Travel Guide to Botswana 2026: Okavango Delta, Chobe & the Kalahari
Planning to visit Botswana? This travel guide to Botswana covers everything you need for a first safari in one of Africa's wildest countries: where Botswana is, the best time to go, visa and entry rules, the top places to visit, a 7-day safari itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best lodges and universities. Glide by mokoro canoe through the channels of the Okavango Delta, watch elephants swim the Chobe River at sunset, sit beside wild meerkats on the Makgadikgadi salt pans and hear black-maned lions roar in the Kalahari.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Botswana were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Botswana
- Capital: Gaborone💡 A fast-growing city near the South African border
- Currency: Botswana pula (BWP, P)💡 "Pula" means rain in Setswana. Lodges often price in US dollars. Check today's rate
- Languages: English & Setswana💡 English is used in government and tourism
- Population: About 2.5 million💡 One of the least densely populated countries in the world
- Area: 581,730 km²💡 About the size of France or Texas; about 70% is Kalahari
- Time zone: CAT (UTC+2) all year💡 No daylight saving time. Convert times
- Wildlife: Around 130,000 elephants💡 The largest elephant population in Africa
- Power: 230 V, plug types D, G & M💡 Bring an adapter for UK-style and large round-pin sockets
📍 Where Is Botswana?
Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It borders South Africa to the south and south-east, Namibia to the west and north, Zimbabwe to the north-east and, at a single point on the Zambezi, Zambia, linked by the Kazungula Bridge. Much of the country is covered by the Kalahari, while the north holds the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River.
Most visitors fly via Johannesburg (about 1.5–2 hours to Maun or Kasane), or reach Kasane overland from Victoria Falls, about 80 km away. Flights from London or New York to Johannesburg take about 11 and 16 hours. Small bush planes then hop between lodge airstrips in the Delta. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator, or explore more in our Africa travel guides.
📅 Best Time to Visit Botswana
The best time to visit Botswana for wildlife is the dry season, May to October. Vegetation thins, animals gather at rivers and waterholes, and days are sunny and mild, though nights in June–August can drop close to freezing. Oddly, the Okavango floods peak from about June to August, months after the rains fall in Angola. September and October are hot but excellent for game. The green season (November to April) brings rain, baby animals, superb birdwatching, lower prices and the zebra migration on the Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans.
The best game viewing in the Delta, Moremi and Chobe. Book lodges 6–12 months ahead.
Channels are full: ideal for mokoro trips and boat safaris.
Thousands of zebras move across the Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans.
Lush scenery, newborn animals, migrant birds and lower lodge rates.
🛂 Botswana Visa & Entry Requirements
Visa-free visits: citizens of the USA, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most Commonwealth countries and SADC countries can enter Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days within a 12-month period. The immigration officer decides how long you can stay, so check your entry stamp.
💻 e-Visa: if your nationality needs a visa, apply online through the official Botswana e-Visa portal before you travel and allow at least two weeks. Day trips to Victoria Falls need a separate Zimbabwe or Zambia visa; the KAZA UniVisa covers those two countries, not Botswana.
- Valid passportValid for at least 6 months, with several blank pages (bring at least two, ideally three).
- Yellow feverA certificate is required if you arrive from or have transited a yellow fever country.
- Bush flight luggageLight aircraft limit bags to about 20 kg in soft-sided bags, including hand luggage.
- Main airportsGaborone (GBE), Maun (MUB) for the Delta and Kasane (BBK) for Chobe.
🔗 Official sources: Botswana e-Visa portal · Botswana Tourism Organisation. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking.
🐘 Best Places to Visit in Botswana
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Botswana, with the best months to see each one.
A UNESCO-listed inland delta of channels, lagoons and islands, explored by mokoro, boat, on foot and from the air.
💡 Best time: Jun–OctThe protected heart of the Delta, with Chief's Island and excellent leopard, lion and wild dog sightings.
💡 Best time: May–OctSunset boat cruises among elephants, hippos and buffalo, from the town of Kasane.
