My Best Photos of Botswana: A Safari Photo Story

MY BEST PHOTOS OF BOTSWANA

A Glimpse of My Botswana Safari

This is my personal photo gallery from an incredible week-long safari in Botswana.
Scroll down to see my best up-close photos of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and rare African wild dogs.
Botswana is a photographer’s dream—I found it effortless to get amazing shots.
I hope these photos give you some inspiration for your own trip!

Outside of Europe, the majority of destinations are unique, but few come close to a week of safaris in Botswana. Before coming here, the only other safari I had done was in South Africa when I was a kid. I don’t remember much apart from being utterly disappointed, but you can’t have it your way every time!

We knew next time we couldn’t be taking any risks. We wanted to see everything, from the biggest lions to the fastest Cheetahs, and from what I had heard, Botswana was the place to deliver!

Trigger Happy: Capturing the Action

In all my travels, I have yet to be as trigger-happy with my camera as I was then. I would have constantly made jokes about wondering how the hell I am going to find the time to get through all of these. But in the end, I did, it might have taken me the guts of 9 months, but I ploughed through and couldn’t believe what I had captured.

Endangered wild dog on Botswana, Africa. My best photos of Botswana

Endangered wild dogs

A kill

David Simpson and family in Botswana, Africa. A wild dog ambush

During the kill

Leopard resting on a branch of a tree in Botswana, Africa. My best photos of Botswana

Leopard blending in, in the trees

Wildlife grazing in Botswana, Africa. My best photos of Botswana

Zebras

Wild dog resting in Botswana, Africa. A wild dog ambush

Wild dog taking a chill

Elephant making it’s way through the reeds

My best photos of Botswana

Effortless: A Photographer’s Dream

Rare modest alert – Let’s just make this clear, taking a good photo here in Botswana is the easy part, anyone can do that when you are surrounded by incredible landscape and animals. Every time I took a good snap, I kept thinking

“That’s the best photo of the trip, nothing will beat that.”

Then, after driving around the corner, you would be met with a herd of 50 elephants or a Leopard chilling out in the trees!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Don’t be fooled by these photos and assume it was taken by some pro photographer! This is part and parcel of a trip to Botswana, and like every other tourist, you will be spoiled with what you see. So if you haven’t been and have been given an urge, give me a shout on my IG, I’d love to hear where you are going!

FAQ’s

Is it safe to travel to Botswana now?
As of late 2025, Botswana is considered one of the safest countries in Africa for tourists. It has a stable democracy and a low crime rate. However, like any travel, it’s wise to take standard precautions, especially in larger cities like Gaborone.

Do they speak English in Botswana?
Yes, English is the official language of Botswana and is widely spoken in business, government, and tourism. The national language is Setswana, but you will have no problem communicating in English in safari lodges and cities.

Can you swim in Botswana?
It is generally not safe to swim in wild rivers or the Okavango Delta due to the presence of crocodiles and hippos. Many safari lodges and hotels have private (and safe) swimming pools.

SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
Interested to read about my trip in Botswana, click here.

Question Time

What’s the most photogenic place you have been?
Have you been to Botswana or a safari, what did you think?

Let me know in the comments below . . .

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About the Author

David Simpson

From Northern Ireland, David is a keen fitness fanatic, aspiring photographer and adrenaline junkie (with motion sickness). Well on his way to visiting every country in the world, David usually lives outside of his comfort zone. Whether that’s talking his way out of problems in a Peruvian Police Station, getting mashed with the Maseru tribe in the Drakensberg mountains or just chilling on the beach, he’s an all or nothing guy.

MY BEST PHOTOS OF BOTSWANA7 min read