I was in Botswana for a couple of days entering from Zambia. I did the Caprivi Strip in Namibia and went back into Botswana between the 23 of November 2018 and 28 December 2018. The information and prices were correct at the time of writing
For daily distances and a brief description of each day follow this link
All prices are in Botswana pula except when the charge was in USD.
When I was there the exchange rate was as follows:
1 GBP = 13.41BWP
1 USD = 10.48 BWP
1 EUR = 12.04 BWP
Visa
I got my visa on arrival at both the Ngoma and the Mohembo borders.
Spanish passport holders get free entry visa in Botswana
Entering the country
Entering the country was quick and very straight forward.
Money
I had no problem finding ATMs but mostly used my credit cards as it was, most places accept both Visa and Mastercard.
Botswana SIM card
I didn’t get SIM in Botswana as I was told the were large areas of the country without reception. Most lodges had WIFI.
Food and drink
There are a whole selection of supermarkets where you can find pretty much everything. What you can’t find is stalls by the side of the road selling produce.
There is drinking water pretty much anywhere where there is people. I didn’t buy any drinking water or used my filters.
On the Road
I found Botswana roads to be generally OK. Distances between places a big and although everyone talks about wild life, in particular elephants on the road, I was lucky (or unlucky) and didn’t see any.
I found other drivers to be polite and give me plenty of room, often stay g being me until they felt it was safe to overtake me. A welcomed change from some of the other countries I’ve been to in this trip.
Personal Safety
Please note what follows is the personal experience of one individual and it does not intend to provide any authoritative account with regards to safety in the coutry or account to recommendation to travel there. We are all different, our attitude to risk and our perception of safety is different too.
Always check your government’s travel advice for Botswana before making your decision.
As a solo older female I never felt unsafe during my time in Botswana even in remote places. I found people to be really warm, welcoming and friendly. People are respectful and I didn’t get any of the calling that I got in other countries.
In Botswana some of the National Parks are not fenced and wildlife is often seen on the road, in particular elephants. Please keep your eyes open and if seen seek the protection of a vehicle or just stop and give them space.
Accommodation
I have listed where I spent the night at each location and the cost. For the exact coordinates check here
Kazungula – Bananyana Backpackers Camp – 50 pula. Kitchen -WIFI – Hot water – Simon the owner is abit wacky but nice
Shakawe – Drotsky’s cabins A big sprawling campsite. 200 but negotia down to 100. Huge pitches in sand but the one nearest reception has grass. Quite a lot of sand to get to it – particularly the first few hundred metres nearer the tarmaced road. WIFI available at the lodge – 15 mins walk away. If you ask someone can come and pick you up. They are happy to give you drinking water and put your bottles in the freezer. No kitchen available. Pitches in sand with electricity and water tap
Sepopa – Sepupa Swamp Stop Another big campsite. No kitchen available. 178 negotiated down to 150. Reception staff not particularly welcoming. Pitches in sand with electricity and water tap. They are happy to give you drinking water and put your bottles in the freezer
Gumare – Kamore Inn – All accomodation in the town is expensive – 650 pula – managed to negotiate to 450. Fabulous room. AC – WIFI – fridge – spotless. Nice – frendly staff. supermarket very close
Tsao – Camping Health clinic drinking water. electricity. security guard.
Maun 100 – Motsebe Backpackers Nice -relaxed campsite. Drinking water – use of kitchen – 100pppn but negotiated to 75. WIFI
Three Bridges – Three Bridges Great place – wildlife in the campsite (elephants and lions) don’t know the price as part of Okavango Game drive
Nr Motopi – Road Building Camp – Safe. surrounded by electric fence to keep wildlife out. They were builing the camp when I was there so no facilities but they gave me water to wash and to drink.
Gweta – Gweta Lodge- Relaxed place. 80pppn but ndgotiable. No electricity or water on the day I arrived but they heated some swimming pool water so I could have a wash. Restaurant with reasonable prices
Nata – Nata Lodge A big lodge with camping spaces amongst trees. Hot water – WIFI in the restaurant reception area – 95 pula pppn Inc tax – not prepared to negotiate.
Mosetse – Health Clinic Really friendly staff -Safe have security guard at night – Drinking water and wayer tap for a quick public wash – They charged my phone
Francistown – Tati River Lodge Not a particularly well kept campsite – hot water and drinking water – 110 pppn inc tax – not prepared to negotiate – restaurant expensive – WIFI in restaurant
Sese Vet checkpoint – Camping Police Camp – Friendly – helpful -bathroom for a bucket shower – drinking water.
Palapye – Camp Itumela A relaxed place to stay. 95 pppn negotiated down to 80pppn – good WiFi – hot water and campers kitchen
Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Khama Rhino Sanctuary Mokongwa Campsite – Magic camping inside the sanctuary. They need to drive you in and the reception waved the fee.
Dinokwe/Pallah Road – Camping Village House – bore hole water
Artisia – Camping Village House – drinking water
Mokolodi – Mokolodi Backpackers Fabulous place -lots of birds – nice kitchen -WIFI up and down – 140pppn