Botswana

Botswana by Wallruns

It is winter in Botswana, which means chilly mornings, but comfortable running temperatures later in the day. There is no rain forecast as it is the dry season. It does get dark early, and runners are advised to watch out for animals (mainly cattle) that stray onto the road in the dark.

As we are running down the eastern side of Botswana, which is fairly monotonous, flat, semi-arid bushland, runners could be forgiven for wondering why one of the main industries in the country is tourism, The other main industries are mining and cattle.

Sadly, our route does not include the following amazing places:

The Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland river deltas. The delta floods in June-August and attracts huge amounts of wildlife. Best appreciated from the air.

Chobe Game Reserve, home to the largest concentration of African elephants. Obscure fact drunk elephants are a thing! Elephants love marula fruits, and are not picky, so will eat them when they have started to ferment and get a little lightheaded.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, which is one of the largest salt pans in the world and where the mysterious Kubu (Hippo) island can be found.

Tsodilo Hills home to cave paintings thought to be 20,000 years old.

As we make our way south, we pass the turning for Orapa, home of the world’s biggest diamond mine and cross the Tropic of Capricorn, before reaching the capital Gaberone. Then it is a relatively short distance to the South African border.