TRAVEL ADVICE
Baggage
- Suitcase (not large) with a lock. This suitcase can be left at luggage storage facilities while visiting wilderness/safari areas.
- Small carry-on bag (10 kg /22 lbs) luggage for light plane transfers into safari areas.
- Small soft khaki or (camouflage) bag for binoculars, cameras, lip balm and sunscreen whilst on safari vehicles.
Clothing
Avoid dark blue, black, or white colors which are easily visible to animals. Most safari lodges will offer laundry facilities at minimal charge and often it is complimentary.
Basic list for safari areas to fit into a 10kg soft bag:
- 2 pairs jeans (or 1 pair jeans and 1 khaki cotton slacks)
- 1 khaki cotton slacks
- 3 long sleeve cotton shirts khaki or green/beige
- 1 or 2 cotton shorts khaki or green/beige color
- 2 cotton short-sleeve shirts khaki or green/beige
- 3 T-shirts
- 4 pairs of socks
- 4 underpants/panties
- 1 sun hat – wide brimmed with under chin strap that will fold into your luggage
- 1 peak cap (khaki preferable)
- 1 beanie for night drives and early morning drives
- 1 swimsuit
- 1 leather comfortable walking shoes
- 1 flat easy-to-pack canvas shoes. Alternatively, sneakers.
- 1 thongs/flip-flops
- 1 light sweater
- 1 long warm windbreaker/jacket
- 1 belt
Equipment / Toiletries
- Binoculars
- Flashlight with batteries
- A bird book for enthusiastic birders
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Insect Repellant
- Eye pads, earplugs, neck supporter, sleeping tablets, support socks for aircraft.
- Travel alarm clock
- Battery operated or disposable razor.
Electrical
- Electrical adapters and a converter/transformer for small electrical appliances are needed. Most African countries use 220-volt systems. Obtain from your local travel.
- Take along your camera and lots of spare memory card or film and camera batteries
Medical
- Anti-malaria. Obtain current recommendations from your family doctor or CDC (Center for Diseases Control).
- Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus shots prior to trip recommended.
- It is strongly recommended at the time of booking that you should purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy of your choice. Your insurance should cover medical evacuation in the case of an emergency.
Travel Documents
- Visas
- Passports
- Air tickets
- Driver’s License
- Credit Cards (preferably Visa or MasterCard)
- We recommend that you take small denominations of cash:
$1.00 notes x 50 ($50.00)
$5.00 notes x 50 ($250.00)
$10.00 notes x 20 ($200.00)
$20.00 notes x 10 ($200.00)
Tipping
Tipping is normally from 10-15% depending on the service level received. Tipping as you would in North America would be well received.
The guidelines that are provided below are based on normal gratuities expected from American travelers. If you receive exceptional service and care, you may want to increase your gratuities just as you would decrease the gratuities if your service was inadequate.
All African countries included on this site accept US dollars for gratuities. Travelers are advised to take an adequate supply of US money in small denominations ($20-$1 bills). You may take some larger bills which can be useful for large purchases. However, remote game lodges will often not have enough US dollars to make change for $100 or even $50 bills.
Private Transfers
This applies to city transfers to and from airport and hotels, transfers to restaurants, rail or ship stations. Transfer gratuities should be given at the time service is provided.
- Meet & greet representative: $3 per person
- Transfer driver: $2 per person one way
- Separate transfer guide (if applicable): $3 per person one way
Game Lodge or Camp Stay
Generally, you tip all game lodge and personnel on the last day of your stay. Some lodges will provide a tipping box in the lobby or an envelope in your room for gratuities to general staff. If not, you can hand this tip to the lodge manager.
- Game Ranger: $15-$20 per person per day
- Game Tracker (if applicable): $10-$15 per person per day
- Butler (if applicable): $5-$10 per person per day
- General staff: $8-$10 per person per day (includes waiters, cooks, bar attendants, evening entertainers)
- Private game ranger: Minimum $50 to maximum $100 for a party of 1-6 people (not per person)
Purchases
You can find many great purchases as you travel. A Value Added Tax (VAT) will be added to purchases in certain African countries. Save your receipts and present them at the airport prior to departure to claim back this tax
Pack for a Purpose
Make a difference in the lives of children around the world by using available space in your luggage to provide supplies to the communities you visit. If just 500 individuals pack 5 lbs (2.27 kgs) each, we can provide 1.25 tons of supplies! You Can Have A Big Impact!
