Stack of books about Botswana and the Okavango Delta in an illustrated sunset setting

What to Read Before a Botswana Safari

Books That Bring the Okavango and Botswana to Life

Reading before your safari will not change what you see — but it will change how you experience it.

A safari in Botswana is not just about the wildlife. Your experience is shaped just as much by the people who guide and host you — the Batswana — whose warmth, knowledge and perspective bring the landscape to life in a way no checklist of sightings ever could.

If you are planning a Botswana safari, reading beforehand can add real depth to the experience.

The Okavango Delta and Botswana more broadly are places of depth, history and subtlety. Arriving with even a little context brings the landscape into sharper focus — and builds anticipation, which is very much part of the journey.

Below is a carefully curated selection of books to read before visiting Botswana — from fiction and memoir to natural history and field guides.

Fiction — Understanding Botswana Through Story

Fiction is often the most accessible way into a place, revealing the rhythms, humour and social fabric of everyday life.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency — Alexander McCall Smith
Gentle, witty mysteries set in Gaborone; perfect for capturing everyday Botswana warmth and values.
When Rain Clouds Gather — Bessie Head
A moving village-set story about resilience, agriculture and community.
Maru — Bessie Head
Tackles identity, prejudice and love in a Botswana village.
Mating — Norman Rush
National Book Award winner set in Botswana; sharp, character-driven exploration of culture and politics.
A Carrion Death — Michael Stanley
Contemporary crime fiction led by a Botswana CID detective.

History & Culture

History of Botswana — Thomas Tlou & Alec Campbell
A concise, respected survey.
Culture Smart! Botswana — Michael Main
Practical insights into customs and traditions.
The Screaming of the Innocent — Unity Dow
A compelling novel exploring justice and cultural tensions.
Colour Bar — Susan Williams
The real story behind Botswana’s early independence.
The Lost World of the Kalahari — Laurens van der Post
A classic exploration narrative with cultural depth.

Memoir & Narrative Non-Fiction

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run — Peter Allison
Hilarious, heartfelt guide’s tales from the Okavango.
Don’t Look Behind You! — Peter Allison
More laugh-out-loud bush anecdotes.
Cry of the Kalahari — Mark & Delia Owens
Classic naturalist memoir from their research years in Botswana.
Twenty Chickens for a Saddle — Robyn Scott
Beautifully written and often funny — a warm memoir of growing up in Botswana.
Botswana Time — Will Randall
A charming account of teaching and living in rural Botswana.
Saturday is for Funerals — Unity Dow & Max Essex
A deeply moving account of Botswana’s HIV/AIDS crisis, weaving personal narratives with public health insights.
Shambolic – A Safari Life — Ben Forbes
A love letter to Africa, to life on the ragged edge, and to the frequent contradictions of the safari world.
Men With Tales: Short Stories and Tall Tales from the Guides of the Okavango Delta — Ann Gollifer
A collection of personal and traditional stories from the Bayei, Bukakhwe, and Hambukushu guides of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, celebrating their unique lives and bush wisdom.

Nature, Conservation & the Okavango

Okavango: Jewel of the Kalahari — Karen Ross
A foundational natural-history portrait of the Delta.

You can also explore our detailed guide to the Okavango Delta here.

Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden — Frans Lanting & Christine Eckstrom
Spectacular photography with accessible essays.
Mike & Eileen Main — Okavango titles
Readable overviews of the Delta’s ecology and geology.
The Elephant Whisperer — Lawrence Anthony
A powerful, human-scale account of coexistence with elephants.
The Elephant Complex — Caitlin O’Connell
Insight into elephant societies and behaviour.

For Young Adults

A Far-Off Place — Laurens van der Post
An adventurous, Kalahari-set story suitable for young adults.

For Families & Children

Let’s Save the Okavango!
A conservation-themed children’s book; engaging entry point for young travellers.
African folktale collections such as Tales from Botswana, African Animal Tales: The Hare and the Tortoise, or The Peculiar Tree and Other Stories
Traditional stories offering cultural insight and entertainment.
The Great Cake Mystery — Alexander McCall Smith
Precious and the Monkeys — Alexander McCall Smith
Delightful introductions to Botswana through a young Precious Ramotswe.
A Story Like the Wind — Laurens van der Post
Adventure and wildlife themes suitable for older children and teens.