Botswana Travel with African Sky Safaris and Tours. Choosing a travel destination is all about the excitement of exploration and opening the mind and soul to new experiences. But it is also about returning to favorite haunts that ring with memories. And, for most, so much the better if the destination is safe and reliable. Botswana has a world of thrilling options to offer the first-time traveler and those who return time and again.
There are various ways of travelling to Botswana. The most popular is of course by air. Air Botswana does not fly outside southern Africa, and there are relatively few other airline links to Botswana. The vast majority of visitors to northern Botswana fly via the gateways of Maun and Kasane, which is effectively serviced by the nearby airports at Victoria Falls (in Zimbabwe) and Livingstone (in Zambia). Most common for many visitors to the region is to fly to Livingstone via Johannesburg, and then leave from Maun, again routing via Johannesburg. Botswana's capital, Gaborone, is relatively rarely visited if you're on your way to or from northern Botswana – although occasionally you might stop in Gaborone as you fly between Maun and Johannesburg.
However you arrange your flights it is advisable to book the main internal flights at the same time – with the same company – that you book your flights to/from Johannesburg. Often the airline taking you to Africa will have cheap deals for add-on regional flights within Africa. You should be able to get Johannesburg–Livingstone flights, or Maun–Johannesburg flights, at discounted rates provided that you book them at the same time as your return flights to Johannesburg. Further, if you book all your flights together with the same company, then you'll be sure to get connecting flights, and so have the best schedule possible.
Johannesburg is invariably the best gateway as it's widely served by many carriers. From Europe, British Airways, South African Airways, Lufthansa and Air France (to name but a few) have regular flights to Johannesburg. Generally these are busy routes which fill up far in advance, so you're likely to get cheaper fares by booking well ahead rather than at the last minute; this is a virtual certainty during the busiest season from July to October, and in December–January around the Christmas period.
If you need a visa for Botswana, then you must get one before you arrive. Contact your local Botswana embassy or high commission – who are also the best source to verify that the information here is still current. Currently visitors holding passports from the following countries do not need a visa:
• All EC (European Community) countries
• USA, South Africa, Scandinavian countries, Uruguay, Western Samoa and countries from the former Yugoslavia
• All Commonwealth countries (except Ghana, India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Mauritius – whose citizens do need visas).
Citizens from these countries will be granted a one-month entry permit on arrival. Though Botswana hasn't changed these rules often in the past, it's always wisest to check with your local embassy before you depart – or on the government's website: www.gov.bw/tourism/entry_req/entry_req.html
The prevailing attitude amongst both Botswana's government and its people is that visitors are generally very good for the country as they spend valuable foreign currency – so if you look respectable then you will not find any difficulties in entering Botswana. Given this logic, and the conservative nature of Botswana's local customs, the converse is also true. If you dress very untidily, looking as if you've no money when entering via an overland border, then you may be questioned as to how you will be funding your trip. Very rarely, you may even be asked for a return ticket as proof that you do intend to leave. Dressing respectably in Botswana is not only courteous, but will also make your life easier. |
