Bill Clinton, together with his wife went on safari in Botswana in 1998. The power couple was greatly fascinated by wildlife, and serious games of life and death they play. Affirming his position on top of food chain, president ate for dinner some of animal species he had watched earlier. His evening buffet included zebra, crocodile, impala in monkey sauce, and giraffe. "I tried it all", he declared with satisfaction. But former American president is only one in a long line of heavy hitters to enjoy wildlife havens of Botswana. Hollywood legends, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor chose to remarry here, for example.

Botswana is dominated by Kalahari Desert. It occupies 84% of land area, mostly in west, central and north of country. But Kalahari is not a desert in Sahara sense. You find occasional sand dune, but also substantial vegetation in form of short thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. Very little water though, and hence desert tag. To northwest, you find Okavango, world's largest inland delta. The northeast is a land of gently rolling tablelands interrupted by granite hills and rock formations. The east and southeast, where 80% of people live has more varied relief. And rain clouds linger more and unburden themselves more freely, relative to rest of country.

Today Botswana is a peaceful, well-managed and relatively prosperous country. The country wealth per man indicator places among middle-income nations alongside Mexico and Russia and ahead of Brazil. But it has not always been so and country has come along way. The San people (otherwise known bushmen) are believed to be original inhabitants of Botswana. Their descendants survive to this day, some living as their forefathers did for most of 30,000 years historians guess they have been around. Later -much later, Bantu groups, prominent of which were Tswana, became masters of these realms.

The modern Botswana nation has been shaped by alliances made in response to historical currents swirling in southern Africa in eighteenth century. The rulers at time aligned their interests with those of British against Boers who were approaching from south and Germans from west. For British, value of alliance was strategic and not much was expected in terms of economic advantage. And that is how relationship resulted in Bechuanaland Protectorate - recursor of modern Botswana. The British remained in charge until independence in 1966.

The visitor to Botswana is drawn by credible intelligence that abounds about quality of its pristine wildlife sanctuaries. Chobe National Park, one of finest game parks in Africa is located to north east of country. The park has greatest variety of game anywhere in country. That is why busy Bill Clinton found himself at Chobe for his short safari. Wildlife thrives among swamps and grasslands that stretch along flood plains of Chobe River. Occupying 10,560 square kilometers, it is particularly renowned for great concentration and sheer abundance of its elephants, estimated to number 80,000.

The Chobe elephants are migratory and move along Chobe River, their reliable redoubt in dry season. African elephants are largest among elephant species -and those at Chobe are largest of them all. The population has gradually built up since 1930's when wildlife in area began to enjoy some sort of protection. The infamous trade in ivory, particularly in 1970's and 80's encouraged decimation of elephant populations in other parts of Africa. But elephants of Chobe - thank God -were spared contact with dirty hands of poachers. Other animals to see here include some of usual suspects on an African safari - lion, cheetah, hippo buffalo, giraffe, antelope, jackal, warthog, hyena, crocodile, zebra. The birdlife is also diverse. Cruising or driving along Chobe River, you get best view of animals.

The Savuti Marshes of Chobe are reputed to have largest predator population density in southern Africa. The marshes have textbook features that draw predators. In a flat and hostile environment, they provide a place where wildebeest, buffalo, zebra and many species of antelope congregate for a drink. The predators - cheetahs, leopards, lions, wild dogs, hyenas, wild dogs, and jackals - naturally follow. Some predators such as lion tend to be rather lazy and setting here is a gift. The usual entry point for Chobe is Kasane, which is located about 800km north of Gaborone. You get here by flying from Gaborone, Maun or Victoria Falls in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Camps and lodges can be found throughout park.

The unification of Kingdoms of Lower and Upper Egypt around BC 3180 marks point from when Egypt became a significant power. This event is credited with Menes, who thus became first Pharaoh. Menes went on to establish a new capital at Memphis, just to south of where Cairo stands today. For next 3000 years and under 30 dynasties of Pharaohs, a dynamic and culturally sophisticated civilization flourished. It was not however smooth sailing for descendants of Menes and power was for short periods in hands of foreigners. Historians who as usual want to simplify things, have divided up reign of Pharaohs into three periods: Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BC), Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC) and New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC).

It is a curious fact that most monuments of Pharaohs relate to death. Though moderns may view this as an unhealthy preoccupation with death, some scholars see it as an indication of ancient Egyptians great love for life and desire for continued existence. The pyramid was highest evolution in practice of preparing elaborate tombs for departed. Pyramids were final resting place, from where Pharaohs enjoyed afterlife. The most famous of these edifices are Pyramids of Giza, built in 4th Dynasty (2575-2465 BC), when power of these ancient kings was at its peak.

Religion was another reason for great monuments of ancient Egypt. The deities found deserving of worship were truly diverse. And many, many temples were built in honour of these gods. Temples for most esteemed gods were quite elaborate and were administered by high priests. Auxiliary buildings housed libraries, granaries, and what may today be considered as research laboratories for astronomers, biologists and other scientists. Most gods were linked with specific animals and to whom special powers were attributed. Some gods came and went, but sun god was one of most enduring. It has been suggested that design of pyramids had some association with practices of sun cult. The Pharaoh was considered to be a living god.

The Greeks, in name of Alexander Great finally brought Age of Pharaohs to an end in 332 BC. He founded that city that bears his name, Alexandria. The Greeks ushered in a period of comparative prosperity and stability under descendants of Ptolemy. Ptolemy was Macedonian general who was appointed by Alexander as governor. The Pharos Lighthouse, one of seven wonders of ancient world and Great Library of Alexandria were built in this era.

As Greeks declined, so did Romans rise, and they too cast a covetous eye upon Egypt. The last of Ptolomies was notorious Cleopatra, lover to both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The Roman Empire too declined Egypt and was torn apart by foreign armies. The most significant event at this time was invasion of Arabs in 462 AD. Though other foreigners including Ottoman Turks, French and British, subsequently ruled country, it is Arabs who brought Islam whose legacy has been most enduring.

Egypt is today a modern vibrant nation that carries burden of its 5,000-year history graciously. Just like in ancient times, Nile sustains country and upto 95% of population live in close proximity of river. The rest of country is desolate desert, mitigated only by a few isolated oases and habitable narrow strips along African Red Sea and Mediterranean coastlines.

According to tourism ministry, Egypt for visitor is best seen as six tourist super-sites. This covers most popular destinations and excludes off-the-beaten-track locations. The six super-sites are anchored on: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada on Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh in Sinai. Except for Luxor, none of these destinations relies entirely on ancient monuments to attract visitors. Egypt tours and vacations are very competitively priced relative to other destinations.

Cairo is a huge, sprawling and chaotic metropolis. It has all amenities of a modern city and is usual gateway for visitor to Egypt. Cairo is a young city relative to nearby Heliopolis, Giza and Memphis that are associated with Pharaohs. The city began as a Roman trading post called Babylon- in area now referred to as Coptic Cairo. The area was a settlement of one of world's first Christian communities. This predominantly Christian locale houses a museum that is a repository of religious art, manuscripts, paintings and pottery.

But it is Arab invaders who arrived in 7th century who can be said to have founded city. They settled just north of area referred to as Old Cairo. The medieval district of Islamic Cairo is densely packed with people and lots of mosques and temples. This is where many still go during month of Ramadan to eat and spend night after a days' fast. Giza on Niles' west bank is where you find Great Pyramids. These truly magnificent monuments were one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World. You will appreciate achievement of builders of these edifices when you reflect on fact that until 19th century they were world's largest buildings.