Social ConventionsAs most people in Botswana follow their traditional pattern of life, visitors should be sensitive to customs which will inevitably be unfamiliar to them. Outside urban areas, people may well not be used to visitors. Casual clothing is acceptable and, in urban centers, normal courtesies should be observed.
Photography: Airports, official residences and defense establishments should not be photographed. Permission should be obtained to photograph local people.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Air Botswana (BP) (website:
www.airbotswana.co.bw) which only operates
within Africa.
British Airways (website:
www.britishairways.com) flies from London to Cape Town and Johannesburg (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Windhoek (Namibia), from where connections can be made with
Air Botswana to Gaborone or Maun in Botswana.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsSir Seretse Khama International (GBE) is 15km (9 miles) northwest of Gaborone.
To/from the airport: There are no regular bus services to and from the airport but several hotels run minibuses (combis). Taxis are available to the city center (journey time – 15 minutes).
Facilities: Left luggage, banks, bar, snack bar, restaurant, post office, duty-free shops and car hire.
Maun International Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Capetown and Windhoek. This gateway to the Okavango Delta is served by
Air Botswana,
Air Namibia and several charters. For information on charters, see the
Getting Around section.
To/from the airport: The city center is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk. Taxis and shuttles are available.
Facilities: Car hire and lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.
Other major airports that handle international flights are at
Kasane,
Selebi-Phikwe and
Francistown.
Getting There by WaterA
car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia.
Getting There by RailThere is a thrice-weekly service with
Botswana Railway (BR) between Botswana and Zimbabwe (Francistown–Bulawayo; journey time – 6 hours). The
train has standard class coaches with reclining seats.
A daily train with sleepers and restaurant car runs from Francistown–Gaborone–Lobatse. At Lobatse, buses cross the South African border. Botswana has assisted in the construction of the Limpopo line from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, an act which will speed up the availability of alternative routes into Botswana.
Getting There by RoadThere are reasonable roads running roughly along the same routes as the railway, linking Botswana with South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also road access from Namibia.
Bus: Services are available from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Frequent services also operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Complicated formalities may be necessary for crossing the border to or from South Africa, where the South African Customs Union agreement is in operation.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Botswana without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco;
2l of wine and 1l of spirits;
50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette;
goods up to the value of P1,039.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirMajor areas of the country are linked by air. There are airports in Francistown, Ghanzi, Jwaneny, Kasane, Maun, Pont Drift and Selebi-Phikwe. Many visitors use charter companies based in Maun to fly to the various lodges in Botswana. These include
Delta Air (website:
www.okavango.bw/air.html),
Mack Air,
Moremi Air Services (website:
www.moremiair.com),
Northern Air,
Sefofane (website:
www.sefofane.com),
Wildlife Helicopters and
Kalahari Air Services.Getting Around by RailThe main
Botswana Railway (BR) line runs daily between Francistown-Gaborone-Lobatse. In Botswana, children under seven travel free and children aged seven to 11 pay half fare. Buy tickets at the station.
Getting Around by RoadBotswana has good tarmac roads on major routes; generally roads range from bitumised to either gravel or sand tracks. Visitors should be careful as many drivers ignore safety rules. Traffic drives on the left. Reserve fuel and at least 20l of water, plus emergency supplies, should always be carried on longer journeys, and visitors are advised to make careful enquiries before setting out. Wildlife and stray livestock may pose a hazard.
Bus: There are bus services between Gaborone and Francistown, and from Francistown to Nata and Maun. Buses from Francistown to Maun run every day. The journey takes about 6 hours. Timetables can be obtained from bus operators.
Taxi: There is a taxi service in all major towns, and it is generally safe. Prices should, however, be agreed before embarking on a journey.
Car hire: Services are available in Gaborone, Francistown, Kasane and Maun. 4-wheel drive vehicles are necessary in many areas.
Regulations: Seat belts must be worn. There is a speed limit of 120kph (75mph) outside built-up areas, and about 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not legally required, but is recommended for stays of up to six months, but a European license valid for six months after arrival will also usually suffice; thereafter, a Botswana driving license must be obtained, which will be issued without a test if a valid British license is produced.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesPublic transport within towns consists of share-taxis or minibus services operating at controlled flat fares. Exclusive use of taxis is sometimes available at a higher charge although fares should always be agreed before setting off.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times from
Gaborone (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Botswana.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Francistown | 0.50 | 5.00 | 6.35 |
| Kasane | 2.50 | 13.30 | - |
| Tshabong | 2.00 | 15.00 | - |
| Ghanzi | 1.25 | 11.00 | - |
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