Botswana: main airports
Botswana is served by Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, the capital, as well as Maun, the main gateway to the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO natural World Heritage Site.
Botswana: recommended activities
Botswana: visa and entry requirements
Most nationalities (European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia) do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay and have enough blank pages for stamps.
Botswana: safety
Botswana is considered one of the safest countries in Africa for tourists, with violent crime rare even in cities. The usual precautions are sufficient in Gaborone and tourist areas. The main risk on safaris is linked to wildlife: always follow guides' instructions in national parks and never wander off alone in unfenced camps.
Botswana: health situation
No vaccination is mandatory for those arriving from Europe; a yellow fever certificate is required only for those arriving from a country at risk of transmission. Gaborone and the south of the country are at negligible malaria risk, but the northern tourist areas (Okavango Delta, Chobe, Moremi, Maun, Kasane) are high-risk: antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for those visiting these areas. Gaborone's health facilities are of a good standard by regional standards; in remote safari areas, medical evacuation (often by helicopter) is standard practice in an emergency, hence the importance of insurance with adequate coverage.
Botswana: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Botswana pula (BWP); credit cards are widely accepted in Gaborone and tourist lodges, less so in rural areas. There are no very widespread Western ride-hailing apps outside Gaborone: local taxis and lodge-organised transfers are the norm in safari areas. For connectivity, the operators Mascom, Orange and BTC sell prepaid SIM cards, generally purchasable in Gaborone. For driving (on the left, as in the United Kingdom), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is generally also required alongside the national one.
