Botswana Regular Entry Requirements

The following are the minimum entry and exit criteria that must be taken into account, in addition to the most recent Covid-19 prerequisites.

• Botswana requires passports to be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of admission.
• Passports are required to contain a minimum of two transparent pages that are oriented inwards.
• Entering the country with a dual nationality requires the use of the passport that was employed to depart from the previous country.

Botswana Travel Advice – Travelling with children

In order to combat child trafficking at the regional level, the Botswana government mandates that all minors (less than 18 years of age) entering or transiting the country must present a valid passport and a certified copy (or the original) of their complete, unedited birth certificate. An abbreviated birth certificate is not acceptable. When only one parent is accompanying the child on a trip, the other parent must provide an affidavit attesting to their assent for the trip. In the event that neither parent is undertaking a journey, interim guardianship must be granted.

This is the Best Way to See Botswana | Travel Guide

How Safe Is Botswana for Travel

Botswana Travel Health

• High rates of HIV/AIDS infection are prevalent. Implement measures to decrease your likelihood of coming into contact with the virus. Constantly seek medical attention if you are the victim of a physical or sexual assault.
• Traveling from a country where yellow fever is prevalent and older than one year old is a prerequisite for obtaining a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Obtain vaccinations prior to your trip.
• Malaria is prevalent in the northern region of Botswana. There are instances of additional insect-borne illnesses, such as filariasis (also referred to as elephantiasis). Insect repellent should be utilized, and accommodations should be insect-proof.
• There is a prevalence of waterborne, contaminated, and other infectious diseases. Beverage only bottled or boiled water. In Botswana, instances of drug-resistant tuberculosis have emerged in recent times. Exercise additional prudence.
• Limited medical facilities exist outside of urban areas. Becoming evacuated may be necessary in the event of severe illness or injury. Medical evacuation is both costly and challenging to coordinate. Verify coverage under your insurance policy.

Travel insurance

Travel with comprehensive insurance prior to departure.

It is imperative that your policy provides comprehensive coverage for medical expenses incurred abroad, including medical evacuation. Not covered by the Australian government are these expenses.

Traveling without travel insurance is financially unattainable. This pertains to all individuals, irrespective of their level of physical fitness and health.

Medical care may require upfront payments of several tens of thousands of dollars if you lack adequate insurance.

It is confirmed:

Which activities and care are covered by your policy so that you are protected for the duration of your trip?

Medications

Medication that is available in Australia either over-the-counter or by prescription may not be available in other nations. Even if prescribed by an Australian physician, certain medications may be classified as controlled substances or prohibited.

Verify that any medications you intend to bring are permitted in Botswana. Bring sufficient legal medications for your excursion.

Preserve medications in their initial, labeled packaging.

Carry a letter from your physician or a copy of your prescription that reads:

Specify the required dosage of the medication given that it is for personal use.

Medical facilities

Limited medical facilities exist outside of urban areas.

Prior to treatment, both public and private medical facilities require you to verify insurance coverage or provide a payment guarantee.

If you are gravely injured or ailing, you may require medical attention at a more appropriate location. Typically, this is South Africa. Medical evacuation can incur significant costs.

Botswana Local travel Advice

Road travel

Road travel is hazardous in Botswana. Roads are frequently traversed by livestock and wild animals, which possess the right-of-way.

To drive in Botswana, you need both:

• a valid driver’s license in Australia and
• IDPs are international driver’s licenses.

An IDP must be obtained prior to departure from Australia.

At night, exercise caution when traveling from the airport to Gaborone.

Outside of main urban centers, driving in Botswana can be hazardous. Primarily as a result of the following:

• poor road conditions
• local driving practices
• inadequate lighting

The Batswana The Botswanan people consider seriously any injuries or fatalities caused by motor vehicles to their livestock.

The sparse population and severe environment necessitate meticulous trip planning when traveling long distances.

When venturing into secluded arid regions, employ the services of a trustworthy guide. Bring along a four-wheel-drive vehicle stocked with emergency supplies.

The majority of urban roads are in excellent condition.

Flights & Getting Around

It is worth noting that flights can be reserved via The Bespoke African Safari Co. Could you kindly refer to our Flights section for further details and answers to popular inquiries?

Gaborone: Botswana’s primary international airport, Sir Seretse Khama, is accessible via flight from Johannesburg; however, the majority of safari-bound passengers opt to fly directly to one of the two airports listed below.

Maun: With daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, the gateway airport to the Okavango Delta is easily accessible. You will be transferred to a light charter aircraft prior to your Delta flight.

Kasane: Chobe’s entrance is accessible via air travel from Johannesburg, Gaborone, or Maun. For excursions in Savute or Linyanti, you will be transferred by road to lodges in the Chobe River area, or alternatively, in smaller aircraft. By road, Victoria Falls is less than one hundred kilometers distant.

In Botswana, travel between locations is typically facilitated via charter flights on small aircraft, while game safaris and transfers are conducted in open-sided 4X4 vehicles. In the Okavango Delta, transfers and game viewing via mokoro (dug-out canoe) and motorboat are typical.