other places). Guests that don’t think they can enjoy all activities within one day can choose to stay at the motel located there. For me, I went on one of the game drives.
Before I talk about the all the wonderful animals that I saw during the drive, I have to say that the ride was not at all comfortable. The truck had minimal suspension, and the road was full of bumps. Don’t expect your bottom to stay safe during the trip! Anyways, back to the wonderful part of the trip. I saw loads of animals there, such as impalas, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras. There was a group of giraffes by the lake feeding on the trees next to it and drinkng the clear water. A bit later, I saw a herd of zebras, and their living patterns exactly match what I see in the National Geographic clips. The zebras clump together so the stripes as a whole confuse their predators, and that is exactly what I saw–Even me, a human, was almost confused by the zebras, let alone some random predator that happened to be walking past. Then, the driver drove past a caged site–we were informed that there were a few hyenas living in there. Luckily, we saw one hyena resting in the shade under a bush, and it even growled at us when the driver got out of the bus and tapped the cage.
Apart from the animals living there, the trees from the nature are also very special, and they arent found in urban places. In fact, they are the most typical trees that you would see in any cartoon or documentary about the savannah–short with few leaves. The trees also grew quite far from each other, as Botswana is extremely dry and the trees probably struggle to get enough water. The entire thing is pretty much what you’d expect to see in Africa–yet you’d still be surprised when you see the animals and the trees with your own eyes.
Taking a break from natural scenery, I now take you to the Phuthadikobo Museum, located not far away from Gaborone. The Phuthadikobo Museum was originally a classroom constructed for the education of students, but now, it has been transformed to a museum that displays various historical tools that ancient Botswana people used, as well as displays about the tribe culture in Botswana that has persisted until now. I won’t spoil the tour for you, but I am sure to say that you will be intrigued and surprised by everything the guide says, from the lifestyle of ancient Botswana people to the battle of the tribe leaders. Unfortunately, the museum does not allow taking pictures, so I cannot share the pictures here with you guys. However, I really recommend going to this museum if you ever are in Botswana, just to learn a bit more about the Botswana culture and broaden your horizons.
Well, that’s about it for this post. I hope that I informed you well about the tourist attractions in Botswana, and that I shed some light on the lesser known part of Southern Africa. Even though Botswana is a developing country, it is richly filled with culture and history which you will not ever forget in your lifetime, and I seriously urge you, if you have the chance, to give Botswana a visit.
Herman
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