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.

Currently seeing:
Three lion cubs sitting alert on dusty ground in Savuti region of Chobe National Park Botswana

Nature Reserve

Savuti Region

Where Predators Rule and the Savuti Channel Tells Ancient Secrets

Savute, often spelled Savuti, forms a distinct and remote western/southern region within Botswana's iconic Chobe National Park—the country's first and most biologically diverse protected area. Covering vast savannahs, grasslands, mopane woodlands, and the life-giving Savute Marsh, this area is defined by the 100 km Savute Channel, a geologically mysterious waterway that flows erratically from the Linyanti River due to tectonic shifts—drying for decades before suddenly reviving, reshaping wildlife patterns and drawing huge concentrations of animals. The landscape features open plains dotted with ancient baobabs and rocky outcrops like the Gubatsaa Hills, creating dramatic backdrops for unparalleled game viewing. Savute is legendary as a predator hotspot, with large lion prides clashing with hyena clans, packs of African wild dogs, leopards, and cheetahs preying on abundant herbivores including elephants (often in big herds), buffalo, giraffes, zebras (famous green-season migrations), wildebeest, and various antelopes. Over 400 bird species add to the diversity, especially vibrant in the wet season. Activities focus on 4x4 game drives (day and night where permitted), guided walks in select areas, and immersive wildlife observation amid uncrowded, raw wilderness. As part of Chobe, Savute benefits from strong conservation, with no fences allowing free animal movement across the park and into neighboring reserves. The dry season (May–October) offers concentrated sightings around water; the green season (November–April) transforms it into a lush, bird-filled paradise with dramatic storms and fewer visitors. Savute delivers an authentic, high-adrenaline safari experience—perfect for those seeking predator action, epic herds, and the untamed spirit of Botswana's Northern Circuit.

Savute, often spelled Savuti, forms a distinct and remote western/southern region within Botswana's iconic Chobe ...

Find Savuti Region on the map

Best time to go to Savuti Region

The best time to visit Savuti is during the dry season from May to October (peak June–October), when water sources concentrate massive herds of elephants, buffalo, zebras, and predators (lions, hyenas, wild dogs) for exceptional game viewing, including around the Savuti Channel and Marsh. The green/wet season (November–April) brings lush vegetation, migratory birds, newborn animals, and dramatic skies with fewer crowds—ideal for birdwatching and scenic immersion, though wildlife disperses and roads can be challenging during heavy rains (Jan–Mar).