Botswana is one of the best safari destinations in Africa with visitors flocking to the country for its rich wildlife-filled national parks. These include the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Botswana also boasts some incredible scenery and cultural experiences for travellers.

Botswana's tourism prides itself on providing quality over quantity, and so while a holiday here might not be the most affordable, you are guaranteed good accommodation, professional guides, and some of the best safari experiences on the continent. Botswana also has a well-established tourism network and so while mass tourism is not the focus, visitors are still offered safe travel, a good road network and excellent service wherever they go. 

Getting to Botswana

The country's main international airport is the Sir Seretse Khama Airport located in Gabarone. Most flights arriving in the country go via Johannesburg in South Africa while routes via Cape Town, Nairobi, and Harare are also sometimes a possibility. The small airport at Muan also offers travellers a number of flight options, primarily to Cape Town and Windhoek, allowing an easy start to the safari journey. 

Once in Botswana the primary roads are paved, including those that connect to the neighbouring countries of South Africa and Namibia. However, upon entering a reserve or the Okavango area, a 4x4 vehicle with good ground clearance is an absolute necessity. 

Passport, visa, and other entry requirements to Botswana

Botswana offers visa-free entry for European Union passport holders and most other nationalities for a period of up to 90 days. Your passport upon entry needs to be valid for at least six months with three or more unusued pages.

Travellers coming from yellow fever endemic countries will also need to provide a certificate.

The best time to visit Botswana

One of the best times to visit Botswana is between April and September. This is the dry season and winter in Botswana and when the parks are most accessible. During the wet summer season which runs from November to March, certain parks like the Okavango and Moremi experience flooding, and many of the camps are closed over this period.

High season is July to October and while it is never likely to feel overly crowded in Botswana, you will need to book well in advance if you plan to travel over this time in order to secure your spot. During this time, less dense vegetation makes the animals easier to spot while the skies are clear and there are fewer mosquitos. April and May however also offer a great time to travel with little to no rain and some fantastic shoulder season rates.