There is a sliver of Africa where four countries almost converge: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. The Chobe River is one of the many separation points between Botswana and Namibia and it’s also where I experienced one of my favorite wildlife adventures of all time. The boat I called home for a few days is permanently moored in the middle of a vast river system of wetlands and river grasses. The marshland is rich in wildlife; hippos, birds of all kinds, Cape Buffalo and hundreds of elephants converge on this one spot. The elephants were perhaps the most impressive, in size as well as sheer numbers. While boating along the river one day the driver shushed us, cut the engine and pointed to the riverbank. There on the shore were two young elephants walking with great purpose towards the water. I had never thought about whether or not elephants could swim , but I soon got my answer. They plunged into the river without fear and began to swim with zeal and power to the coveted river island. They also didn’t seem to care about us as they came within a few feet of our boat. Watching these majestic animals ford the river and then emerge with a great splash was extraordinary. It’s one of the travel moments that makes you feel both alive and incredibly thankful.

While traveling through Botswana, one may experience feelings of lightness, or even the sensation of floating through air. My ride down the Okavango Delta was no different. Which way is up? Who cares, I'm in another world.

The ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris has been operating mobile camps in Botswana for 30 years. Today it runs 16 lodges in the Okavango Delta. Three private, parquet-floored tents at Little Mombo Camp feature outdoor showers and private decks that overlook the floodplains of the vast Moremi Game Reserve. You’ll see elephants—Botswana has more than any other country—as well as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Accommodations must be booked through a tour outfitter such as Travel Beyond. From $2,431. (800) 876-3131. This appeared in the June/July 2013 issue.

Tour Okavango on a mokoro, the dugout canoes of the Bayei people, traditionally carved from jackalberry and sausage trees but now often made from fiberglass. Lodge guides paddle the boats (or pole them like Venetian gondoliers) past lechwe antelope, painted reed frogs, and flocks of purple herons. Most lodges offer mokoro trips between June and October. Photo by Athena Lao/Flickr.

The ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris has been operating mobile camps in Botswana for 30 years. Today it runs 16 lodges in the Okavango Delta. Located on the delta’s 700-square-mile Abu Concession, Abu Camp offers an unusual safari experience: to walk among a herd of rescued elephants, or even ride a mother or calf, as you observe the region’s game. Reserve the open-air “star bed” on an elevated platform next to the elephant enclosure. Accommodations must be booked through a tour outfitter such as Travel Beyond. From $2,431. (800) 876-3131. Photo courtesy of Abu Camp. This appeared in the June/July 2013 issue.

Botswana’s most famous crafts are baskets woven from fan palm fibers. They are dyed with natural pigments: blue from fever-berry leaves, dark brown from magic guarri shrubs, and yellow from the roots of red star apple trees. Some baskets take a month to make. Nearly all lodges sell baskets, but you can also purchase them online.

An experience of a lifetime and one not to be missed when traveling in Botswana's famous Okavango Delta, hiring a poler and cruising its still waters in a traditional wooden mokoro was a definite highlight of the year we spent living in-country. Raw beauty, appearing to be barely touched by human hands, and the sky reflecting in the clear waters makes this sanctuary surrounded by the dry, dusty heat that is Maun feel like an oasis. Stay at Maun Lodge outside of the Delta to save some money and ask the staff to guide you to a local poler--you'll be forever glad you did.

it is true that a safari could be a "once in a lifetime" journey, but you will certainly hope not once you have visited the "wildlife" at home in their environment. it is hard to describe the majesty of a herd of elephants or the size of the hippos in a pod in the river or hundreds of cape buffalo headed your way. zebras, hyenas, lions, leopards and cheetahs... OH MY! these moments can overwhelm you with their beauty and bring you to tears. but there are also moments like the one pictured above that just plain make you laugh. we were on the river near a large herd of elephants - mostly a breeding herd but we also came across this bull at just the moment of "relief" - he released a number of gallons into the river and clearly this gave him some pleasure as his eyes rolled back into his head... timing is everything!

You don’t have to be in a large city to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime happy hour experience. Sometimes all it takes is a nice glass of wine and impossibly beautiful surroundings. One such place is aboard the Zambezi Queen, a luxury riverboat moored on the Chobe River in Namibia. The river divides Namibia and Botswana and in the middle of the famous river is a rich diversity of wildlife including hippos, elephants and Cape buffalo. There’s nothing quite like sitting on the back of a boat, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon as the sounds of hippos grunting at each other echo off the river banks. As darkness finally overtook us I raised my glass to the grumpy hippos and thanked them for a memory that I know will last a lifetime.

This 'Henrietta' was not too keen on our open air safari vehicle being so close but I got a few good shots before we moved on in the early morn... Don't be fooled, I wasn't THAT close! When on safari you want to appreciate all that is around you but also if you're serious about getting good shots, bring a good camera! I was able to get this hippo rising out of the water with a long lens and a very steady hand.

I've never seen more beautiful sunsets than on a recent trip to the Okavango Delta area of Botswana. Due to the sand and dirt that is in the air naturally, the sunset glow an amazing red color. The sun setting against the horizon, which also includes some interesting tree formations make for beautiful setting sun each early evening.

While on a game drive in Chobe National Park, we came upon a herd of elephants. They were on the move and were slowly marching forward. Our guide drove ahead of them and stopped the jeep and turned it off. We sat there in nervous silence as the elephants walked towards us and then carefully navigated around our parked vehicle. I captured this image of one as she walked past us.

Spent the morning visiting the habituated meerkats near Camp Kalahari. The little guys are extremely interactive, and depending on their mood and hunger levels first thing in the morning, they'll hang out for quite a while and maybe even use your head as a look-out tower. Only some meerkat families are habituated, so make sure the camp you are visiting has access to a habituated family if you want to get an up-close look.

My previous sightings of Leopards had always been from afar (pun intended) but this was my first up close encounter. With her kill right above her, this female leopard was taking some much needed relief from the hot sun with her 2-week old cubs hidden close by. Not wanting to distress her or the cubs we spent a few minutes watching her then moved on.

I was blown away at the beauty and the diversity of the wildlife viewing opportunities while leading trips in South Africa and Botswana in the summer and early fall of 2011. There is a special place in my heart for the staff and the rangers at the authentic and magnificent Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. The chance to view the big cats up close (as in a few feet away) is a mind blowing experience in awe.

Quad biking in the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana is available from the Uncharted Africa camps - Jack's Camp, San Camp and Camp Kalahari. I stayed at Camp Kalahari (the most affordable of the three) and really enjoyed it's simplicity and charm. Fly into Maun and book a scheduled flight or a charter to the camps. Quad biking is seasonal and cannot be guaranteed.

I've been to many deserts around the world, but one of my favorites is the Kalahari Desert, which extends about 350,000 square miles and covers much of Botswana. Part of the reason is because the Kalahari is really a savannah that supports a lot of plant and wildlife in addition to people. After driving through Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, we crossed the border into Botswana. A few hours later, we were surrounded by the semi-arid-semi-lush scenery as far as the eye could see. We soon arrived at the community of Ghanzi - Bushman territory. Our rest stop for the night was a domed straw hut that looked like a beehive (unfortunately, AFAR only allows for one image per story). The Bushmen who lived in the area warmly greeted us and took us on a short walking tour through their habitat. As we wandered along, we learned how this diminishing population foraged, hunted, cooked and utilized the land for everything required for living. The lifestyle of the Bushmen is truly fascinating, but I was especially enthralled by two particular members of the tribe - this beautiful woman and her baby, both of whom fit so perfectly and naturally together in their environment.