What to See in Botswana for First Time Travelers?
The highlights of Botswana tour packages are mainly in the northern areas. The Okavango Delta is famed for its true wilderness experience, various wildlife viewing opportunities and spectacular scenery. In addition to the classic game drives, the walking safaris and dugout canoe should not be missed. The Moremi Game Reserve is supposed to be ranked as one of the most well-known private reserves within the delta. Thanks to the savanna, dense forest and winding channels, all the Big Five are present and the traditional game drive safaris are excellent. Then moving northward to the Chobe National Park, which is renowned for its bountiful population of wildlife including over 120,000 elephants and hippos, visitors can participate in some exciting activities. All of these take around 8-10 days and will make your Botswana tours vivid and unforgettable.
Moreover, if your time is sufficient, you can add 1 to 3 days heading to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to explore the seventh natural wonder of the world, or 2 to 4 days to Makgadikgadi Pans where to see one of the largest salt pans. Both choices will be icing on the cake for your Botswana holidays.
Zebras, Okavango Delta
Mokoro in Botswana
When is the Best Time to Travel to Botswana?
The best time is during the winter dry season from May to October, when you will enjoy warm days and moderate temperatures between 22°C and 35°C (72°F and 95°F). In addition, the water levels in the Okavango Delta are usually at its highest at that time, so the incredible Mokoro safari could be experienced.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Botswana?
The citizens of 103 countries including USA, UK, Australia and Canada are visa-exempt, which means the citizens of these countries do not need a visa to visit Botswana for up to 90 days. It is advisable to check the current visa requirements before planning your Botswana trip as the visa policy may change sometimes.
How to Get to and Travel Around Botswana?
The main airport of Botswana is the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) located in the capital Gaborone. However, it is more common for travelers to fly into Kasane airport (BBK) and Maun airport (MUB). If the visitors prefer to combine the Botswana tour packages with Victoria Falls, then it is suggested to fly into Maun and depart from Victoria Falls airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe.
To travel around Botswana, taking charter flights is very popular, which can transfer you between different lodges, but the fares are usually higher. Driving is also quite convenient, especially when you are about to be on a mobile camping safari, but as the distances are long you may consider renting a car with a driver guide. No matter in which way, we are ready to customize your desired Botswana tours per your interests.
Is Tipping Customary in Botswana?
Tipping is always voluntary in Botswana. If you feel satisfied with the service you received, then you can tip to show your personal appreciation. As a rough guideline, you might tip USD10 to USD15 per guest per day to your private safari guide, USD5 per guest per day to your tracker or Mokoro poler. When it comes to tipping at the restaurant, it is general to add 10% of the total bill as a gratuity.
What Credit Card and Currency can I Use in Botswana?
Botswana's local currency is the Pula (BWP). For your reference, 1.00USD = 11.0102 BWP. Only US Dollors, EUR, Pound Sterling and South African Rand are accepted by the local banks. So kindly note that any cash payments in lodges or for tipping need to be in one of these currencies.
Visa and Master cards are also widely accepted and ATMs are available at the main bank branches in larger cities like Gaborone, Maun, Kasane, but not be on safaris, so we recommend you make well preparation before venturing into the jungle.