How do I describe Botswana? It’s important that I am very honest with you here. Southern Africa is a magical place, and you can only truly understand its beauty if you experience it firsthand. It is almost impossible to describe Botswana and paint a proper picture for you, but I’ll try my best.

Elephant in Botswana

You see, at Natural Habitat Adventures we are blessed to go on Site Inspections and experience these beautiful natural destinations. Over the years, I have heard my colleagues and clients express their love for Africa…Botswana in particular. I never thought I would have the opportunity to visit Africa, let alone Botswana. But last year, my dream came true and I was able to join a Botswana safari!

I wanted to go on this trip for two reasons:

  1. I had the beautiful blessing of meeting a guest on a previous trip several years ago and we became incredible friends—family, really. I knew she would be on this trip and I wanted to surprise my dear friend, who I lovingly call “Mama Wickie.”
  2. I LOVE ANIMALS! I love nature, the places we get to visit, the people we get to meet. I love our company and the experiences they create for all of us. This is not just a nature destination, this is a Nat Hab destination that will take you beyond what you thought was possible.

Nat Hab in Botswana

Picture the evening of the summer solstice—June 21, 2017—as I listened to a beautiful melody made by hippos and elephants just outside my safari tent, I suddenly realized, “I’m really in Botswana”!

The summer solstice was only three days into my Botswana safari, and I was already hooked. I had seen hippo, lion, zebra, wildebeest, elephant, monkeys, leopard, giraffe, crocodiles, endless amounts of birds, impala, and Cape buffalo! Not just a few, but MANY!

Zebra in Botswana

This Botswana trip allows you to encounter animals in their natural environment and experience the incredible welcome of the beautiful local people and their culture. Your fellow travelers will quickly become your friends and maybe even your friends for a lifetime. It is the feeling you get as you walk along the bridge at the base of Victoria Falls as the mist from the falls showers your face. It is the entire experience and the beautiful combination of what Botswana has to offer you and willingly gives you.

As I was writing this in the amazing Linyanti Tented Camp, I became overwhelmed with gratitude that I was this lucky. I was listening to the hippos munching away in the Linyanti River and to a lone bull elephant splashing in the water, knowing it was the same elephant we saw as we drove into our camp earlier that day.

This was day three of our Secluded Botswana Safari, and I knew this adventure had just begun and I couldn’t believe this was just the beginning—there was so much more magic to experience.

Elephant family in Botswana

This guest post was written by Nat Hab Explorer’s Registrar & Billing Manager Shelby Campbell. All photos © Shelby Campbell.