Top Travel Tips: 10 Things to Do Before Your Safari in Botswana

Our useful checklist of 10 things to do before you go on your safari in Botswana. Once you've booked your Botswana safari you can use this list to ensure you're ready for the African adventure of a lifetime.

If you haven't started planning and booking your Botswana safari yet, first see How to Plan Your Botswana Safari in 7 Easy Steps. 

Then, follow this step-by-step guide to prepare for your Botswana safari:

1. Check your passport
2. Confirm your travel arrangements
3. Book your flights
4. Apply for a Botswana visa (if required)
5. Take out mandatory travel insurance 
6. Start taking your anti-malaria medication
7. Get your vaccinations
8. Buy some pula (BWP) and/or US$ cash
9. Get your documents in order
10. Go shopping and/or start packing

Delta camp in Botswana

1. Check your passport - 3 to 6 months before you travel

1. To enter Botswana you will need a passport valid for at least 6 months. That's 6 months from your date of travel.
2. Check that you have at least 2 blank pages in your passport. Your passport must contain two or more consecutive blank pages.

If your passport doesn't meet the above criteria you will need to apply for a new passport. Depending on your nationality, it can take up to 6 months to get a new passport issued, so start this process 3 to 6 months in advance. A new US passport takes about 10 to 13 weeks and a new UK passport about 10 weeks (based on current estimates).

2. Confirm your travel arrangements

Moremi safari access

Check your Botswana safari itinerary BEFORE booking your flights to avoid complications! This is an important step. 

1. Check the time and date your Botswana safari program starts and finishes.

Many guided safaris depart early in the morning and finish in the late afternoon. If this is the case, you need to arrive the day BEFORE your safari starts and depart the day AFTER your safari ends. In most cases, we recommend booking your incoming flights for at least one day prior to the start of your Botswana safari, and your outgoing flights at least one day after your safari ends.

2. Check if airport transfers are included in your Botswana safari.

Most safaris include collection and drop-off at Maun or Kasane airport. When you book pre-safari or post-safari accommodation your lodge can usually arrange airport transfers for you at a reasonable fee or free of charge. In this case, many safaris include pick-up from your pre-safari accommodation and drop-off at your post-safari accommodation.

It is best to arrange and confirm airport transfers in advance, to ensure a stress-free trip and avoid unnecessary transfer expenses. Double-check this.

3. Book accommodation for before and after your Botswana safari (if needed).

We recommend booking at least one night of accommodation before and after your safari in Botswana, even if it is not essential. This gives you time to rest after your flight and get your bearings. It also gives you a chance to explore the starting and ending destinations on your own or on short tours. Booking your flights a few days in advance of your safari and a few days after it ends will give you even more time to explore Maun, Kasane, or Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls (in Zambia or Zimbabwe) is a popular add-on to Botswana Safaris because it is close to Chobe National Park and Kasane town. It is a fantastic destination with the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls and loads of activities. 

For advice about adding Victoria Falls to your Botswana itinerary or booking pre-safari and post-safari accommodation and short tours, contact African Budget Safaris.

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3. Book your flights

Most travellers visiting Botswana book international flights via Johannesburg in South Africa. Other options include flying via Windhoek in Namibia or Cape Town in South Africa.

From there you will catch a connecting flight to one of the main airports in or near Botswana.

The main access hubs for flights to Botswana are:

1. Maun and Kasane in Botswana
2. Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
3. Livingstone (at the Victoria Falls) in Zambia

Botswana Safaris often include flights into remote camps or between destinations. These are chartered flights in small, fixed-wing planes with strict luggage restrictions.

Botswana safari camp flights

For help finding the best flight routes and air ticket prices for your Botswana trip talk to one of our African travel experts. To see how our consultants can assist, go to booking your flights to Africa and back.

Getting to Top Botswana Safari Destinations

• Chobe National Park: Kasane in Botswana or Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Zambia. Browse our upcoming tours departing from Kasane or from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
• Okavango Delta & Moremi: Maun, the closest town to the delta. Browse our upcoming tours departing from Maun in northern Botswana.
• Makgadikgadi Pans: Maun or Kasane. The easiest way to compare routes is to view our Makgadikgadi Pans tours.
• Kalahari Desert: Maun, Kasane, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, or Johannesburg. Check out our Central Kalahari Safaris.

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4. Apply for a Botswana visa - 1 to 2 months before you travel

NO VISA REQUIRED

Passport holders from the following countries do NOT need a visitor's visa for Botswana: Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and more.

If you are NOT travelling on a passport from one of the abovementioned countries go to e-visa Botswana where you can do a country search for your nationality. Alternatively, check the full list of countries that do and do not need a Botswana visa

VISA REQUIRED

If you are a citizen of one of the countries for which a visa is required then start the application process 1 to 2 months before your trip.

A Botswana visitor’s visa costs 30 USD for single entry - valid for up to 3 months, and 50 USD for a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 3 months. If you plan on visiting Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Zambia and then returning to Botswana you will need a multiple-entry Botswana visa.

Apply for your Botswana visitor's visa online or find out more about Botswana visa requirements and fees.

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5. Take out mandatory travel insurance 

Travel insurance is compulsory for all African safaris so you will need to get comprehensive cover. 

Medical aid cover is not enough, as it does not cover you for cancelled flights, personal accidents, baggage loss, and so forth. Additionally, most medical aids require that you pay for incidents first and only claim later. Thus it is mandatory to get comprehensive travel insurance.

