Botswana2024-02-01T10:29:29+01:00

Botswana

Travel tips for Botswana

Top 5 Experiences

Botswana is considered the paradigm of safari due to its high animal density. The wetlands of the Okavango offers a fascinating contrast to the Kalahari Desert. Highlights of the country include:

Okavango Delta

The world’s largest inland delta consists of a labyrinth of rivers, lagoons and lakes, providing a lifeline for one of Africa’s largest animal and plant worlds. Usually, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is explored by Moro, a traditional canoe. But you can also do a safari on foot.

Chobe National Park

As the first national park in the country, it is home to the largest animal density in Africa. An encounter with one of the 100,000 elephants or buffaloes living here is therefore inevitable. The Big Five are joined by zebras, wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, wildebeests, antelopes and many other animal species. Ornithologists also get their money’s worth due to the diverse bird life.

Moremi Reserve

The game reserve offers a wide variety of habitats, including dry savannah and swamps, and is hence, home to a diverse flora and fauna. Buffalo, hippo, kudu, rhino, cheetah, lion or any other representative of African wildlife, they all live here.

Makgadikgadi Pans

As one of the largest salt pans on earth, the Makgadikgadi pans captivate with rare bird species and antelopes as well as archaeological traces of earliest settlements. From an elevation there is an impressive view over the salt desert.

Kalahari

The largest part of the vast semi-desert, which stretches across several countries, is found in Botswana. With the predominantly red sand a real play of colours. Besides endemic animals, one can also meet the San (Bushmen), the original indigenous people. During a visit you get an insight into the traditional way of life of the former nomadic people.

Tourist infrastructure

The road network of Botswana is relatively well developed, all main roads are asphalted and also the side roads are mostly well paved.

Due to the continuous number of tourists in recent years, the country has numerous accommodations, these are mostly small and remotely located, which is also reflected in the prices.

Climate and travel season

Botswana has a semi-arid savannah and semi-desert climate with sometimes fluctuating temperatures. From November to March is the rainy season with mostly short but heavy rains and daytime temperatures between 30°C and 35°C. The relatively long dry season runs from April to October, during which daytime temperatures fluctuate between 25°C and 30°C.

The best time to travel is during the dry season from June to October, although occasional, sometimes heavy rain showers are to be expected throughout the year. During the dry months, the animals are bound to the few water sources due to the lack of water and unique animal observations are thus guaranteed.

Visa and entry

Citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland do not need a visa in advance to enter Botswana. Upon arrival, travellers receive an entry permit free of charge, which is limited to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure and contain at least four free pages for endorsements.

Since the regulations can change at any time, all information are non-binding and without guarantee. Please observe the visa regulations and the current information of the Federal Foreign Office / Federal Ministry European and International Affaires / Federal Department of Foreign Affaires at all times.

Impressions from Botswana

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Visa, Entry, and Updates

Federal Foreign Office ➝

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Federal Department of
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Country information

Current accessibility

  • Information on entry:

    Germans, Austrians and Swiss can enter Botswana via the international airports in Francistown, Gaborone, Kasane and Maun. All border crossings at the national land borders are also open. The Botswana government requires a negative PCR test to be presented upon entry, which must not be older than 72 hours. Another rapid test is carried out upon entry. There are no further quarantine regulations for tourists.

  • Information on return:

    Since March 30, 2021, all travellers, no matter from which country they are coming and which means of transportation they use, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, before entering the Federal Republic of Germany. The PCR test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. In addition, travellers must register their entry at the entry portal www.einreiseanmeldung.de➝ before arriving in Germany and carry proof of the corresponding registration with them. For stays in high risk areas classified by the RKI➝ there is a 10-day quarantine obligation. The quarantine can solely be prevented when a proof of complete vaccination or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, was submitted on the entry portal. After five days at the earliest, travellers who are not vaccinated or did not recover from a Covid-19 infection can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. For stays in virus mutation areas a negative PCR-test, which must be performed at the earliest 72 hours before entering, needs to be shown before return and a fourteen-day quarantine must to be entered without possibility to shorten it.

    All travellers older than 12 years, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering Austria. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Since January 15, 2021, travellers must register their entry here ➝ („Pre-Travel-Clearance“) before arrival. With the above mentioned certifications a quarantine can be fully prevented when entering from a country classified as safe. The certifications can be handed in 24 hours later if no hotel stay is planned. For vaccinated people arriving from countries not classified as safe or from virus mutations areas the quarantine does not apply neither. Non-vaccinated people however need to present a negative Covid-test or a proof of recovery as well as enter a 10-day quarantine. After five days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early.

    All air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection within the past 6 months must register their entry on www.swissplf.admin.ch before or during arrival in Switzerland and need to carry the generated QR-code with them. Air passengers older than 16 years must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection as well need to enter a 10-day quarantine and present a PCR-test. In addition, they need to inform their corresponding cantonal authority latest within two days after arrival. After seven days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. The obligation to test or enter quarantine does not apply to fully vaccinated people who can present a certificate such as the EU Digital Certificate or a Swiss Covid certificate.

Covid-19

Corona precautionary measures

  • Restrictions in the country:

    Nationwide, the safety distance of at least 1.5m hast o be maintained. Travel within the country is possible again without restrictions and there is no longer a curfew. All shops, restaurants and hotels can open and operate normally if the hygiene rules are observed.

  • Mouth and nose protection:

    Wearing a mouth and nose protection is mandatory in public spaces. Frequent hand washing and disinfecting is strictly recommended.

  • Hygiene measures in the country:

    The list of measures published by the Botswana government (PDF) requires for all places where large groups of guests are gathered a digital or analogue registration of each attendee. This includes restaurants, stores and public transport. In addition, temperature checks are carried out more frequently.

Status: 19.10.2021

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