Advice For Potential Visitors

Titus B&B: The Living Room

Titus B&B: Master Bedroom

Titus B&B: Guest Bedroom #1

If you know us very well or you have visited us before in any of the many places we have lived, you'll know that we like to treat our guests as well as were are able. We figure, if our friends have gone to the trouble and expense to get to our location, we want to pick up much of the tab from that point on, and to make sure they are happy, well-fed, and entertained so that they are glad they made the trip. 

Botswana poses new challenges for us in that regard.

Titus B&B: The Kitchen

The trip to get here is expensive and long. The City of Gaborone, though certainly interesting, is probably no place you would want to go as a destination in and of itself. There are almost no restaurants outside of the pricey chains found in malls and ex-pat hangouts. Grocery stores are fairly limited, especially if you have any dietary restrictions. Our apartment is modest and although we have two window air conditioners, we don't know how effectively we will be able to cool the place in summer, given that our hot water heater is still not working after 6 weeks of trying to get it repaired. We have a small washer, but it doesn't spin, so the clothes come out sopping wet and must be line dried. We are short on supplies like guest sheets and towels though we have just enough to get by. Our car is a 12 year old Toyota Corolla with very little clearance and not appropriate for rough unpaved roads such as those found in the remote parks. If you can live with these kinds of limitations, we would love to see you here and will do our best to make you comfortable! Below is a little info to help you evaluate what you could expect to see and experience in and near Botswana.

THE BIG FIVE & SAFARIS

Lots of people who come to Africa are intent on seeing all of the "Big Five", a term originally used by game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot-lion, cape buffalo, elephant, black rhino, and leopard. If you are intent on seeing all of the big five, you will need to book a guided "safari" with an outfitter that supplies 4WD transportation, luxury bushcamp facilities, and logistical support (and often cocktails at the waterhole). Most of these are very, very expensive (500 USD per person per night and up) and often they are booked many months in advance. The good news is that high season is almost over, so advance booking may not be an issue when you come.

The closest of the big game reserves that offer safaris is located just over the border in South

Africa at Madikwe Game Reserve:

http://www.madikwe-game-reserve.co.za/

A budget alternative at Madikwe might be to make a day visit, but day visitors are allowed in the Reserve only if they book through a lodge prior to the arrival date. According to the website, a two and half hour guided game drive, which includes lunch, will be arranged for day visitors at a reasonable fee. Different lodges charge different fees. We have not yet had a chance to look into this.

What many consider to be the jewel of Botswana is the Okavango Delta. It is renowned for it's unspoiled terrain and abundance of wildlife. We really hope to go there at some point, but are still trying to find an affordable option.

http://www.okavango-delta.net/

Another popular destination for safaris is Chobe National Park, which is near the border with Zimbabwe, and thus tourists often add a side trip to Victoria Falls. Google it to learn more!

Also check out:

http://www.botswana-travel-guide.com/bradt_guide.asp?bradt=931

You could rent a 4WD (some of which have pop-up tents on the roof) when you get here and plan your own trip, but bear in mind that the roads vary and there are entrance fees for all of the parks, some of which are significantly more expensive for foreigners.

There are lots of other places you could go; too many to describe here. Look at Google Map and explore not only Botswana but also Namibia and South Africa.

ALTERNATIVELY

Below are some places WE could take you, if you are comfortable with rustic

camping and are satisfied without seeing the "Big Five."

Mokolodi Wildlife Reserve-this would be a day trip as it is only about 15 miles

from Gaborone. Roads are rough but drivable in a sedan. Lots of wildlife,

especially birds, rhino, antelope, and warthogs, but none of the big predators (lions, etc), except for a few cheetah and hyenas in an enclosure:

http://www.mokolodi.com/

Mokolodi offers horseback safaris also for a very modest price.

Gaborone Game Reserve-right in town and drivable in a sedan. Abundant wildlife but none of the big predators. Plentiful zebra, ostrich, warthog, kudu, impala and steenbok.  Terrific birding and inexpensive! See:  http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/attractions/gaborone_game_reserve.html

Botsalano Game Reserve in South Africa-about a 4 hour drive from Gaborone

including the border crossing. Drivable in a sedan, and camping is allowed (You would need to bring your own camping supplies as we only have a 2-person backpacking tent).

http://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/botsalano/

The National Botanical Gardens is just two blocks from our house and they are working to propogate native plants collected from nearby villages but are hampered by budgetary and staff limitations. Still, it is a nice place to walk and there are many birds and a colony of rock hyrax as well as the occasional monkey troop going through for added entertainment.

Downtown Gaborone consists of a pedestrian mall near the government offices with lovely gardens and a variety of handicrafts vendors. We can also take a bus to a number of nearby villages to see traditional architecture or just admire the countryside.

Another closeby destination is Otse Cape Vulture Reserve: http://www.birdlifebotswana.org.bw/cape_vulture_environmental_club.html

The Nata Bird Sanctuary is about 6 hours away:

http://www.birdlifebotswana.org.bw/nata_sanctury_trust.html

Next weekend we'll be making a trip by car to Nata (near the Sowa Pan), Kasane (near Chobe), and then to the Tuli Block (eastern Botswana by the Limpopo River) to a private farm with Birdlife Botswana. When we return, we'll let you know how that went, what we saw, and how affordable the trip would be for you.

So we imagine you are wondering about timing. It seem like many folks are thinking of coming over the holidays in late December-January. This should be fine as Jon will have a break from UB, but unfortunately, we can't give you specific dates for his schedule right now. The University has a lengthy process after classes have ended during which every professor's tests and grades are reviewed and approved by departmental committees before the grades can be recorded. We are not sure how long this will take. The other possible complication is making sure we are here for multiple houseguests (that, for example, we are not out on Safari with one houseguest when another arrives at the airport.) So if you are thinking of coming let us know the dates as soon as possible and we will pencil you in on the calendar so that we can plan with others accordingly.

We really do hope you will come. After you make your plans, we'll let you know about vaccinations and things you will need to bring if you like.

Send us your specific questions and concerns via email or comment and we will try to make this as easy for you as possible!