I recently wrote about my bucket list destinations in Southern Africa. I now turn my attention to the three land-locked countries to the north of South Africa.

Botswana – One of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, this nation – roughly the size of France – has a population of about 2.3 million only. It has one of the highest GDP in PPP terms in the whole of Africa, largely due to gemstone mining and tourism. Speaking of tourism, one of the top highlights of the country is Okavango Delta – one of the world’s great wilderness destinations. Chobe National Park in the far north of the country is another wildlife destination that might be worth visiting.

Zimbabwe – This country of 14 million people is well known to Indians due to the fact that it’s one of the few test match playing cricketing nations in the world. There are some interesting sights to see in this southern African country, including the capital city of Harare, the second largest city of Bulawayo and the town of Mutare in the South East. The Great Zimbabwe National Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage monument and one of the most important stone ruins on the continent. Wildlife lovers can visit the National Parks of Hwange in the West and Mana Pools in the North.

Zambia – Another great destination for nature and wildlife lovers. Top of the list would be a visit to Victoria Falls. Kafue National Park is the oldest National Park in the country and one of the largest on the continent. Other interesting National Parks include Lower Zambezi National Park and South Luangwa National Park. I would also like to go bird-watching at the Blue Lagoon National Park.