Botswana Travel Guide

About to go wild in Botswana on a fabulous safari holiday? There's a few things you need to know before you do so look no further than our useful travel guide resources. Here you'll find information on the top game reserves and when best to visit them for wildlife spotting. There's also details on the necessary visa you'll need and tips on everything from currency to WiFi access. If you're still in the process of deciding which tour is right for you, read more about what to expect of our overland camping and lodge-accommodated safaris or read what our travellers think about our tours. We also have a comprehensive guide on where to find Africa's Big 5 and an easy reference guide on more of the continent's wildlife.

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Best Places to Visit

Our pick of Botswana's top game reserves and national parks

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Best Time to Visit

Time your safari adventure with the seasons for the best chance to spot wildlife

Currency

Top Travel Tips

Learn about what vaccinations you'll need, travelling with children and more

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About Overland Safaris

What to expect on an overland camping expedition from transport to accommodation

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About Lodge Safaris

More about our lodge accommodated safaris in Africa and what to expect

Visas

Traveller Visas

Visa requirements for Botswana and information on getting your visa

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Safari Wildlife Guide

Where to see Africa's most iconic wildlife and the best time to do so

Herd of Elephants- Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Spotting Africa's Big 5

Our guide to the best places in Africa to see the famous Big 5

Plan your trip to similar destinations!

Get to know Botswana

Recommended Reading

  • Cry of the Kalahari
    by Mark and Delia Owens
  • Place of Reeds
    by Caitlin Davies
  • Botswana Time
    by Will Randall
Did you know...?

Facts about Botswana

  • Botswana is home to the largest elephant population in Africa and the Chobe River supports up to 50,000 in the dry season.
  • The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world, spanning 17,000 square km.
  • In the Xoo language of Botswana, spoken by about 4,000 people, there are 112 distinct sounds compared to 40 in English.

Botswana Travel Advice for South African Travellers

The safety of our travellers is of prime importance and we closely monitor current travel advice on Botswana. We recommend that you check the latest travel updates from the consular in South Africa when planning your trip.

Flying to Botswana from South Africa:

Botswana is a short 2 hour direct flight from South Africa with Air Botswana operating the route from Johannesburg. For our tours that start or end in Botswana, Maun international airport will be the arrival/departure point though a number of our tours start in Maun and end in Victoria Falls, or vice versa, so you will need to book what's known as an open jaw ticket flying into one city and out of another. If flying from Cape Town then most airlines will transit somewhere en route with Air Botswana via Gaborone the quickest option. Air Botswana also fly from Victoria Falls to South Africa so a great choice for a multi-city route. Check out Travelstart for flight deals from South Africa to Botswana.

Useful Online Resources:

The official Botswana Tourist Organisation site and the latest Botswana Weather Updates from the BBC.