💡 Best time: May–OctA remote area of Chobe National Park known for big lion prides and dramatic predator action.
💡 Best time: May–OctVast salt pans with habituated meerkats, Baines' Baobabs and the zebra migration.
💡 Best time: Dec–Apr, May–OctA huge wilderness with Deception Valley, black-maned lions and San heritage.
💡 Best time: Dec–AprA UNESCO site with thousands of San rock paintings, sacred to local communities.
💡 Best time: Apr–NovA community-run sanctuary near Serowe protecting white and black rhinos.
💡 Best time: All year🗺️ 7-Day Botswana Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
This classic first safari combines the Delta, the salt pans and Chobe. Many travellers book it as a fly-in package; self-drive is possible but needs a fully equipped 4x4 and experience.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Botswana day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Maun: arrive in the Delta's gateway town and take a scenic flight over the Okavango.
- Okavango Delta: fly to a Delta camp for a mokoro trip through the channels and a guided bush walk.
- Moremi Game Reserve: morning and evening game drives looking for leopards, lions and wild dogs.
- Makgadikgadi Pans: sit beside wild meerkats at sunrise and visit the giant baobabs.
- Kasane: fly or drive north and take a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River.
- Chobe National Park: a full day of game drives along the riverfront, home to huge elephant herds.
- Victoria Falls day trip: cross to Zimbabwe or Zambia (about 1.5 hours) to see the falls, then fly home.
➕ With more time: add Savuti or the Linyanti area, the Central Kalahari, Tsodilo Hills, or the Khama Rhino Sanctuary on the way to Gaborone.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Botswana Cost?
Botswana follows a "high-value, low-volume" tourism policy, so safari lodges in the Delta are among the most expensive in Africa. Self-drive camping and stays in Maun and Kasane are far cheaper. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding international flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$80–150 | Self-drive camping or lodges in Maun and Kasane, day trips |
| Mid-range | US$300–600 | Mid-range lodges, mobile safaris, shared bush flights |
| Luxury | US$1,200 + | All-inclusive Delta camps with flights, guides and activities |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Botswana are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💡 Money-saving tip: travel in the shoulder months (April, May and November) or the green season, when many lodges cut rates sharply. Park fees are charged per person per day on top of lodge prices.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Botswana
Botswana is one of the safest and most stable countries in Africa. The main risks come from wildlife and the bush: never walk alone outside lodges at night, follow your guide's instructions and never get out of the vehicle near animals. Use malaria prevention in the north (Okavango, Chobe), especially from November to April. If you self-drive, watch for animals on the roads, avoid driving at night, and carry extra fuel and water in remote areas. In Gaborone, take normal city precautions.
Let a local poler guide you through the Delta's quiet channels.
Bush planes only take soft luggage of about 20 kg per person.
Take advice on malaria tablets for the north of the country.
Winter mornings on open game drives are cold.
Delta camps sell out 6–12 months ahead for the dry season.
"Dumela, rra" (to a man) or "Dumela, mma" (to a woman) is a polite hello.
🏨 Best Lodges & Hotels in Botswana: 8 Top Picks
Botswana is famous for small, low-impact safari camps. Remote Delta camps are often booked as packages with bush flights; lodges in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone are easy to book directly.
Wilderness's flagship camp, famous for big cats and dense wildlife.
Check prices on Booking.com →Water-focused lodge with private plunge pools and mokoro trips.
Check prices on Booking.com →A legendary tented camp with meerkat encounters and quad biking on the pans.
Check prices on Booking.com →Hilltop lodge with a spa and views over the Chobe floodplains.
Check prices on Booking.com →The only permanent lodge inside Chobe National Park, on the riverbank.
Check prices on Booking.com →Riverside chalets, a peaceful base before or after the Delta.
Check prices on Booking.com →Quirky lodge among giant baobabs, with meerkat and pan excursions.