For just 5 lbs (2.27 kgs), you can bring:
400 pencils or
5 deflated soccer balls with an inflation device or
A stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, & 500 band-aids
Community & Social Responsibility
As part of its founding principles we believed that one must recognise the dominant realities of the community in which we do business and that the sustained development of our communities is as paramount as the cause of good business principles, and not merely one of those principles.
We, therefore, encourage our guests to pack for purpose that is to take with them some supplies if they have to donate to communities they visit, every bit make an enormous impact in most homes in Africa.
Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas characterised by deep lagoons, wetlands, lush palms, rugged hills and desert plains. The country’s primary tourist drawcard is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. These natural wonders provide a tranquil haven for an abundance of African wildlife to thrive. 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 a significant pride of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills, where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
Banking and Currency
Currency:
Local currency: Pula (BWP)
Symbol: P
ISO code: BWP
Central bank: Bank of Botswana
Subunit: Thebe
Banknotes: P100, P50, P20, P10
Coins: P5, P2, P1; T50, T25, T10, T5
Banking:
Card Transactions: Yes
ATMs: Yes
Mastercard: Generally, no
Visa: Yes
American Express: Generally, no
Diner’s club: Generally, no
Banking Hours:
Weekdays: 08h00 or 09h00 – 16h15 or 17h15
Weekends: 08h00 or 09h00 – 10h45 or 12h00
Public Holidays: No
Foreign exchange services: Yes
Travel, Transport and Getting Around
Air:
Airports in major cities
Main airlines: Mack Air and Kalahari Air
International Airports: In major cities
Road:
Tar roads: Yes
Gravel roads: Yes
Valid International Drivers License needed: Yes, if your national licence is not in English. If your national licence is in English, you may use it for up to 6 months.
Car hire available: Yes
Taxis: Yes
Uber available: No, but similar services
Bus:
Inter-city bus services: No
Local city bus networks: No
Rail:
Railway system: Yes, overnight train from Francistown to Gaborone to Lobatse.
Subway System: No
Water:
Ferries: No
Water taxis: No
Leisure cruises: No
Food, Drink and Cuisine Advice
Food and water safety:
Can you drink the tap water: Yes within major cities
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes within major cities
Ice: Yes within major cities
Meat: Yes within major cities
Street food: Yes within major cities
Local cuisine: Food centres around meat such as goat, beef, chicken and fresh water fish, and a maize meal known locally as “pap”. Adventurous culinary enthusiasts may want to try the traditional speciality of Mopane Worms, while those with a sweet tooth should make sure to sample the local Kalahari Truffles (made as a dessert) and unusual fruit called Marula. It is believed that watermelon originated here.
Drinks: Bojalwaja Setswana (the beer of Botswana) - created using fermented sorghum seeds.
Tipping: 10%, usually added to the bill at restaurants. It is also customary to tip game drivers and guides.
Climate and Weather
Annual rainfall: 475 mm
Average temperature: 27°C
Summer:
Average in highs: 31°C
Average in lows: 20°C
Winter:
Average in highs: 23°C
Average in lows: 22°C
Best time to visit: It’s best to visit Botswana between April and September – the dry winter months. At this time, animals usually stay close to their water sources, increasing your chances of seeing them.
Clothing and Dress Recommendations
Spring and Summer
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes
Winter and Autumn
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Yes
Heavyweight clothing and boots: Yes
General
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes
Walking shoes: Yes
Casual: Yes
Smart-casual attire: Yes
Internet Availability
Internet cafes: Yes in cities
Accommodation options: Yes
Restaurants: Yes in cities
Cafes: Yes in cities
Shopping malls: Yes
Public parks: No
Libraries: Yes in cities
Electricity and Plug Standards
Plug Type: D/G
Voltage (V): 230
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50
*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.