Botswana FAQs

Thinking of travelling to Botswana?

Botswana is widely regarded as the home of the best safari experiences in Africa and, by extension, the world. The landlocked southern African destination is sparsely populated, and strict controls on tourism make experiences like lion-spotting in the Okavango Delta or elephant encounters in Chobe National Park all the more incredible.

Our FAQs answer some of the most common questions we get asked about Botswana; you can explore our full programme of holidays to Botswana or contact one of our travel experts to find out more about the destination.

Before You Go

Q: Do I need a visa to travel to Botswana from the UK?

A: Providing your passport is valid for at least six months as of the day of your arrival in Botswana, you do not require a visa to enter. You can visit visa-free for up to 90 days per 12-month period.

As is often the case globally, customs staff may ask about your travel arrangements upon entry, including accommodation, ground transport plans, and onward destinations, so make sure you have an itinerary or booking confirmation to hand.

It is worth checking the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s advice here before travel, as information is subject to change.

Q: What vaccinations do I need for Botswana?

A: TravelHealthPro, the official website of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), strongly recommends vaccination against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers due to potential food, water and wound infection risks in Botswana.

Certain travellers, including those at greater risk of infection, may have vaccinations against Cholera, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Tuberculosis recommended by their GP, travel health clinic or travel insurance provider. It is worth checking in with any of those at least 8 weeks before your departure to be sure.

It is unlikely you will be transiting through a country on the WHO list for risk of yellow fever transmission on route (find the full, up-to-date list here) if travelling from the UK. However, if you do, you will be required to show a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever upon arrival in Botswana.

Q: What should I pack for a holiday in Botswana?

A: Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing is recommended during any safari, and this remains the case in Botswana. A light, warm jacket for those early rises in the bush, comfortable but sturdy walking shoes, and a brimmed hat will all serve you well. During winter (which typically runs from May to August), a warm fleece is recommended. Sunscreen, insect repellent, long-sleeve clothing and full-length trousers will protect you from the sun and bugs.

Charter flights have strict luggage limits, so be careful to stay below the 20kg limit and use soft luggage.

We have prepared a full breakdown of what to pack for a safari in Botswana, which you can read here.

Q: What plug sockets do I need for Botswana?

A: Plug sockets in Botswana are typically D, G and M types; while G sockets are the same as those used in the UK, we recommend packing a universal worldwide adapter that fits both D and M plug sockets in case.

Botswana’s voltage is the same as the UK (230V), so you won’t need a voltage converter.

Practical Information

Q: Where is Botswana, and which parts will I be visiting?

A: Botswana is in southern Africa, landlocked by South Africa to the south, Namibia to the northwest and Zimbabwe to the east.

Much of the nation’s south is covered by the sparse Kalahari Desert. Our tours instead focus on the verdant northeastern corner, including the Moremi Game Reserve, which occupies almost 2,000 square miles (almost a third) of the Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park.

Q: What is the population of Botswana?

A: The population of Botswana is around 2.6 million people.

Q: What is the capital city of Botswana?

A: Gaborone is Botswana’s capital and is home to around 10% of the nation’s population.

Q: What is the time difference?

A: During the UK winter or Daylight-Saving Time (DST) from late October to late March, Botswana is two hours ahead. During British Summer Time (BST), that reduces to one hour ahead.

Most Llama Travel tours operate during British Summer Time/Botswana’s winter, meaning you will likely be just one hour ahead of the UK during your holiday.

Q: How long does it take to fly from the UK to Botswana?

A: With no direct flights from the UK to Botswana, the best option is often to fly via Johannesburg and connect from there to Maun in northern Botswana. That can take between 13 and 18 hours, depending on departure time and layover duration.

Q: What language is spoken in Botswana?

A: Setswana is the official language of Botswana and is spoken by much of the nation’s population. Most airport and accommodation staff, guides and drivers are proficient in English.

All guides on Llama Travel tours of Botswana are fluent in English.

Q: What is the currency in Botswana?

A: The national currency of Botswana is the Pula. £1 is equivalent to around 18 Pula. You can enquire about up-to-date exchange rates at your local currency exchange shop before your trip.

Safari guides across Botswana are accustomed to receiving tips in US dollars. Even then, we recommend bringing a small number of Pula, as many local souvenir shops often prefer local currency.

Q: What’s the weather like in Botswana?

A: Due to its location in the southern hemisphere, Botswana’s seasons rotate inversely to the UK’s. Summer begins around October/November and ends in March/April.

