​Getting There – Botswana

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Botswana & Namibia guide.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Anthony is the author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Map of Botswana Map of Botswana
Botswana Map

Most visitors to Botswana will have a stopover in South Africa to pick up a direct flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

Botswana’s main airport is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), located 11km/7miles north of Gaborone, the capital.

For travelers, it is more common to fly into Maun Airport (MUB) and Kasane Airport (BBK). When combining a safari in Botswana with a visit to Victoria Falls, it is common to fly into Maun and depart from Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe or Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI; formerly Livingstone Airport) in Zambia.

In most cases your tour operator will collect you from the airport and arrange all further transportation.

Flights & Airlines to Botswana

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Botswana and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Airlines & Flights in Botswana

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 Botswanan embassy/high commission to verify that 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.
  • For more information, including COVID-19 related entry requirements (if any), please check the website of your local Botswanan embassy/high commission or the government travel advisories below:

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