Country Guides
Botswana
Getting There
Getting There
Botswana
Getting There by Air
The national airline, Air Botswana (BP) (website: www.airbotswana.co.bw), flies into Botswana (Gaborone, Kasane, Maun and Francistown) from Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa). Airlines serving Harare and Johannesburg from London include British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com) and South African Airways (website: www.flysaa.com). Air Namibia (website: www.airnamibia.com) flies from Windhoek (Namibia) to Maun, direct.
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Gaborone is approximately 15 hours (including stopovers).
Main Airports
Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE) is 15km (9 miles) northwest of Gaborone. To/from the airport: There are no regular bus services to and from the airport but several hotels run combis (minibuses or vans). Taxis are available to the city centre (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Left luggage, banks, bar, snack bar, restaurant, post office, duty-free shops and car hire.
Maun International Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town and Windhoek. This gateway to the Okavango Delta is served by Air Botswana, Air Namibia and several charters. For information on charters, see the Getting Around section. To/from the airport: The city centre is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk. Taxis and shuttles are available. Facilities: Car hire and lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.
Other major airports that handle international flights are at Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
A car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia.
Getting There by Rail
There is a thrice-weekly service with Botswana Railway (BR) between Botswana and Zimbabwe (Francistown–Bulawayo; journey time – 6 hours). The train has standard class coaches with reclining seats.
A daily train with sleepers and restaurant car runs from Francistown–Gaborone–Lobatse. At Lobatse, buses cross the South African border. Botswana has assisted in the construction of the Limpopo line from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, an act which will speed up the availability of alternative routes into Botswana.
Getting There by Road
There are reasonable roads running roughly along the same routes as the railway, linking Botswana with South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also road access from Namibia. The Botswana Tourism Board publishes a map showing all border posts and their opening times in the Travel Information section of their website (www.botswanatourism.co.bw).
Bus: Frequent services operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Services are also available from Windhoek in Namibia to Maun, and between Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Francistown. Private transfers can be booked between Victoria Falls and Kasane (for Chobe National Park).
Bus: Services are available from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Frequent services also operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Complicated formalities may be necessary for crossing the border to or from South Africa, where the South African Customs Union agreement is in operation.
Getting There by Air
The national airline, Air Botswana (BP) (website: www.airbotswana.co.bw), flies into Botswana (Gaborone, Kasane, Maun and Francistown) from Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa). Airlines serving Harare and Johannesburg from London include British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com) and South African Airways (website: www.flysaa.com). Air Namibia (website: www.airnamibia.com) flies from Windhoek (Namibia) to Maun, direct.
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Gaborone is approximately 15 hours (including stopovers).
Main Airports
Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE) is 15km (9 miles) northwest of Gaborone. To/from the airport: There are no regular bus services to and from the airport but several hotels run combis (minibuses or vans). Taxis are available to the city centre (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Left luggage, banks, bar, snack bar, restaurant, post office, duty-free shops and car hire.
Maun International Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town and Windhoek. This gateway to the Okavango Delta is served by Air Botswana, Air Namibia and several charters. For information on charters, see the Getting Around section. To/from the airport: The city centre is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk. Taxis and shuttles are available. Facilities: Car hire and lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.
Other major airports that handle international flights are at Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown.
Departure Tax
Maun International Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town and Windhoek. This gateway to the Okavango Delta is served by Air Botswana, Air Namibia and several charters. For information on charters, see the Getting Around section. To/from the airport: The city centre is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk. Taxis and shuttles are available. Facilities: Car hire and lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.
Other major airports that handle international flights are at Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown.
None.
Getting There by Water
A car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia.
Getting There by Rail
There is a thrice-weekly service with Botswana Railway (BR) between Botswana and Zimbabwe (Francistown–Bulawayo; journey time – 6 hours). The train has standard class coaches with reclining seats.
A daily train with sleepers and restaurant car runs from Francistown–Gaborone–Lobatse. At Lobatse, buses cross the South African border. Botswana has assisted in the construction of the Limpopo line from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, an act which will speed up the availability of alternative routes into Botswana.
A daily train with sleepers and restaurant car runs from Francistown–Gaborone–Lobatse. At Lobatse, buses cross the South African border. Botswana has assisted in the construction of the Limpopo line from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, an act which will speed up the availability of alternative routes into Botswana.
Getting There by Road
There are reasonable roads running roughly along the same routes as the railway, linking Botswana with South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also road access from Namibia. The Botswana Tourism Board publishes a map showing all border posts and their opening times in the Travel Information section of their website (www.botswanatourism.co.bw).
Bus: Frequent services operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Services are also available from Windhoek in Namibia to Maun, and between Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Francistown. Private transfers can be booked between Victoria Falls and Kasane (for Chobe National Park).
Bus: Services are available from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Frequent services also operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Complicated formalities may be necessary for crossing the border to or from South Africa, where the South African Customs Union agreement is in operation.
Bus: Frequent services operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Services are also available from Windhoek in Namibia to Maun, and between Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Francistown. Private transfers can be booked between Victoria Falls and Kasane (for Chobe National Park).
Bus: Services are available from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Frequent services also operate between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Complicated formalities may be necessary for crossing the border to or from South Africa, where the South African Customs Union agreement is in operation.
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