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South Africa’s number one travel and outdoor lifestyle magazine. We pay our own way and tell it like it is. We drive back roads and speak to real people, giving you practical information about affordable destinations in southern Africa. Each issue is crammed with excellent photography, honest gear reviews and delicious recipes to make at home or in the bundu. Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or a month, your journey starts here.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

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AT THE BORDER

TRAVEL TIPS

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Your place in the food chain • We’re taught that humankind is the pinnacle of evolution, ruling over fish, birds and all other animals. But a grumpy hippo in the Zambezi River? He clearly didn’t get that memo, writes Pierre Steyn.

NORTHERN BOTSWANA

SOUTHERN BOTSWANA

The Delta Effect • Imagine spending a month in the heart of the Okavango Delta. That’s what this young photographer did, first among the leopards of the Xudum concession and later walking with the animals on Chief’s Island. Heaven!

The leopard of a lifetime • If you’re into wildlife photography, you probably dream of taking a great photo of a leopard in a tree. Charl Stols does that sort of thing for a living, but one day back in 2018, he got a whole lot more than he’d bargained for…

Panda coffee! • A coffee shop in Pandamatenga? Yup, that sounds unlikely. But when resourceful farmer Hill van Schalkwyk decided to plant coffee trees almost a decade ago, the die was cast.

Rough diamond • Not many people even know that Orapa Game Park exists, but once you realise this is one of the best places in Botswana to see rhino, you’ll want to take a turn past on your next road trip.

STAY HERE • A holiday in Botswana means you’ll be driving long distances… A good overnight spot is a necessity. Our writers recommend these places in Botswana and along its borders. Unless stated otherwise, the rates listed are for 2027. Use them as a guideline only. Always call or e-mail to double-check beforehand.

SOUTHERN BOTSWANA

CENTRAL BOTSWANA

NORTHERN BOTSWANA

Muchenje Campsite & Cottages

Bring the heat! • A bikepacking adventure from Rundu to Vic Falls in the middle of summer? Well, it’s not for everyone…

NAMIBIA

Kazondwe Lodge and Camping

ZIMBABWE Mukumbura

Zim for the win! • This 10-day road trip is a good introduction to the western part of Zimbabwe, and it’s easy to tag onto your Botswana travel plans. You’ll drive some terrible tar roads, some good ones, and some gravel roads, so you’ll need a vehicle with good ground clearance.

ZIMBABWE

ZAMBIA

Long way up to Liuwa Plain • On her first visit to Zambia, reader Tersia Theron explored the western part of the country along the Zambezi River, up to the remote Liuwa Plain National Park.

ZAMBIA

LETTER FROM Hwange • In Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, it’s better to sit still and let nature come to you, writes Toast Coetzer.

BOTSWANA AT ITS BEST