In the late summer months (March/April), rainfall is frequent. Temperatures range widely from 14°C to 32°C; bright sunshine contrasts with intermittent stormy skies. Botswana’s winter (May to October) is the dry season and considered the prime safari months. The coldest winter months (June/July) record morning temperatures of around 7°C to 26°C in the peak afternoon. By late winter (September & October), temperatures will vary from 15°C to 20°C in the mornings to 35°C and above in the peak afternoon.

Throughout the year, the weather in Botswana is relatively predictable, but we always recommend checking the forecast to ensure you pack accordingly.

Q: What should I know about local customs and etiquette in Botswana?

A: Many of the typical customs in Botswana revolve around respect, kindness and harmony, both for other people (especially elders) and the environment. The Botswanan people are accustomed to warm greetings, and may appreciate a Setswana ‘Hello’: ‘Dumela’, pronounced Doo-Mela.

Littering anywhere is unacceptable, but especially in the bush, and you should endeavour to leave areas as undisturbed as you found them by cleaning up after yourself and not removing natural objects or disturbing wildlife or foliage.

Despite it being a more progressive nation than many of its regional neighbours, Botswana’s attitude to dress code remains relatively conservative by western standards. While much of your trip will see you and your group largely isolated from civilisation in the bush, long-sleeved trousers and shirts are a good idea for two reasons: to adhere to the customary dress code if and when required, and to protect you from the elements while on safari.

For all couples visiting Botswana, public displays of affection are generally discouraged. Homosexuality is no longer prohibited by law, but attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) travellers remain less tolerant than those in the UK, so this is worth keeping in mind for LGBT+ travellers visiting cities and populated rural areas. On safari, LGBT+ travellers can expect a warm welcome from our partners.

Your safari guide will brief you on specific safari protocol, including camp and vehicle etiquette.

We recommend checking the UK Foreign Office’s up-to-date advice on local laws and customs in Botswana at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/botswana/local-laws-and-customs before travel.

Q: Do I need to tip in Botswana?

A: In restaurants in Botswana, tipping is standard practice. A service charge may be added to your bill as a matter of course, which removes the need to tip beyond that. If there is no service charge on the bill, it is customary to tip from 10-15% of the total bill if the service was good.

On safari, guides and staff are accustomed to receiving tips in US dollars. As a general guideline, we suggest US$15 for the guide and US$10 for the chef and general staff per person per day. Taxi drivers and hotel staff can be tipped at your discretion.

Q: What should I know about safari experiences in Botswana?

A: Botswana’s reputation as one of the best safari locations on earth is well-earned. The nation’s incredible biodiversity, especially on the Okavango Delta, means you will likely get up close to game during your safari.

Our safaris include game drives aboard one of the most modern vehicle fleets in Botswana, but it is by no means an entirely predictable experience. On occasion, drivers may be forced to take a detour, vehicles may get stuck in the sand or mud, or other disruptions may occur. Trials and tribulations in the bush are all a part of the adventure, and will make for great travel stories on your return!

The Llama Travel blog is a great resource for insights into safari experiences. We have dedicated blogs about a typical day on safari (click here), a packing list (click here), and an exclusive interview with Grant Reed, founder of our safari partners Letaka Safaris and star of National Geographic’s Safari Brothers alongside his brother Brent (click here).

Click here to explore all of our blog entries about Botswana.

Q: What is it like staying at a mobile safari in Botswana?

A: A mobile tented safari in Botswana is an adventurous way to immerse yourself in one of the world’s great wildlife areas.

After your guide meets you at the airstrip, you will be driven to your first camp, which is set up by the general staff before your arrival. Camps host a maximum of seven guests, joined by your guide, chef and up to two general staff. Shared areas include a campfire and an open-sided dining tent with a table, chairs and a drink table.

You will be sleeping in an individual tent (per couple or per person if travelling alone), with a proper bed, porch area, and ensuite bathroom with a hand basin, bucket shower and long-drop toilet.

Mobile safari camps are entirely open: the lack of fencing means wild animals can easily (and often do) wander through the camp. Your safari guides will advise you on etiquette in these instances to ensure you enjoy the spontaneous encounters as much as possible.

Expect early mornings, with the group waking up before sunrise for morning game drives. Afternoons are dedicated to relaxation before a second game drive in the late afternoon/early evening. Dinner consists of a simple but tasty three-course meal freshly prepared by the camp chef, with alcoholic drinks included.

