Botswana vacations 2024 & 2025

In addition to game drives, you might take boat and mokoro trips along reed-lined channels and join walking safaris led by some of the continent’s most accomplished and passionate guides. At some camps you could also go fishing, take a scenic helicopter flight, and enjoy breakfast or dinner in a remote location in the bush. Safari activities in Botswana vary depending on how wet or dry the landscape is at your camp, so we’ll suggest stays where the experiences best suit your interests. You can read more about experiencing a Botswana safari in our guide.

The Okavango Delta, in northwest Botswana, is the world’s largest inland delta and the country’s premier wildlife area. You can hop between several private concessions and reserves within the Okavango Delta for a varied experience. The vast, arid Kalahari Desert has a completely different landscape and wildlife species that have adapted to the harsh environment, where temperatures can vary from 113°F in the day to 5°F at night. You could also visit Chobe National Park to spot elephant along the Chobe River. Our specialists have visited the best places to go in Botswana to help you decide where’s right for your trip.

There’s a focus on high-quality, low-impact safaris in Botswana, so there are just a handful of remote camps in each area and few host more than 16 guests. Most camps have large, luxurious tented accommodations with private decks and en suite bathrooms, often with a communal pool. Some offer solid-structure lodgings, while others give you a chance to go fly camping, setting up simple, temporary camps between walking safaris. Our specialists visit each camp themselves to hand-pick the best of the best for our collection.

Botswana’s particularly known for its large elephant population of around 130,000. You’re also likely to see lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, and various antelope species, a wide range of birdlife, from bee-eaters to fish eagles, and, occasionally, wild dog. In the Kalahari, you might encounter black-maned lion, eland, brown hyena, and bat-eared foxes, although meerkats tend to be elusive. Wherever you go, we’ll pair you with expert guides who can help to identify species you may never have heard of and open your eyes to smaller wildlife you might otherwise overlook.

It takes around 20 hours to fly from New York to Maun, Botswana. Because there are no direct flights to Botswana from the US, you’ll need to fly via Johannesburg or Cape Town, South Africa.

Botswana’s time zone is UTC+2.

Botswana’s wildlife hotspots are often so remote you can only reach them by light aircraft, which is an experience in itself as you soar over swirls of water dotted with animals. Some wildlife areas are connected by road, so we can arrange a private driver for you. Once you’re there, you’ll explore on game drives in 4x4s, by motorboat or mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), or on foot. Our specialists have tried and tested routes across Botswana so know the best ways of getting around and can plan all the logistics of your trip.

You don’t need a visa to enter Botswana if you’re a US citizen staying for less than 90 days. Citizens of other countries should check their visa requirements here.

If you’re traveling with any children under 18 years of age, you must have an original, unabridged birth certificate for each child, which you can apply for on the government website. Where you’re the only accompanying parent, you’ll need proof of parental or legal authority to travel with your child.

Your doctor can provide you with immunization advice for Botswana, but you should at least be up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

There isn’t a risk of yellow fever in Botswana, but you’ll need to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from any countries where there is a risk, including if you’ve spent more than 12 hours at an airport in a country at risk of yellow fever.

There is some risk of malaria in Botswana, though it’s not common for visitors to become infected. The northern half of the country has the highest risk. This includes the Okavango Delta, especially between November and June. You should follow your doctor’s advice on whether you’ll need to take antimalarials. We also recommend using high-DEET-concentration repellents, covering up with loose clothing, and sleeping under a mosquito net, which many camps provide.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your departure from Botswana and have at least one blank double page.