Do I need a visa to enter Botswana?

Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. Visitors from certain countries may be exempt from obtaining a visa for short stays. It is recommended to check with the nearest Botswana embassy or consulate in your home country to determine the specific visa requirements. Find out more here . Botswana offers visa-on-arrival facilities at major entry points for eligible nationalities. It's essential to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date. Have at least 1 blank page in your passport for endorsements and take 2 colour passport photographs.

Is Botswana safe for tourists?

Botswana is a safe country and a great place to visit. However, it is always a good idea to just be street-smart. Here are some tips to keep in mind when travelling: Keep an eye on your belongings, whether travelling alone or in a group. Carry some emergency cash as some areas lack ATMs. Avoid wandering alone at night and exercise caution in urban areas. Respect wildlife, maintain a safe distance, and never provoke or feed them. If self-driving, ensure readiness with spare tires and repair tools for remote distances, cautious fueling, planned routes, and daytime driving to evade animals and respect speed limits.

Can I self-drive in Botswana?

It’s only advisable to self-drive in Botswana if you have the appropriate level of experience. Remote regions like Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans necessitate a 4x4 vehicle. Proficiency in water, sand, and mud crossings is crucial, along with high and low range transmission expertise. You’ll need to maintain fuel awareness, meaning refilling regularly and carrying extra fuel. For more convenience, lodges and camps will often offer transfers and there are also plenty of internal flights to many of Botswana’s top attractions.

What language is spoken in Botswana?

The official language is English, while Setswana is the national language spoken widely across the country.

What currency is used in Botswana?

In Botswana, the currency used is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is divided into 100 Thebe. Money can be exchanged at airports, urban Bureaux de Changes, and accredited hotels. Check with your bank beforehand to ensure your card will work in Botswana. Most ATMs in Botswana dispense local currency and accept international credit and debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard. However, many bespoke and luxury hotels charge in USD and accept tips in USD.

Is Botswana family-friendly?

Yes, but some lodges have age restrictions for children on game drives or mokoro trips. Always check child policies in advance.

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African elephants drinking and bathing at waterhole during golden hour in Botswana safari wetlands

Country

Botswana

Africa's premier wildlife destination with the largest concentration of elephants in the world

Botswana has a wealth of incredible wildlife that will delight any safari adventurer. With nearly half of the country a protected area or under some kind of environmental management, Botswana is home to an incredible abundance of animals who have found their haven here. The country is known for its biodiversity, from the black-maned lions of the Kalahari to meerkat colonies in the salt pans. In the lush north, you can find colossal herds of elephants in the Chobe and even swimming lions in the Okavango Delta. Botswana’s appeal extends to the country’s gorgeous and diverse landscapes, as well as its captivating cultures, including the Basawara and Batswana, who celebrate their unique way of life through tradition and art.

Botswana has a wealth of incredible wildlife that will delight any safari adventurer. With nearly ...

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Best time to go to Botswana

Botswana's climate ranges from arid to semi-arid and is marked by hot and rainy summers, usually between November and March. This ‘green’ season is the best time to spot migrating birds, predators, and baby animals. However, many lodges in the Okavango Delta close during these months, so do check before you book. The dry season, between April and October, is the prime time to spot animals as they frequent water sources. This is also when the Delta floods, making it a great time for water-based activities. These months are a fantastic time to visit the salt pans, which will be dry from about June to September.

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Viatu's Top Picks

Suggested Trip Templates for Botswana

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Featured Stays

Where to stay in Botswana

Explore Botswana

Top destinations to visit

Botswana

Okavango Delta

Botswana's premier wilderness and wildlife area, 1 of the 7 natural wonders of Africa

11 trips

63 stays

Botswana

The Khwai Community Concession

Community-owned wilderness where predators, wild dog and elephants roam freely.

4 trips

6 stays

Botswana

Makgadikgadi

Desert-adapted wildlife roam the chalk-white landscape of the world's largest salt pan

7 trips

7 stays

Botswana

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

Remote and undiscovered wilderness boasting mega-herds of elephant and buffalo

3 trips

7 stays

Botswana

Central Kalahari

Endless horizons, migrating herds and a desert that comes alive with the rains.

Botswana

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The largest protected area in Africa, home to black-maned lions and Africa's Bushmen

African elephant and calf wading through water channels in Botswana's Okavango Delta

Botswana

Okavango Delta North

An exciting year-round paradise of wildlife and water

7 trips

25 stays

Botswana

Chobe National Park

The oldest and most biodiverse national park in Botswana

3 trips

9 stays

Botswana

Khwai Private Concession

Exclusive wildlife-rich community concession in the eastern reaches of the Okavango Delta

2 trips

4 stays

Botswana

Moremi Game Reserve

The heart of the Okavango Delta, home to Botswana's most endangered large mammals

2 trips

11 stays

Herd of zebras standing together in Chobe National Park, Botswana, showing distinct black and white striped patterns

Botswana

Kasane

Explore the charming gateway to the Zambezi River and Chobe National Park

1 trips

5 stays

Botswana

Maun

The bustling gateway to the ecological wonders of the Okavango Delta

1 trips

3 stays

Botswana

Savuti Region

Where Predators Rule and the Savuti Channel Tells Ancient Secrets

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From the first contact to trip preparation and implementation as well as support during the trip, Viatu always acted very professionally. Our wishes and the given financial framework were taken into account. The hotels, the food, the activities - everything was excellent and highly recommended.

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The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.

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We had the most wonderful experience with Viatu and the trip of a lifetime. My sister and I travelled for 3,5 weeks through Namibia and South Africa, and everything was perfectly planned and just amazing.

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Because of the easy way we communicated with our Viatu expert, it felt like planning our holidays with a friend. It made it really flexible and perfectly suitable for our needs. The accommodations that he suggested were just wonderful and a perfect mix of everything we needed.

Nicole

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With super short notice, they organised a trip that was just perfect. Loved everything about it! Will definitely recommend Viatu to all my friends!

Margherita

Verified Traveller

Stefano

Verified Traveller

We booked our 3.5-week honeymoon with Viatu, and it was simply wonderful! We had the most amazing time in South Africa and will book holidays with Viatu again!

Linda

Manuel

Nadja

Nora

Christoph

The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.

Jan

Valerie

Nicole