During your time at camp, you will be totally disconnected from the outside world when it comes to phone signal and internet access. Guides have radios in case of emergencies. Group time and exchanging safari stories will become the new social media!

As the name suggests, mobile safaris move from location to location. On our regular 14-day ‘Delta Mobile Safari & Victoria Falls’ itinerary, this means the camp moves once, with three nights in Moremi National Park and three nights in the Mababe private reserve. Our 16-day ‘Extended Delta Mobile Safari & Victoria Falls’ itinerary adds a third mobile safari location, with three nights in Savuti.

We have a dedicated blog entry breaking down exactly what to expect during the mobile safari portion of your Botswana holiday, written by one of our Travel Experts with first-hand experience. Click here to read it.

Health & Safety

Q: Is Botswana safe to travel to?

A: Botswana is one of Africa’s safest and most stable countries to travel to. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s up-to-date travel advice about safety and security in Botswana can be found here. The risk of crime and terrorism incidents has consistently been low for foreign visitors.

Llama Travel vets our accommodation and experience partners to ensure our guests’ comfort and security.

On safari, your guide will brief you on relevant safety procedures and wildlife considerations, such as not taking food into your tent and zipping up your tent properly. Following their instructions will eliminate most potential risks from affecting your safari experience.

Llama Travel’s booking conditions require all of our guests to have adequate travel insurance to protect against the worst-case scenario whilst on holiday.

Q: What happens if I get ill while in Botswana?

A: If you fall ill, contact your guide or hotel staff, who can help arrange assistance. Your safari guides and hotel staff will have first aid kits, well-stocked with basic medical supplies for treatable illnesses.

In case of a medical emergency, private hospitals in Maun, the closest major city near the places visited on Llama Travel tours, are modern and often staffed by English-speaking doctors. However, private hospitals will require you to pay for any treatment upfront, so ensure your travel insurance covers you for medical care and potential repatriation in the worst-case scenario.

We recommend that you always bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications on holiday.

Q: Do I need travel insurance for Botswana?

A: Our booking conditions require all guests to have adequate insurance against emergency repatriation and illness when travelling.

TravelHealthPro, the up-to-date travel advice resource run by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, also recommends travellers have adequate travel health insurance before travelling. You can read their full guidance on travelling to Botswana here.

Connectivity and Communication

Q: How do I phone the UK from Botswana?

A: To phone the UK from Botswana, dial the UK’s international dialling code (0044) and then the UK number, leaving out ‘0’ in the area code.

Q: How do I phone Botswana from the UK?

A: To phone Botswana from the UK, dial the international dialling code for Botswana (+267) and then the telephone number, leaving out the ‘0’ in the area code.

Q: Will I get a phone signal while travelling in Botswana?

A: Whether or not you have a phone signal in Botswana will largely depend where you are travelling.

During mobile safari experiences in and around the Okavango Delta, you will likely have little to no phone signal or internet access. Your safari guide will have a radio to use in case of emergencies.

In some safari lodges, like those in Chobe National Park, limited Wi-Fi may be available.

Q: What are the options for mobile data and SIM cards in Botswana?

A: Most Llama Travel itineraries in Botswana are largely focused on mobile safari experiences. During those legs of the journey, you will have no phone signal or internet access, so mobile data and SIM cards are unnecessary.

If you are spending time in Maun and/or Victoria Falls at either end of your tour, Wi-Fi will be available in most hotels and public spaces. eSIMs such as Airalo, Nomad and Ubigi offer Botswana-specific plans for international roaming, calls and texts, but you should check that your phone is eSIM-compatible before purchasing any of these.

Getting Around

Q: How do I get around in Botswana?

A: Maun is not considered a walkable city, with limited pedestrian infrastructure. We recommend asking the hotel staff to call you a taxi if you want to explore the city. Llama Travel reps and hotel staff can advise you on the approximate cost of any taxi journey around the city.

From Maun or Kasane, you will travel to the bush on a light aircraft. Flights often operate a ‘taxi’ style service, picking up and dropping off passengers at other small airstrips along the way to fit in with various passengers’ activities. During these flights, a strict 20kg luggage limit applies, and you must use only soft luggage.

In the bush, game drives will take place on a four-wheel drive vehicle with open sides for prime wildlife viewing.

Other ground transport, like airport transfers, will take place on a standard minibus.

In the Moremi Game Reserve, you will have the chance to travel along the Khwai River in a traditional mokoro dugout canoe. From the boat, you can often spot birds and occasionally hippo, crocodile and elephant.

