When looking for remote land that is virtually untouched by humans but teeming with wildlife, think of Botswana. From colorful birds to romping warthogs to ancient trees, here are 15 photos of Botswana and its many creatures that will make your jaw drop. 

1. Botswana plains

The wide-open Botswana plains make it easy to spot Africa’s most amazing creatures.

2. Pied Kingfisher

They aren’t called kingfishers for nothing — this bird loves to hunt for fish by diving head first into the water, then swooping back into the air with a tasty morsel in its mouth.

3. Hippos

These gigantic hippos are somewhat nocturnal as they like to graze at night and lazily lounge the day away in the water. They wallow in the cool river to get relief from their own heaviness, and protect their sensitive skin from the burning sun.

4. San people

The bushmen of Botswana are known as the San people. The hunter-gatherer tribe is one of the world’s oldest, and provided inspiration for the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”

5. Warthog

Seen with a common mynah on its back, the warthog — like most pigs — loves to wallow in muddy water and considers taking sand baths an essential grooming method.

6. Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is a massive land-locked wetland that acts as a haven for wildlife, especially during dry seasons, when it expands to three times its original size. It has arguably the largest concentration of animals in the world.

7. Flamingos

Yes, flamingos do live outside of Florida. Their brilliant reddish-pink beaks work as a water filter — when they feed or drink water, they hold their beaks upside down to strain out any unwanted bacteria.

8. Wild Dogs

Often mistaken for hyenas, wild dogs are known for their excellent hunting skills and can take down animals five times their size.

9. Baobab trees

As one of the world’s longest-living trees, the baobab holds a special place in wildlife history. Some are estimated to be as old as 6,000 years. Think about all the things they have seen.

10. Makgadikgadi Pans

A Steinbockchen doe is luxuriating in the white sandy Makgadikgadi Pans. This oasis is one of the world’s largest salt flats and covers up to 4,000 square miles.

11. Vervet Monkeys

These spiteful vervet monkeys are often seen swinging through the jungles of Botswana, scavenging for food, and destroying competitor’s meals. Vervet monkeys would much rather let their competitors starve than give up on a food fight.

12. Chobe river

13. Lions

The male lion is all roar but no action. The female lions are the ones that hunt for the meals, while the dominant males are left behind to “secure” the area. When the females bring back a fresh gazelle or a zebra, the male lion always has dibs first (despite the lack of contribution).

14.  Debswana

Owned by De Beers, Debswana controls the Orapa Mine (seen above) which reputedly harbors over 1.2 billion worth of diamonds. However, it’s predicted that the mine will dry out within the next 20 years and cause Botswana’s economy to rapidly decline.

15. Elephants

Botswana is home to the world’s largest concentration of elephants. These sensitive creatures are known to be very attentive to their young. In fact, if a young one should cry out in pain or whine, the entire elephant clan will rush over to fuss and soothe the baby until it is comfortable again.

Related content on AFKTravel:

10 Things to Know About Traveling in Botswana

10 Secret Corners of Botswana’s Kalahari

The Elephants Of Savuti, Botswana

Want to discover the finer side of Africa? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.