1. High Price

The number one reason not to visit Botswana has to be the price. The best safari destinations in the country are located within the private concessions of the Okavango Delta which are inherently expensive, with the average price of a safari here being the highest anywhere in Africa. For a large proportion of visitors in Botswana these prices are way out of reach for many and consequently this trend has led to low volume high value tourism model with the vast majority of regular visitors being excluded from this.

2. Lack of Availability

Due to the fact prices are so high, especially in the Linyanti region of the country there are not enough beds to go around. The camps in this region are very sort after and sell out much quicker than their counterparts elsewhere in Africa. In a good year it’s possible to sell their occupancy 5 to 10 times over. If you are interested in visiting the Okavango Delta then it’s of paramount importance that you book your accommodation a year or so in advance otherwise you will only be left with wet season options.

3. Overcrowding In Public Safari Parks

As there are more visitors to Botswana than are able to afford the rather expensive options in the Okavago or Linyanti regions many people choose to visit the Kasane National Park with the hope of gaining a similar experience. The problem is that everyone seems to have the same idea and areas such as this are prone to high numbers of visitors which dampens down the experience for everyone. The main problem is that this situation doesn’t look like it may change anytime in the future.

4. Lack of Landscape

Northern Botswana is as flat as it gets. Distant mountain ranges, dramatic vistas and sweeping panoramas are all virtually absent. The vast expanses of the Makgadikgadi Pan is nothing short of impressive but the vast nothingness just makes the sky look that much more dominant and striking. There are just times when you wish the scenery here had a little more to it rather than just incessant woodlands which seem to stretch for miles and miles which can get a little tiresome especially if you are viewing it from the air.