Find out more on our travel insurance page or check out World Nomads travel insurance. Since 2002, World Nomads have been protecting, connecting and inspiring independent travellers. They offer simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help you travel confidently.

Botswana safari lions in Chobe

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6. Take anti-malaria medication - 4 to 6 weeks before you travel

You will need to start taking antimalarials before you depart for your safari and continue taking them during and after your trip.

The general recommendation is to start taking anti-malaria medication between 4 to 6 weeks before you travel, depending on the antimalarials. With some prophylactics, you can start taking them a few days before your trip starts. But, the medications differ, as do their side effects, prices, and compatibility with different people. 

Botswana is not considered a very high-risk malaria area, but malaria is present in the central and northwestern regions. Malaria risks are higher in the hot, wet months of summer.

Botswana safari camp

Ask your doctor for advice about which malaria prophylaxis to take. Some of the anti-malaria medications include side effects such as sensitivity to the sun, which is not ideal for a safari. If you are already taking medication for other conditions then it is especially important to research which malaria drugs to take, as some antimalarials should not be taken in conjunction with certain medications. Options include Atovaquone-proguanil, Doxycycline, and Mefloquine.

An important factor in preventing malaria is to avoid being bitten, so take mosquito repellent, cover up with long sleeves at dusk and dawn, and use the mosquito nets fitted on tents and at lodges.

• See Malaria Made Simple: How to Stay Safe on African Safaris

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7. Get your vaccinations - at least 10 days before you travel

The only vaccination that may be required for Botswana is a yellow fever inoculation. Other than that, there are no vaccinations required. There are however several recommended routine vaccinations.

Yellow Fever Vaccination: If you are travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, you will need to get a yellow fever vaccination and certificate. This applies, even if you transit at an airport in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. You must get your yellow fever inoculation at least 10 days before your trip starts. If you fail to do this, you may be refused entry to Botswana. The yellow fever certificate and inoculation are valid for 10 years. Find out more in Yellow Fever: Facts you need to know for a safe African Safari.

Routine Vaccinations: Several routine vaccinations are advised for Botswana safaris and depending on the destinations you plan to visit, you may need additional vaccinations. For travel to Botswana, the CDC and WHO recommend these vaccinations: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza. 

Check out the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for advice and ask your doctor about 4-6 weeks before traveling to Botswana.

• See Getting your shots: Vaccinations for your African Safari

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8. Take some cash (Pula & USD)

It is good practice to have some cash on you when you travel. Cash comes in handy for tips, gifts, optional activities, and extra costs. This is especially true on safaris where you will be in remote places (far from ATMs) most of the time. Even in Botswana where there are ATMs, it is advisable not to rely on being able to access a working ATM with ease and confidence. 

Delta mekoro trip, Botswana safari

In Botswana, US dollars are widely accepted. It's best to take US$ so you don't risk having cash in Pula left over after your trip.

Credit cards are relatively widely accepted in Botswana. But, they cannot always be used, especially for tips and curios. We recommend saving on the extra credit card charges and fees and taking US$ cash or a little Pula instead.

Most Botswana Safaris do not require Local Payments. You should however take some cash along for personal expenses and tips. If your safari requires a Local Payment then this amount will be payable on arrival in the currency stipulated. Often the local payment is made in US dollars, but check beforehand and exchange your money at a bank or currency exchange bureau. Some safaris do not include alcoholic drinks and all activities, so it pays to check and take a bit of cash.

• See Guide to Tipping on African Safaris or Budgeting for African Safaris

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9. Get your documents in order

Time to get your ducks in a row. 

1. Scan, photocopy, or save copies of your important documents (itinerary, passport, insurance policy, air tickets, vaccinations, script for prescription medication if needed). Save copies online or email them to yourself and someone you trust for safekeeping. You want easy access to secure copies in case they are needed while you travel.
2. Read the fine print carefully - the terms and conditions of your trip, your insurance policy, and your itinerary to be sure of what's covered and included (meals, activities, medical evacuation, etc.)
3. Save your important contact numbers to your phone and store them online or write them down somewhere easy to access.

Khwai river crossing, Botswana

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10. Go shopping & start packing

An essential packing list for your Botswana Safari:

• Passport and travel documents - air tickets, vaccination certificates (as needed), visa (if required), travel insurance details, contact numbers, etc
• Anti-malaria medication and any other medication you need to take.
• Basic gear and appropriate clothes - neutral colours, lightweight and breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, etc / Check the Botswana weather conditions when you pack - winter temperatures in the Kalahari Desert can dip to around zero, and summer is the rainy season which affects travel in the delta and summers get very hot.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sunhat. 
• Mosquito repellent.
• Day bag / small backpack.
• Buy a good DSLR camera or upgrade your camera lenses, if your budget allows - you won't be sorry when you are in the bush trying to capture the scenes and wildlife of Botswana. Alternatively, pack a cell phone (and charger) with a good camera.
• Binoculars - rent or buy binoculars for wildlife watching and bird spotting (binoculars are often available on game drives but then you need to share and wait your turn)

Game drives, Botswana safari

For detailed packing tips see the Easy Guide to Packing for African Safaris

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Enjoy the Botswana safari of a lifetime!

Now that you've taken the time to plan your Botswana Safari properly, you are ready. It's time to sit back and enjoy the African adventure of a lifetime!

Need help with choosing, booking, and planning your Botswana Safari on a budget? Get in touch with African Budget Safaris and one of our friendly African travel experts will help you.

Botswana safari guide

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Please note: We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.