Botswana Travel Guide
Africa's Premier Safari Destination — Low Volume, High Value
Botswana is the ultimate luxury safari destination. The Okavango Delta — the world's largest inland delta — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of staggering beauty. Chobe National Park has the highest elephant concentration on Earth. Botswana's "low volume, high value" tourism model means fewer crowds, pristine wilderness, and some of Africa's most exclusive safari experiences.
Visa Requirements
Visa-free for most Western nationalities (90 days)
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and most Commonwealth countries enjoy 90 days visa-free. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with 2+ blank pages.
💡 Tips
- •One of the easiest African countries for visa-free entry
- •If combining with Zambia/Zimbabwe, check multi-entry requirements
- •Keep your immigration slip — you'll need it on departure
- •Carry printed accommodation/tour confirmations
Vaccinations & Health
⚠️ Required Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever (if arriving from endemic area)
💡 Recommended Vaccinations
🦟 Malaria Information
Malaria risk in the north (Okavango Delta, Chobe) especially November–May. The south (Gaborone, Kalahari) has lower risk. Prophylaxis recommended for northern Botswana.
💡 Tips
- •Malaria prophylaxis essential for the Okavango Delta
- •Delta camps provide mosquito nets and repellent
- •Risk is highest November–May (wet season)
- •Dry season (June–October) has lower mosquito activity
Currency & Money
🏧 ATMs
Available in Maun, Kasane, and Gaborone. Limited elsewhere.
💳 Cards
Safari lodges accept cards. Cash needed for local markets and tips.
💡 Tips
- •USD and ZAR are widely accepted at safari lodges
- •Withdraw Pula in Maun before heading to the Delta
- •Lodges in the Delta are cashless environments — bring USD for tips
- •The Pula is one of Africa's strongest currencies
Tipping Guide
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. It's the best way to show appreciation for exceptional safari experiences.
🦁 Safari Guide & Staff
$10–20 per person per day for your guide, $5–10 for camp/lodge staff.
🍽️ Restaurants
10% for good service in Maun/Gaborone restaurants.
🚗 Transfers & Porters
$5 for mokoro polers. $2–5 for baggage handlers.
💡 Tips
- •USD is preferred for tips at Delta camps
- •Most camps have communal tip boxes for staff
- •Tip your mokoro poler separately — they work incredibly hard
- •Ask camp management about local tipping customs on arrival
Safety
Botswana is one of the safest countries in Africa — low crime rates, stable democracy, and well-managed parks. The biggest "danger" on safari is a curious elephant at your tent!
💡 Tips
- •Follow your guide's instructions around wildlife at all times
- •Never approach wildlife on foot without a guide
- •Swimming in the Delta is generally not recommended (hippos, crocodiles)
- •Botswana has excellent emergency response for safari incidents
- •Carry a torch/flashlight when walking between tents at night
Travel Insurance
Essential for Botswana safaris. Medical facilities in the Delta are basic — air evacuation to Maun or Gaborone is the standard emergency response.
Must-Have Coverage:
- ✓Medical evacuation by air (critical — you're in remote wilderness)
- ✓Emergency medical treatment
- ✓Trip cancellation (Botswana lodges have strict cancellation policies)
- ✓Personal belongings coverage
💡 Tips
- •Air evacuation from an Okavango camp to Maun costs $3,000–5,000
- •Okavango Rescue is the primary emergency evacuation service
- •Ensure your policy covers light aircraft travel
Language
Official Languages
English is the language of tourism and business. Setswana is widely spoken locally.
Useful Phrases
Getting There
✈️ Airlines Serving Botswana
💡 Tips
- •Most visitors connect through Johannesburg (JNB)
- •Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta
- •Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park
- •Bush flights from Maun to Delta camps take 20–45 minutes
- •Strict luggage limits on bush planes — 20kg in soft-sided bags
Packing List
Safari Essentials
- ☐Neutral clothing (no blue — tsetse flies love blue!)
- ☐Binoculars
- ☐Camera with weatherproof bag
- ☐Wide-brimmed hat
- ☐Sunscreen SPF50+
Clothing
- ☐Light, breathable layers
- ☐Warm fleece for morning boat cruises
- ☐Comfortable closed shoes (thorns!)
- ☐Long sleeves for evenings
- ☐Quick-dry fabrics
Delta Specifics
- ☐Waterproof bag for mokoro rides
- ☐Lightweight rain jacket (wet season)
- ☐Headlamp/torch for walking between tents
- ☐SOFT-SIDED bags only (bush plane requirement)
- ☐Dust-proof bag for electronics
Documents
- ☐Passport (valid 6+ months, 2 blank pages)
- ☐Travel insurance documents
- ☐Printed lodge/camp confirmations
- ☐USD cash for tips
- ☐Yellow Fever cert (if needed)
Emergency Contacts
Botswana FAQs
Botswana Safari Packages
More Travel Guides
Ready for Botswana?
Let our Botswana specialists handle every detail — from flights and visas to lodges and game drives.