Check prices on Booking.com →Gaborone's best-known resort hotel, with pools and a casino.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Botswana: lodges are picked for location, reputation and a spread of price levels across the Delta, the pans, Chobe and Gaborone. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Botswana
Higher education in Botswana is taught in English and regulated by the Botswana Qualifications Authority. The University of Botswana is the largest institution, with growing specialist universities in science and agriculture.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| University of Botswana (UB) | Gaborone | Public |
| Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) | Palapye | Public |
| Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (BUAN) | Gaborone | Public |
| Botho University | Gaborone | Private |
| BA ISAGO University | Gaborone | Private |
| Limkokwing University of Creative Technology | Gaborone | Private |
The national university, founded in 1982, covering business, law, science and humanities.
Visit website →Research university for engineering, geosciences and computing.
Visit website →Agriculture, veterinary science and wildlife management.
Visit website →Business, IT, health and engineering programmes.
Visit website →Commerce, real estate, education and law.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Botswana: major accredited institutions chosen for reputation and appeal to international students. Order is not a strict ranking. Last checked: October 2026.
🌺 Botswana Culture & Food
Botswana gained independence from Britain on 30 September 1966 and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. Its first president, Sir Seretse Khama, and his British wife Ruth Williams became famous for a marriage that defied apartheid-era politics. Diamond wealth and stable democracy have made Botswana one of Africa's success stories. The traditional kgotla, a community meeting where everyone may speak, still shapes local decisions. Look out for beautiful woven baskets from Ngamiland and San crafts, and the ancient rock art of Tsodilo Hills, one of two UNESCO sites with the Okavango Delta.
The national dish is seswaa: beef or goat boiled with salt and pounded until shredded, served with bogobe (thick sorghum or maize porridge) and morogo (wild spinach). Try magwinya (fried dough), dikgobe (beans with sorghum) and, if you are brave, mopane worms. Greet people with "Dumela" (hello) and thank them with "Ke a leboga".
❓ Travel Guide to Botswana: FAQ
Where is Botswana?
Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Its capital is Gaborone.
Do I need a visa for Botswana?
Citizens of the USA, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within a 12-month period. Others can apply online through the official Botswana e-Visa portal.
What is the best time to visit Botswana?
May to October, the dry season, is best for wildlife. The Okavango floods peak from June to August. November to April is the green season, with lower prices, baby animals and the zebra migration.
Why is a Botswana safari so expensive?
Botswana limits visitor numbers with a high-value, low-volume tourism policy. Remote Delta camps include bush flights, guides and all meals. Self-drive camping and lodges in Maun and Kasane are much cheaper.
Is Botswana safe for tourists?
Yes. Botswana is one of Africa's safest and most stable countries. Follow your guide's instructions around wildlife, take malaria advice for the north and avoid driving at night.
What currency is used in Botswana?
Botswana uses the pula. Safari lodges usually quote prices in US dollars, and cards work in towns, but carry some pula for smaller shops and tips.
Can you visit Victoria Falls from Botswana?
Yes. Victoria Falls is about 80 km from Kasane, an easy day trip. You need a Zimbabwe or Zambia visa, which you can usually get at the border.
How many days do you need in Botswana?
A week covers the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans and Chobe. With 10–14 days you can add the Central Kalahari, Savuti or Victoria Falls.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Botswana
- Botswana Tourism OrganisationOfficial tourism portal
- Botswana e-Visa portalOfficial online visa applications
- UNESCO: Okavango DeltaWorld Heritage listing
- UNESCO: TsodiloWorld Heritage listing
🌍 More Southern African guides: Namibia · South Africa · Zambia · Zimbabwe · Lesotho · All of Africa
⚖️ Compare Botswana with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
Ready to plan Botswana?
Use our free travel tools to compare costs, time zones and distances, or browse our printable AtlasWise guides for other destinations.
Free travel tools → Browse AtlasWise travel guides🔖 Bookmark this travel guide to Botswana and check it again before you fly: we update entry rules, prices and hotels regularly.