Highlights
The Okavango Delta is the jewel: a vast inland delta where the river fans out into a maze of channels, islands and lagoons, explored by gliding mokoro (dugout canoe), boat and light aircraft, teeming with elephants, lions, leopards and birdlife. Fly-in camps here are among Africa's finest and most remote.
Chobe National Park, in the north, holds one of the largest elephant populations on earth — sunset boat cruises on the Chobe River, with elephants swimming and hippos yawning, are a highlight, and it pairs easily with nearby Victoria Falls.
The Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi salt pans offer a completely different, otherworldly experience — meerkats, desert-adapted wildlife, San Bushman walks, quad-biking across the pans, and some of the darkest night skies anywhere. The Moremi Game Reserve within the Delta and the wild Linyanti region round out a world-class safari circuit, best strung together by small plane.
When to go
May to October is the dry winter and peak safari season — the Okavango Delta floods (paradoxically arriving in the dry months), wildlife concentrates around water, and the bush thins for superb viewing. July to September is prime.
The green season (November to April) brings the rains, dramatic skies, newborn animals, spectacular birding and much lower prices, though some camps close and roads flood. Winter mornings on game drives and mokoro trips are genuinely cold, so pack warm layers. For the classic Delta-and-desert experience, the dry season is the safe choice.
Visa & entry
Many nationalities can enter Botswana visa-free for short tourist stays (commonly up to 90 days), while others need a visa or an e-visa in advance. A passport valid six months with blank pages is required, and children travelling may need additional documentation.
Entry rules and any tourism levy can change, so confirm the current requirements for your nationality on Botswana's official immigration site before you travel, and check the rules for entering overland from neighbouring countries.
Health & safety
Botswana is one of Africa's most stable, safe and well-governed countries, with low crime and a strong conservation focus. Safari areas are remote and managed, so the main considerations are wildlife safety (always follow guide instructions, never walk unescorted in camps) and the practicalities of remote travel.
Self-drivers face deep sand, water crossings and long distances with no services, so proper 4x4 experience and preparation are essential. Malaria is present in the north (Delta, Chobe), so take prophylaxis. Towns like Gaborone and Maun warrant normal urban precautions. Check your government's advisory before departure.
Getting around
Most visitors reach the Delta and remote camps by light aircraft 'fly-in' safaris — the practical (and scenic) way to hop between camps over the wilderness, usually arranged as part of a package. This is how the classic Botswana trip works.
Self-driving is a serious adventure for the experienced: a fully equipped 4x4 with recovery gear is essential for the sandy, flooded tracks of the Delta, Kalahari and Chobe. Maun and Kasane are the main gateway towns with airports. Tarmac roads link the main towns, but the wild areas demand aircraft or capable 4x4s.
Money
The Pula (meaning 'rain', a precious thing in a desert country) is the local currency. Safari camps are typically all-inclusive and prepaid, so day-to-day cash needs are limited to tips, drinks and curios. Cards are accepted in towns, lodges and fuel stations, and ATMs are reliable in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone.
Carry cash (Pula, and US dollars are useful) for tips, remote areas and border posts. Botswana is a high-value destination, so budget accordingly for premium camps. Tipping guides, camp staff and mokoro polers is customary and appreciated.
Botswana