Botswana FAQs

Visas

Visas are not required for Botswana  for nationals of the US, Canada and the UK. For any nationalities that do require visas please make sure you leave plenty of time before your departure to arrange the necessary paperwork.

Please note that requirements can change and we recommend that our guests contact the local embassy in the country where you live for the most recent and up to date information.

Passports

It’s important that your passport is valid for at least six months after your intended departure and you should have two consecutive blank pages facing each other for the relevant immigration stamps.If you visit other countries you will need two blank pages per country.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as domestic flights, permits or train tickets using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

Medical

You will not need to show a yellow fever certificate if you are coming to Botswana from the USA or Europe for example. If you are travelling between countries deemed at risk from Yellow Fever such as Kenya or Uganda  you will be required to have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. 

There are rules regarding travelling with minors in Botswana. If the child is not travelling with both legal guardians, then extra paperwork will need to be obtained before travel. It’s important to make sure you have enough time to arrange the relevant paperwork before your departure. Please check with your travel designer or concierge about this well in advance.

Yes, once your trip is confirmed it is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case anything unexpected happens. 

We always recommend that our guests get the maximum level of coverage that you feel comfortable investing in. Read more about travel insurance for US travellers here and travellers from other countries here.

Yes, you should visit a travel doctor before your trip as they may recommend certain vaccinations or medications before or during travel. Vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Africa include Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis.

There is a risk of Malaria in parts of Botswana . Please speak with your travel doctor about the best anti-malaria medication for you and bring insect repellent, wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers with closed shoes in the evenings and early mornings. Please seek medical advice before applying very strong insect repellent to young children.

As mentioned above under Entry Requirements you may need proof of yellow fever certificate if visiting other East African countries.

Most flights in Botswana flying into safari camps are air on small aircraft and require soft-sided duffle bags, without wheels and not weighing more than 20kg. 

Please speak with your travel designer or concierge if you have any questions regarding your luggage allowance and excess luggage. Please inform us in advance if anyone travelling has an individual weight of more than 100kgs (220lbs) as an additional weight allowance on the aircraft must be purchased for safety and comfort.

We suggest that you check in online 24 hours before your commercial domestic, regional and international flights. We will provide you with the e-ticket information and details of the flights we have arranged for you approximately 2 weeks before travel.

Travel pack

Before you head off on your adventure you will be sent a travel pack. The travel pack is full of great information and is also a beautiful keepsake. It is not necessary to travel with vouchers or confirmations on your trip but we do recommend having a printed copy of your travel itinerary to hand when you arrive in Botswana.

Bon Voyage email

Around 2 weeks before you depart we will email you an electronic version of your travel pack including your regional flight tickets. Once you’ve received this email your Travel Designer will reach out to arrange a time for you to talk on the phone to go over any last-minute questions and talk you through the information we’ve sent over.

Local currency and US dollars

Botswana’s local currency is the Botswana Pula. You will need local currency for tips outside of high-end lodges/hotels or for purchasing items from local shops and markets. Obtaining local currency from ATMs and currency exchange counters in large airports and cities is straightforward but ATMs generally only accept Visa. USD can be used for tipping on safari or larger transactions. 

Obtaining USD outside larger cities and towns can be difficult and the exchange rate is often poor. The US dollar bills you bring with you from home should be no older than 2011 with no damage such as rips, tears, or even deep fold marks.

Credit and debit cards

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most places visited by tourists (hotels or larger restaurants in cities) including the camps and lodges you will be visiting. There are some exceptions at small or remote camps so please check with your travel designer or concierge.

ATMs

ATMs are available in the major cities but not when you’re on safari so you must make sure you have the cash you need before heading into remote areas. If you visit a few countries on your trip remember that you might also need USD cash to pay for visas. You will only be able to withdraw local currency at ATMs in Botswana.

Travellers cheques

Although still accepted in some hotels in major cities they are difficult to exchange. Most safari lodges do not accept travellers cheques or exchange them.

Although tipping is discretionary many workers in the tourism industry do rely on tips to make up part of their income. Below is a rough tipping guide, you may wish to tip more or less depending on service. All the amounts are per day, per person recommendations based on two people travelling together. 

In Cities:

• 10-15% in restaurants
• 10 USD for  transfers
• 10 USD per day for hotel housekeeping
• 20 USD  for a private butler per day
• 5 USD per movement for hotel or airport porters

On Safari:

• 10 USD per day  for your tracker
• 7 USD per day for your Mokoro Poler
• 20 USD per day your specialist guide or safari guide
• 20 USD per guest per day for camp/general staff communal tipping box

Etiquette

Before taking photographs of local people you must ask permission first. It’s best to ask your guide, they will then tell you if it’s appropriate to ask or not. That said, locals in Botswana are very friendly so if you strike up a polite conversation, using your guide to translate if necessary, you won’t be strangers for long.

May and October is the dry season. Little rainfall means less vegetation resulting in exceptional game viewing. The days are hot and sunny and evenings and early mornings can feel quite chilly. Early morning temperatures in June and July can drop to below freezing so you must pack warm clothes if you travel at this time.

Rain showers can be expected between November and April. At this time of year, you can expect very hot days with temperatures sometimes exceeding 35°C (96°F), with the occasional thunderstorm.

What to pack

This is our essentials list, we recommend chatting with your travel designer or concierge for more personalised packing list based on time of year and activities on your trip:

• Layers – it can be cold during early game drives, even in summer.
• Lightweight down or rain jackets (that can be easily rolled/folded up) for morning activities in the cooler months or for any rain in warmer months.
• Polarised sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Trousers and shirts with adjustable arm and leg lengths in lightweight, quick-dry fabrics
• Camera/Smartphone and/or camera with all the necessary charging leads, plugs and batteries
• Earplugs
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Sun hat
• Binoculars – your guide will have a pair but having your own can mean that you see a bit more for a bit longer
• Day bag for carrying all your daily essentials
• Closed-toe comfortable shoes for evenings in camp and site seeing.

Most Safari lodges do offer a laundry service for a small price or it’s included. This is normally done by hand so we recommend you wash your own personal items. 

City-based properties will also offer laundry service at an additional cost. 

We highly recommend that you make restaurant reservations in advance of your trip. Once your trip is confirmed you will be introduced to your concierge who will be able to assist you in not only making the reservations but also making recommendations based on your preferences.

We only recommend taking transfers arranged by Jacada travel, the team on the ground, your hotel or a restaurant we’ve reserved for you. Although there are metered taxis and even uber in the major cities it shouldn’t be necessary on your trip. 

Jeeps used on safari can be closed or open-sided depending on the area. Typically a safari jeep will seat between 4 to 9 passengers and are shared with others at your lodge. Please ask your travel designer or concierge about upgrading to a private vehicle. 

Plugs and power

For Botswana, there are two associated plug types, types D and G. Plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type G is the plug which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Botswana operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. We recommend purchasing a universal adaptor for your trip to Botswana. 

Wifi and internet connection

Wifi is common in all larger city hotels and even on Safari too. On safari however, the connection can be patchy and is not always available throughout the entire property, sometimes only being available in the common areas or in the rooms.  There are some exceptions, so if this sort of connectivity is very important to you please discuss this with your travel designer or concierge.

Remote areas

Cell phone reception and roaming is not always possible in some remote areas so please bear this in mind when planning communications while on your trip.