Botswana

Get close to Africa’s iconic game animals in the magnificent Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, Central Kalahari Game Reserve or Gemsbok National Park

Explore the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta

Witness the otherworldly beauty of the sandy plains, dunes and pans of the vast Kalahari Desert

Check out the “Louvre of the Desert”: the World Heritage Listed site of Tsodilo, one of the world’s largest collections of ancient rock carvings and paintings

Learn more about the history and culture of Botswana with a visit to the national museum and art gallery in the capital city of “Gabs”

Gain insights into village life and support local communities with an organised cultural visit to a rural village

Sample the region’s excellent wine & local produce, or take part in a braai (barbecue) if you’re lucky!

Shop for colourful traditional arts and crafts, especially the famed Botswana basketry

Grab some beautiful pottery and weaving handicrafts from the villages of Thamaga and Oodi

Botswana is classed as semiarid, with hot summers and warm winters, and only a brief wet season.

Summer (Oct to Mar) begins with a windy season (Aug to mid Oct) carrying dusts from the Kalahari, followed by a long dry hot season, punctuated by the infrequent subtropical downpours of the country’s only wet season (Dec to Mar).

Average daily temperatures in summer rise to about 34°C (93°F) in the warmest parts of the country, the north and southwest.

Winter (Apr to Sep) is marked by sunny, cloudless skies and dry, temperate weather. Daytime temperatures are warm to mild, but the absence of cloud cover means nighttime and early morning temperatures drop significantly, with frosts being common. Winter is generally considered the best time to visit in terms of both favourable weather and game viewing.

During the dry and early rainy seasons, all but four of Botswana’s rivers (Chobe, Limpopo, Okavango and Boteti) cease to flow.

Botswana’s semiarid climate is prone to cyclic droughts, sometimes lasting up to six years and wiping out harvests and reducing livestock to starvation.

Botswana is +2 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Tswana (aka Setswana, Sechuana) 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, Other 8.6%

Pula (divided into thebe)

We recommend that you travel with your local currency (EUR, USD, AUD, NZD, GBP) in CASH as this is the easiest way to change into local currency of the country you are travelling in.

Travel with some US Dollar cash, preferably in small denominations. Pre-2006 notes are not accepted due to the high number of counterfeits in circulation.

The only ATMs in Botswana are in the major urban centres, where banks can also be found.

Visa and MasterCard are usually accepted throughout Botswana. Most lodges visited are able to accept credit cards for meals however, American Express and Diners are NOT readily accepted. All outlets charge a significant premium for using a card so expect to pay an additional 5% to 10%.

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Electricity in Botswana is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The pin types used are D and G.

Electricity in Botswana is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The pin types used are D and G.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.