Botswana Travel Tips: Packing List, Health, Visa and Payment

Botswana safari packing list

Pack light and in neutral colours. Days are warm, early mornings on safari can be cold in the dry season, and the sun is strong all year. Soft bags are easier to stow in a vehicle than hard suitcases.

At the camp the dress code is relaxed. Power outlets and Starlink WiFi are available in all rooms, so bring chargers and adaptors.

• Neutral bush colours: khaki, olive, beige, brown
• Light, breathable cotton shirts, long and short sleeve
• Warm layers for early mornings: fleece, windbreaker
• Sturdy closed walking shoes
• Wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses
• Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) and a camera with a telephoto lens
• Spare batteries, chargers, a multi-plug adaptor and extra memory cards
• A dust-proof bag or wrap for camera gear
• High-factor sunscreen (SPF 50+)
• Insect repellent containing DEET
• A small personal medical kit
• A reusable water bottle

Health: malaria and vaccinations

Malaria occurs in the Boteti/Makgadikgadi region. Risk varies by place, season and year and is not limited to November–April. Seek travel-medicine advice for your exact itinerary and dates, including whether preventive medication is appropriate. Use repellent, covering clothing and mosquito nets in every season.

Keep routine vaccinations up to date and discuss hepatitis A and any additional vaccines with a travel-health professional. Hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid advice depends on the individual trip. Yellow fever certification depends on your arrival and transit route; check the current official requirements before departure.

• Auswärtiges Amt: Botsuana ↗
• GOV.UK: Botswana health ↗

Visa and passport

Visa requirements depend on nationality, passport type and purpose of travel. Many visitors are visa-exempt, but the permitted stay is decided at entry; do not assume that every arrival grants 90 days. Check Botswana’s official visa information for your passport before booking.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. Blank-page requirements differ between official country-specific advice: UK guidance requires at least three; German guidance recommends at least four. Check the rules for your passport, transit countries and airline. Children may need birth certificates and parental consent documents.

• Botswana: Consular services / visa exemptions ↗
• Botswana: Tourism visa ↗
• GOV.UK: Passport and entry requirements ↗
• Auswärtiges Amt: Einreise und Zoll ↗

Paying from abroad

Pay by bank transfer using the details and BWP amount on your invoice. Before sending, ask your bank or transfer provider whether it supports this destination and currency, what amount will arrive and what fees apply. If BWP is unavailable, contact us to agree how to pay. Do not assume a named provider supports every route.

A 20% deposit secures a standard booking; the balance is due 14 days before arrival. Discounted full prepayment has separate, non-refundable terms. Follow your quote and invoice for the applicable deadlines. Transfer fees are paid by the sender. We do not accept cards or PayPal.

• Wise: BWP transfer availability ↗

A day at Naledi Camp

Activities are private to your group: a guided safari with KT in your own vehicle, a mokoro trip on the Boteti when the water level allows, or a full-day game drive in the camp vehicle on request. In between there is the dip pool, the fire pit and the decks about 20 m above the Boteti, where with luck you see elephants, hippos and kudu at the water.

Meals are included: breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner in the open-air boma, freshly prepared by our chef. There are Western and local dishes with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices every day; tell us about allergies when you book. With no more than 8 guests, the days are shaped around you.