Visas are not required by nationals of the UK, Ireland and USA. However a passport with at least 6 months validity is essential. As visa requirements change you are advised to check with the Botswana High Commission before travelling. Their telephone number is 020 7499 0031.

As of May 2017 all visitors are required to pay a tourist levy of US$30 per person to enter the country.

If travelling into Botswana via Zambia (Livingstone being the usual start point) you may need to purchase a Zambian visa. Currently these cost US$50 cash per person and can be purchased on arrival. It’s also worth noting that if you travel on to Livingstone and are using Johannesburg as a hub for your flights you will need to obtain a yellow fever certificate to enter South Africa.

As of December 2012 all children under 16 years of age are required to carry (or their parents are required to carry) copies of both their passports and their unabridged birth certificates for arrival and departure from Botswana. As of November 2016, the policy has changed so that, in the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent's affidavit consenting to such travel should also be presented. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father's name does not appear on the child's birth certificate.

If you are travelling to Botswana via South Africa you may need a South African transit visa. These need to be purchased in advance. UK citizens do not currently need a transit visa but many other nationals including US and some EU citizens do need a transit visa.

If you are spending any time in South Africa you must have 2 blank passport pages opposite each other to enter the country.

We recommend you double check visa requirements before travel as requirements can change.

When to Travel

Botswana experiences extremes in both temperature and weather. It is primarily a dry country with a summer rainy season which runs from November to March. During the winter period (May to August) rain is very rare. Days are normally clear and sunny and nights are cool to very cold. Frost is not uncommon.

Health and Immunisation

As of July 2014 all travellers who have travelled through or from countries which have been declared yellow fever infected areas MUST provide an international health certificate of vaccination for yellow fever upon arrival into Botswana.

Good protection against malaria is strongly recommended. Most importantly - insect bite precautions e.g. insect repellent containing DEET (Autan, Jungle Formula or Pure DEET). However medical requirements are subject to change and it is advisable to check with your local travel clinic before travelling. Strict observance of all medical requirements are a must and we strongly recommend that you obtain a medical kit to carry with you. It is also very important to remember not to swim in rivers or lakes without checking with your guide that it is safe to do so.

We must stress that our suggestions for medical protection are purely advisory and you should always consult your GP for the latest information. See also the NHS Fit For Travel website.

As a relatively wealthy country, Botswana enjoys high standards of health care, and in the large hospitals in Gaborone and Francistown, facilities are comparable to those of Europe. Dental services are available in Gaborone and Francistown in the unlikely event that you need them, and all the main towns, except Kasane, have reasonably well-stocked pharmacies. Nevertheless, if on safari in the bush you will need a reasonable medical kit and are advised to carry all personal medicines you are likely to need with you.

Currency

Currency is the Botswana ‘Pula’, which is divided into 100 Thebe. Bank notes come in denominations of P1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50, and coins in denominations of 1t, 2t, 5t, 50t and P1. Officially, foreigners may export up to US$185 (P500) in cash or up to US$370 (P1000) in foreign bank notes. Any more than that should be in travellers’ cheques. Most camps and lodges will accept credit cards but may charge a commission. A good supply of one dollar bills, obtained before leaving the UK, will help with tipping.

Tipping

While tipping isn’t exactly required, thanks to the official policy of promoting only upmarket tourism, it’s now expected in many hotels and restaurants. However, it is recommended that you tip only for exceptional service. In most places a service charge is added as a matter of course. Taxi drivers generally aren’t tipped.

We are constantly asked about tipping guides and camp staff and therefore set out our guidelines below:

For safaris we recommend a tip of $10 per client per day for your guide.

There is usually a box at the camp for tipping cooks, waiters, etc. We recommend about $5 per client per day into the kitty.

The Mokoro paddlers are great capitalists and will expect a tip! We recommend each paddler gets $5pp per day.