Question 1

Do I need a visa to enter Botswana?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

Is Botswana safe for tourists?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

Can I self-drive in Botswana?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Do I need a visa to enter Namibia?

Accepted Answer

As a citizen of the EU, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and the UK, you will need a passport valid for 6 months from your entry date with at least one blank page to enter Namibia. You DO NOT need to arrange a visa before arrival. However, If you plan on travelling for more than 3 months, you will need to apply for a visa.

Starting 1 April 2025, nationals from 32 countries, including the UK, EU, USA, and Canada, will require a visa on arrival to enter Namibia. Find out more here. If you are a citizen of a country not included above, you may need to acquire a visa before arrival in Namibia via your local Namibian Embassy. Citizens from some countries can obtain a single-entry tourist visa upon arrival in Namibia. Find out more here.

Question 5

What is the best time to travel to Namibia

Accepted Answer

The dry season from May to October is best for wildlife viewing. The rainy season from November to April is better for birdwatching, but some lodges close and certain roads may be difficult to use.

Question 6

What languages are spoken in Namibia?

Accepted Answer

English is the official language. Afrikaans and German are widely spoken, along with local languages such as Oshiwambo, Herero, and Nama/Damara.

Question 7

What is the best time to travel to South Africa?

Accepted Answer

South Africa can be visited year-round, but the best time depends on the region. The dry winter months from May to September are ideal for safaris, as wildlife gathers around waterholes and vegetation is sparse. The warmer summer months from November to March are better for Cape Town, the Garden Route, and the beaches, although this is also the rainy season in much of the country.

Question 8

Do I need a visa to enter South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Visa requirements depend on nationality. Citizens of many countries – including most EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, and Japan – may enter South Africa without a visa for visits of up to 90 days. Nationals of some countries, such as Malaysia, Turkey, Seychelles, Thailand, Mozambique, and Cyprus, are visa-exempt for up to 30 days.

Travellers from countries not on the visa-exempt list must obtain a visa before arrival. All passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the entry date and contain at least one blank page for entry stamps.

Question 9

Do I need vaccinations to travel to South Africa?

Accepted Answer

No vaccinations are required for entry unless arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country, in which case a Yellow Fever certificate is mandatory. Travellers are advised to be up to date with routine vaccinations such as hepatitis, typhoid, and tetanus. Malaria is present in the north-east, including Kruger National Park and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, and prophylaxis is strongly recommended for these areas. Malaria is not a risk in Cape Town, the Garden Route, or Johannesburg.

The Kalahari

Africa's southernmost desert, spanning Botswana, Namibia and South Africa

Find The Kalahari on the map

Best time to go to The Kalahari

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