Weekend Trip to Botswana: A Short but Wild Adventure

Weekend Trip to Botswana: A Short but Wild Adventure

Our weekend trip to Botswana was packed with adventure, wildlife, and a few unexpected challenges. From navigating border crossings to getting our safari truck stuck (twice!), it was a funny experience to remember.

Crossing the Border: A Tale of Two Moods

Crossing the border from South Africa into Botswana felt like stepping into a different world. We entered through a newly built border post—surprisingly modern, big and quite pretty. 

The immigration officers on the South African side weren’t particularly friendly. The Botswana officers, on the other hand, remained neutral and efficient. However, when we returned to South Africa, the atmosphere was completely different—the immigration officers were warm and welcoming, which was a nice surprise.

Navigating Botswana During the recent Flooding

We visited during a period of severe flooding, which tragically claimed several lives. Our original border crossing plan had to change because of road conditions, but thanks to our host’s recommendation, we found an alternative route that worked out well.

This is an article of what was happening in Gaborone just a couple of days before our visit. https://www.bbc.com/weather/articles/cn7vyvr2l76o

Interestingly, we seem to have a habit of traveling to places during times of crisis—first Mozambique [kc1] during its political unrest, and now Botswana during heavy flooding. But somehow, we always manage to have a great time and not getting too close to the crisis.

Mokolodi: A Cozy Stay with Power Struggles

We stayed near Mokolodi Nature Reserve in a charming guesthouse cottage, which was cozy and comfortable. However, the heavy rains from earlier meant no power all night, and we ran into a few more troubles the following day. Luckily, the weather was cool enough to sleep without air conditioning, and the bed was extra big and super comfy—a real treat after a long drive.

Oh, and we had two unexpected but adorable little guests regularly popping into our cottage for cuddles! 🐾💛

As a welcoming gift, our host surprised us with a Cadbury chocolate with cashew and coconut—a flavor we never even knew existed! We were this day old when we discovered it, and wow, what a delicious surprise! 🍫🥥✨

If you’re ever in the area and looking for a peaceful getaway, we highly recommend this stay! You can check out our Airbnb here: 👉 Mokolodi Guesthouse Cottage 🏡✨

For dinner, we grabbed Nando’s, which we rarely eat. It hit the spot after a long drive, making for a simple but satisfying meal.

Safari Adventures: From Snakes, tortoises to Stuck Trucks

The next morning, we set off to explore Mokolodi Nature Reserve, starting with a visit to the reptile park.

We encountered a variety of snakes and picked up some fascinating survival tips. For instance, if bitten by a black mamba, it’s crucial to apply pressure on the wound to slow the spread of venom while rushing to the hospital. However, for other snake bites—such as those from a puff adder—applying pressure is the wrong approach. Instead, you should seek medical help immediately and remove any metal objects like rings or bracelets from your hand or fingers, as swelling can become severe. The insights were both eye-opening and a bit nerve-wracking!

Ohhhhh  I even held a baby tortoise! At first, it was nervous and hid inside its shell, but after a while, it relaxed and peeked out—a small but amazing moment. I love those kind of moments

The wildlife was Interesting We saw a mother rhino with her baby, giraffes, zebras, kudus, impalas, oryx and even vultures (most of them injured from car collisions, leaving them unable to fly properly. A stark reminder of how human activity impacts wildlife and their natural habitat).  

Part 1

[kc1] 

Part 2

Safari – just as things were going smoothly, our truck got stuck—twice. The second time was particularly bad, and we had to wait for another safari truck. It turned out to be more of a funny story than a frustrating one, adding an unexpected twist of adventure to our safari.

One thing that stood out about this safari was the thoughtful touch of providing water and snacks—uncommon to us. It made the experience even more enjoyable and it was a sweet touch.

Food and Saturday Vibes in Gaborone

Back in Gaborone, we had a great meal at 267 Restaurant—the food was delicious, and the Saturday vibes were on point. @twosixsevenbw.[kc2] 

Before Dinner, we went to Table 50Two, known for its views. While we didn’t get to see a full sunset because of the cloudy sky, we did notice something surprising—the city was incredibly clean, at least from our vantage point. It was refreshing to see such a well-maintained urban space. @table50two.bw.[kc3] 

That said, I wouldn’t recommend eating at Table 52—the view was nice, but the food wasn’t good. We wish we didn’t give that a try! We paid our bill and left immediately after two bites and headed towards 267, which was a much better choice and a good recommendation by our host.

Tasting Snail in Botswana

During our visit to the Mokolodi Nature Reserve [kc4] @magic_of_mokolodi, we had the opportunity to Lunch at the Mokolodi Bush Kitchen, where we sampled snail. Having previously tried it at La Luna in Equatorial Guinea many years ago, this experience was more delightful—the snails were exceptionally savory and tender. If you’re not usually a snail eater (like us), we highly recommend trying them in mozzarella sauce for a rich, creamy twist, if you’re feeling adventurous!

The Drive Back: Scenic Views and Unexpected Surprises

The drive back to South Africa was filled with interesting sights. We saw monkeys, goats climbing trees and eating, and of course, plenty of cows roaming freely – I was too lazy to take pictures at this point!  The landscape was beautiful, with rolling hills and mountains making for a scenic journey.

On the way to Botswana, we had taken a road that was full of potholes—it was a nightmare for our car. To make things worse, a passing truck kicked up a rock that hit my car window, leaving a scratch. Luckily, the glass didn’t break, but it is still frustrating

For the return journey, we stayed on N4 road, which was much smoother and a way better choice. I’d definitely recommend this route for anyone driving between South Africa and Botswana.

Well Well, Botswana gave us a wild weekend experience—from stunning wildlife and cozy stays to safari star stuck twice ;). We had a great time, and we’d love to return, maybe during the dry season next time, and also I soooooo want to do Okavango Deltaaaaa!!!!