Botswana Travel Guide

Botswana — Travel Tips

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Social Conventions

As most people in Botswana follow their traditional pattern of life, visitors should be sensitive to customs which will inevitably be unfamiliar to them. Outside urban areas and safari destinations, people may well not be used to visitors. Casual clothing is acceptable and, in urban centers, normal courtesies should be observed.

Photography: Airports, official residences and defense establishments should not be photographed. Permission should be obtained to photograph local people.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

The national airline, Air Botswana (BP) (website: www.airbotswana.co.bw), flies into Botswana (Gaborone, Kasane, Maun and Francistown) from Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa). Airlines serving Harare and Johannesburg from London include British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com) and South African Airways (website: www.flysaa.com). Air Namibia (website: www.airnamibia.com) flies from Windhoek (Namibia) to Maun, direct.

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE) is 15km (9 miles) northwest of Gaborone. To/from the airport: There are no regular bus services to and from the airport but several hotels run combis (minibuses or vans). Taxis are available to the city center (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Left luggage, banks, bar, snack bar, restaurant, post office, duty-free shops and car hire.

Maun International Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town and Windhoek. This gateway to the Okavango Delta is served by Air Botswana, Air Namibia and several charters. For information on charters, see the Getting Around section. To/from the airport: The city center is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk. Taxis and shuttles are available. Facilities: Car hire and lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.

Other major airports that handle international flights are at Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown.

Getting There By Water

A car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia.

Getting There By Rail

There is a thrice-weekly service with Botswana Railway (BR) between Botswana and Zimbabwe (Francistown–Bulawayo; journey time – 6 hours). The train has standard class coaches with reclining seats.

A daily train with sleepers and restaurant car runs from Francistown–Gaborone–Lobatse. At Lobatse, buses cross the South African border. Botswana has assisted in the construction of the Limpopo line from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, an act which will speed up the availability of alternative routes into Botswana.

Getting There By Road

There are reasonable roads running roughly along the same routes as the railway, linking Botswana with South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also road access from Namibia. The Botswana Tourism Board publishes a map showing all border posts and their opening times in the Travel Information section of their website (www.botswanatourism.co.bw).

Bus: Frequent services operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Services are also available from Windhoek in Namibia to Maun, and between Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Francistown. Private transfers can be booked between Victoria Falls and Kasane (for Chobe National Park).

Bus: Services are available from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Frequent services also operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Complicated formalities may be necessary for crossing the border to or from South Africa, where the South African Customs Union agreement is in operation.

Duty Free

Overview

The following goods may be imported into Botswana without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 2L of wine and 1L of spirits.
• 50mL of perfume and 250mL of eau de toilette.
• Goods up to the value of ZAR500 from within the SACU zone (Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland) and to the value of ZAR3000 from outside the zone.

The import of narcotics, and pornography is prohibited, and there are restrictions on the import of firearms, ammunition, food, plants, animals, boats and vehicles.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

Major areas of the country are linked by air. There are airports in Francistown, Ghanzi, Jwaneny, Kasane, Maun, Pont Drift and Selebi-Phikwe. Many visitors use charter companies based in Maun to fly to the various lodges in Botswana. These include Delta Air (website: www.okavango.bw/air.html), Mack Air (website: www.mackair.co.bw), Moremi Air Services (website: www.moremiair.com), Northern Air, Sefofane (website: www.sefofane.com), Wildlife Helicopters and Kalahari Air Services (website: www.kalahariair.co.bw).

Getting Around By Rail

The main Botswana Railway (BR) (website: www.botswanarailways.co.bw) line runs daily between Francistown-Gaborone-Lobatse. Trains are air conditioned. In Botswana, children under seven travel free and children aged seven to 11 pay half fare. Buy tickets at the station.

Getting Around By Road

Traffic drives on the left. Botswana has good tarmac roads on major routes; generally roads range from tarmac to either gravel or sand tracks. Visitors should be careful as many drivers ignore safety rules. Reserve fuel and at least 20l of water, plus emergency supplies, should always be carried on longer journeys, and visitors are advised to make careful enquiries before setting out. Wildlife and stray livestock may pose a hazard.

Bus: Bus and combi (minibus or van) services cover Botswana's main road routes, connecting the larger towns and villages. Long-distance journeys operate via Gaborone and/or Francistown. To travel from Gaborone to Maun, you need to change in Francistown, from where there's a daily service (journey time: 5-6 hours).

Taxi: There is a taxi service in all major towns, and it is generally safe. Prices should, however, be agreed before embarking on a journey.

Car hire: Services are available in Gaborone, Francistown, Kasane and Maun. four-wheel drive vehicles are necessary in many areas.

Regulations: Seat belts must be worn. There is a speed limit of 120kph (75mph) outside built-up areas, and about 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not legally required, but is recommended for stays of up to six months. A European license is valid for six months after arrival and will also usually suffice; thereafter, a Botswana driving license must be obtained, which will be issued without a test if a valid UK license is produced.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Public transport within towns consists of share-taxis or minibus services operating at controlled flat fares. Exclusive use of taxis is sometimes available at a higher charge although fares should always be agreed before setting off.