Q: Is there public transport in Botswana?

A: There is limited public transport in areas like Maun, Gaborone, and Kasane. The most popular is the ‘Kombi’, 15-seater minibuses that run on irregular timings (only departing when full), and promise snug seating. Certain large coaches operate inter-city services between bus ranks in city centres. These, again, are not always reliable and are much slower than private transfers or internal flights.

We recommend pre-arranging transfers to and from the airport and booking taxis on your local guide or hotel staff’s advice and recommendations.

Food and Drink

Q: What’s the food like in Botswana?

A: Food in Botswana is simple but hearty. You can expect to eat a lot of meat (especially beef) dishes, open-fire cooking, and wild vegetables.

Botswana’s national dish, Seswaa, is made up of meat (typically beef, goat or lamb), boiled to a tender and shredded to a similar texture as pulled pork. Seswaa is often served with Pap, a stiff maize porridge, or Bogobe, a sorghum porridge.

On Llama Travel’s Botswana holidays, dinner is included during stays at the Thamalakane River Lodge in Maun. The lodge’s restaurant has a vast menu of meat, seafood, pizzas, pastas, salad, seafood and vegetarian dishes.

Should you choose not to eat at Thamalakane, there is a range of good restaurant options across Maun, serving international options like pizza and curry alongside more traditional African and Botswanan fare.

On the safari portion of our holidays, chefs prepare simple, three-course meals. Vegetarian options can be prepared if notified at the time of booking or before departure. Vegan options and other dietary restrictions cannot be catered for on safari.

Q: Can I drink tap water in Botswana?

A: Tap water is generally safe to drink in Botswana. On safari, filtered water is supplied.

During summer, we recommend bringing rehydration salts to add to your water to prevent dehydration problems. One sachet per person per day is sufficient.

Q: Is alcohol available in Botswana?

A: Alcohol is widely available across Botswana, with restrictions in place on ‘bottle store’  (similar to off-licenses) opening hours. The legal drinking age for purchasing and consuming alcohol is 18.

During safari portions of Llama Travel holidays in Botswana, your dinners include alcoholic drinks.

Q: What drinks are available in Botswana?

A: The national beer of Botswana, St. Louis Lager, is brewed in Gaborone but available across the country. Chibuku, a commercial version of sorghum beer, is a thick, slightly sour, and acquired taste, but popular among locals. Amarula, a cream liqueur made from the Marula fruit, is a popular sundowner on safari.

Lagers, gins, and wines from neighbouring South Africa are all commonplace at most restaurants and bottle stores in Botswana.

What to See

Q: What are the highlights of Botswana?

A: Botswana’s wildlife is considered the highlight for many, and is the main reason the destination is regarded as one of the best safari experiences on earth.

The Okavango Delta, one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, is one of the best places on earth to spot lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles and more.

Chobe National Park, in the nation’s north-eastern corner, is famed for its large herds of elephants, with most elephant population estimates well over 100,000, and its over 450 bird species.

Maun, whilst most commonly serving as a main transit point into the Okavango Delta, is a typical dusty frontier town brimming with charm. The relaxing pace and authentic vibe are a great starting point for a safari holiday.

The warm welcome guests experience in Botswana is a large part of the destination’s charm, and memories of hospitable Botswanans often endure as long as those of memorable wildlife encounters.

Q: Will I see the Big Five in Botswana?

A: Both the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park are home to vast wildlife populations, including many of the Big Five. Chobe is famed for its concentration of Elephants, the largest anywhere in the world, and the vast herds of Buffalo around the Chobe River and Moremi Game Reserve are a common sight on safari in Botswana. Most major reserves in Botswana boast healthy populations of Lion, and while Leopard remain slightly more elusive, the population is significant.

In efforts to combat poaching, many Rhino were relocated to highly protected areas of the Okavango Delta and private reserves. The Moremi Game Reserve and private Okavango Delta reserves offer the best chance to see them, but they remain the most elusive of the Big Five.

Due to animal migrations and unpredictable population movements, no safari provider can guarantee specific animal sightings; that unpredictability is often what makes a safari experience so magical and repeat safari trips so enticing.

Q: How many days do I need to explore Botswana?

A: We recommend at least 2 weeks in Botswana. 6 or more days on safari are required to cover the vast ecosystems and guarantee an unrushed experience worthy of the incredible setting, with 2 days on either side to prepare or recover from the early mornings and explore Botswana beyond the bush.