Please make sure that all your travel documents are in order e.g. passport and visa requirements. All visitors to Namibia must have a valid passport for at least six months after the date of entry, and have sufficient pages for entry and exit stamps.
Since April 1, 2025, it is necessary to obtain a visa for Namibia. Please visit the website https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na to apply for your visa online before traveling to Namibia.
We highly recommend that all guests be adequately covered by comprehensive Travel Insurance.
Birth certificates for travelling with minor Children
Provide original or certified copies of the children's unabridged birth certificates, which identify their parents. Namibian immigration officials will not accept abridged birth certificates.
Consent
If one parent is not traveling with the child, you'll need to provide a notarized consent from the other parent. This consent can also be provided by a court order granting full legal custody of the child, or a death certificate of the other parent.
We cannot be kept liable for any tour cancellations due to incorrect documentation.
Despite recent and surprisingly rapid modernization, Botswana’s cities provide little in the way of tourist attractions. However, what the cities lack in excitement, the surrounding wilderness areas more than make up for in outstanding natural beauty. The country’s primary tourist draw card is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world provide a haven for an abundance of African wildlife. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi salt pans where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains which host large prides of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
General Information
Beef is a valuable export and cows are a treasured signifier of cultural wealth in Botswana. To prevent the spread of disease, specifically foot-and-mouth, fences have been erected to separate domestic beasts from wild animals (admittedly, not always effectively). Farmers, families and industry face financial catastrophe if cattle succumb to this infectious disease. It’s illegal to transport raw animal products or select fruits and vegetables from wilderness areas (mainly in the north) to rural areas (mostly in the south). Always stop at the official fence boundaries and road gates, even if they appear abandoned. Sometimes, an official sitting in the shade nearby will wave you through, but every vehicle is subject to inspection. Ready the cooler boxes and make fridges accessible for checks. You'll also need to disinfect your shoes and stamp them in a sanitizing station to stop the potential spread. Keep all shoes aside or in crates to prevent the disinfectant from covering other gear.
Water
Tap water in towns is usually fine but probably not what you're used to, which can cause stomach upsets. At tourist lodges, the tap water is filtered. Many campsites do not have water at all, but grocery stores stock big bottles for overlanders.
Safty
Although crime is rare in Botswana, petty theft and sometimes pickpocketing can occur in the cities. As you would in most cities, be vigilant with your valuables and avoid walking alone at night or in poorly lit areas.There has also been a spate of midnight thefts at campsites near safari pit stops. Thieves typically smash the windows of a car to snatch valuables. Do not leave your passport, camera, wallet, or phone visible or within reach.
Driving in Botswana
Obstinate donkeys, roaming elephants, goats, wayward cattle and ostriches are just some of the wildlife that walk the roads of Botswana. Drive with extreme caution and avoid driving at night.
The back roads in Botswana generally aren’t in good condition – and neither are some of the main highways. If you see a track or dirt road to the left of the main route, the road ahead is likely horribly potholed. As a rule, it’s almost always best to take the unofficial detour. Regardless of whether the roads are paved, don’t be fooled by short distances. Plan extra time into your itinerary for slow-going conditions – like potholes, rutted roads and deep sand – and breathing room to stop and snap more photographs. Refer to Tracks4Africa and download the Maps.me app. This is the most accurate way to judge time over a given distance for Botswana's best off-road routes.
