Flights and Travel Guide to Botswana

Geography

Botswana is a Southern Africa country neighbored by South Africa in North. The long borders of Botswana rim along Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia as well.

Climate / Weather in Botswana

Generally it can be said that Botswana has ’semiarid climate and there are three seasons, summer, winter and rainfall.

• Summer:  November to March
• Winter: May to August
• Rainfall: January and February

September, October and April are the transitional months.

Best time to Visit Botswana

The best time to visit Botswana is the last months of summer, early winter or the transitional period when days are warmer and evenings are cooler. These months include March, April to October.

Getting In Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country that can be reached through a variety of routes through the neighboring countries.

Visa / Passport Requirements for Botswana

There is no Visa restriction on nationals of the EU countries as well as Australian, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada United Kingdom, Netherlands and United States. However, please call the concerned consulate to verify the up to date visa and passport requirements for Botswana before commencing travel.
The passport should be 6 month valid and should have 3-4 blank pages for stamps. Please inquire.

Capital of Botswana

The capital of Botswana is Gaborone. The city has the main International Airport that connects Botswana with the rest of the world. Other popular city that is also the largest township in Botswana is Maun.

Airports in Botswana

The major International Airport that is the entrance point of the majority of tourists flying to Botswana every year is located at the outskirts of the capital of Botswana, Gaborone.

Gaborone: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE)
Maun: Maun International Airport (MUB)

Airline to / from Gaborone

As the country is landlocked, the main source of getting in Botswana by air is to take a flight to any of the neighboring country and take an onwards regional flight. The prominent airline to Botswana includes:

• Air Zimbabwe via Harare
• South African Airways via Johannesburg
• Air Namibia via Windhoek

British Airways, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa and other European airline can also be booked for Gaborone through a connection in Johannesburg.

Accommodations in Botswana

Camping is a common activity in Botswana nature parks. There are some up class game lodges located in or near the game reserves as well. However the 4 and 5 star accommodations are also limited to the central city areas, capital and larger towns in Botswana.

Getting Around in Botswana

The roads in Botswana are carpeted and big cities have many options to travel around, such as coaches, buses, mini buses and combies. Fuel shortages in Botswana are uncommon and the country has an extensive internal railway network as well. Mostly tourists in Botswana rent a car to travel around. 

Places to See

The biggest and major tourist magnet in Botswana is the national reserves where African wildlife can be enjoyed at its wildest. The famous Game reserves in Botswana include:

• Chobe National Park
• Moremi National Park
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Nxai Pan National Park
• Chloe National Park

Other than the Game reserves, tourists in Botswana head out to explore:

• Okavango Delta, an out spring of Okavango river that leads to the desert
• The Kalahari Desert, where desert safari takes new heights of adventure

Things to Do

Where game viewing is the main thing, there is hardly anything else that one will feel like doing. However, other activities in Botswana include:

• Camping
• Desert Surfing
• Horse Riding
• Wild life safari
• Game Viewing
• Golfing

Food and Shopping

• Unlike its neighbors, the many traditional cuisines of Botswana have one necessary ingredient that is meat. Goat meat, cow meat or chicken, kebabs, roasted or stewed you cannot avoid eating the flavorsome food of Botswana. Also, sea foods (to some extent) can only be found and continental is served in large hotels located in city centers.
• The snacks that you will get in Botswana include Matemekwane, a local version of dumplings where as the main course; can include meat base dishes like Seswaa or Chotlho. The vegetarian varieties include Bogobe (porridge), Ting and Tophi.
• Largely, sweet dishes comprise fresh fruits like Marula and various kinds of water melons native to Botswana, such as wild melons, Lerotse or Lekatane. However Diphaphatha (flat cakes) and Magwinya (fat cakes) are also well liked.
• Among drinks, coke, pepsi, fanta and some other carbonated drinks are easily available. The locally brewed Lion beers, Khadi, Bojalwa, castle and the non alcoholic Ginger beer are also common.
• Morama, a form of tuber and a caterpillar Mopane, are considered as traditional delicacies in Botswana.
• As far as Shopping is concerned, locally made crafts, textile, handicrafts, fresh fruits, vegetables, basket works and other such items are of great interest to buyers in Botswana. There are many malls in Gaborone, frequented by tourists.

Nightlife in Botswana

The night life in Botswana is not very thriving however few restaurants are equipped with pubs and the locals also visit theaters that mean great entertainment to them. The clubs are limited to city centre and up class areas however bars can be found more easily. Locally fermented Wine and beer in Botswana is also a major attraction.

Festivals and Events in Botswana

The Christian festivals are celebrated in Botswana, in accordance with the Christian calendar. The events include:

• New Year on Jan 01
• Easter (as dated)
• Christmas and Goodwill day (December 25 and 26)

Other events celebrated locally include:

• Sir Seretse Khama Day (July 01)
• Botswana National Day  (Sep 30)

Travel Advice

Botswana is a relatively safe, with low crime rate and adventurous country to explore. However all the conditions that you follow to stay safe in your own country apply.

Tips for Travel to Botswana:

• Although hitchhiking is common in Botswana, however caution must be taken.
• If you are going via a bus, come to the bus station early as the buses are filled up quickly and if not in time you may end up waiting for hours, to catch the next bus.
• While driving in and around Botswana, be careful as the livestock animals, cows, buffaloes, goats and donkeys may come in the middle of the road, any time so stay alert.
• The HIV infection rate in Botswana is the second highest in the world. To stay safe, drink clean water, stay hygienic, avoid street food and take protection in other matters as well.
• As a wildlife safari destination, the chances of Malaria are high in Botswana. Get vaccinated and keep mosquito repellent at all times.
• Always observe the age of drinking and consent that is 18 years.
• Use bottled water to protect yourself from Diarrhea. Also be cautious not to use ice cubes made from contaminated water.  

Is Botswana Safe to Travel?

As currently stated on the official fco website, there are no travel restrictions imposed in Botswana as of now. However one must recheck fco warnings for updates and more information at the time or close to the time of travel.