By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the 'Botswana & Namibia' guide.
Botswana isn’t the easiest or cheapest place to get to. There are few direct flights to Botswana outside southern Africa. Most tourists will have a stopover in South Africa. There are direct flights to Botswana from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport (CPT). This often includes an overnight in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Cape Town.
Botswana’s main airport is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), located 11km/7miles north of Gaborone, the capital. This airport isn’t the main entry point for tourists since it is far away from the popular northern parks.
For tourists, it is more common to fly into Maun Airport (MUB) and Kasana Airport (BBK). When combining a safari in northern Botswana with a visit to Victoria Falls, it is common to fly into Maun and depart from Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe or Livingstone Airport (LVI) in Zambia; or the other way around if your trip starts with visiting Victoria Falls.
Whichever way you choose to travel onward, in most cases your local tour operator will collect you from the airport and will arrange all further transportation as part of your safari-package.
Flights & Airlines to Botswana
Please check Skyscanner, or for multiple-destination flights check Expedia, to see which airlines can take you to Botswana, and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Airlines & Flights in Botswana
Besides some small charter carriers, Botswana doesn't have major domestic carriers. Most domestic flights are operated by Air Botswana. Small charter flights are frequently used to travel between parks or to get to remote areas, such as the camps in the Okavango Delta. Charter flights are usually booked through your tour operator.
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Entry requirements can change, so please contact your local Botswana embassy to verify the information below is current.
- A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months.
- Citizens from most nationalities do not require a visa and will get a 30-day entry permit on arrival.
- All foreign visitors will need to carry a return ticket.
- Children (under 18 years of age) must have a certified copy of their full, unabridged birth certificate as well as a valid passport to enter Botswana. If a child is traveling with only one parent, or no parents, the child must have an affidavit from the missing parent(s), which gives their consent for the child to travel.
