General Botswana Info

[KobusDJ]

General Botswana Info

NOTE: This thread is not for discussions. Only add here if you think any info needs to be updated or amended.
Start a new discussion (thread/topic/post) if you need information.
THANK YOU


Border Posts Opening/Closing times:
* Pont Drift - Mashatu 08:00 - 16:00
* Platjan 06:00 - 18:00
* Zanzibar 08:00 - 16:00
* Martins Drift 06:00 - 22:00
* Parrshalt - Stockpoort 06:00 - 18:00
* Sikwane - Derdepoort 07:00 - 19:00
* Tlokweng Gate - Kopfontein 06:00 - 24:00
* Ramotswa - Swartkoppie 07:00 - 19:00
* Pioneer Gate - Skilpdshek 06:00 - 22:00
* Ramatlabama 06:00 - 20:00
* Phitshane Molopo - Makgwebi Stad 07:30 - 16:30
* Bray 08:00 - 16:00
* Makopong 08:00 - 16:00
* McCarthy's Rust 08:00 - 18:00
* Middlepits 08:00 - 18:00

Entry Requirements
Look at the Botswana Tourism website

Border Entry Fees
Vehicle Levy: P40-00 per vehicle less than 3.5 Ton. Trailer is P40-00 as well. (Payable every time you enter)
Road Safety: P20-00 per vehicle. Trailer is also P20-00. (This is valid for the calendar year. Jan 1 to Dec 31)
3rd Party Iinsurance: P50-00 per vehicle. If you are planning to go through Botswana to Namibia/Zambia and back through Botswana, ask for a Multi entry Permit. P90-00.

Border Procedure
At “Immigration”, ask for a “blue form” (all passport holders older than 16). Fill out the form and hand it in with your passport. The driver must ask for the “vehicle register” and complete the details. You will receive a “Gate Pass” (missing one stamp). The driver must proceed to “customs”, pay all applicable “entry fees” (see above) and get the second stamp. Declare anything if needed. That will do it. (Something personal…. Please remove your hat and sunglasses when you approach the official at the gate. It is just good manners. Ummm – and safety belt ON)

Vehicle Registration Papers
You will need the following:
1. If you are the owner: The original reg. papers. Certified copies are dodgy.
2. If you are not the owner, copy of registration papers and an original letter from owner, giving you permission to take vehicle into Botswana.
(Personal note: In my 8 years crossing the border frequently, I have never been asked for the papers. BUT !!! Rather be safe than sorry. Please note: This is with a Botswana registered vehicle.)

On the Road
The general speed limit is 120km/h, and 60km/h in towns and villages. There is 80km/h limit when passing intersections or villages (where not indicated) on the main roads. Respect and obey these.

Money Matters
Cash in Pula is King. 1 Pula (rain) = 100 Thebe (shield).
Most shops in the bigger towns will accept ZAR, but at a "not so good" exchange rate. Use Pula in cash in small towns and villages.
I have found XE.com to be the most accurate for the exchange rate. The actual rate will be 5 to 10 thebe higher or lower (buying or selling), depending on where you exchange.
Where credit/debit cards are accepted, your Visa will work. Cash can be withdrawn from most ATMs with Visa cards. It is worthwhile to withdraw large sums at a time, as there is a fixed fee per transaction. (Ask your bank for the current international fees)

Fuel
See here for the latest price.
All fuel originates from the South African refineries and is usually about 50c per liter cheaper than in sunny South Africa.
Fuel can be bought by credit card in most main towns, but cash is always the best.
No "Petrol Cards" or "Garage Cards" are accepted.

National Parks and Bookings
(DWNP = Department of Wildlife and National Parks)
DWNP Official Website

All bookings for the Parks and Reserves must be done at the Parks and Reserves Reservation Office.
Gaborone: Tel +267 318 0774, Fax +267 318 0775 or Fax +267 391 2354
Maun: Tel +267 686 1265, Fax +267 686 1264
EMail : [email protected]

General Park Fees
Park Fees

Kgalagadi Transfrontier & Mabuasehube Parks
Wilderness Trail: (One way - Mabuhasehube to Nossob. Including one nights accomodation at Mosomane) - P200-00pp.

Accommodation for Public Campsites in the National Parks must be booked with the Private Operators.
Here is a MS Word Doc with all the operators and the Campsites.
The same info is on the Getaway Blog.


Meat
It is allowed to bring 25kg per family…. BUT, if there is any word out on Foot and Mouth disease, it will not be allowed. Meat in Botswana is in any case of good quality, and not expensive. Rather buy it here.
Even if you buy it here, the following rules apply… Now concentrate a little on this one: (Thanks to FreeFlyd for this explanation)
You can move meat from South to North.
You can move meat from East to West.
You can however not move meat from North to South or West to East.
So meat that you bought in Maun, for example, you can not take to Nxai Pan or Makgadigadi, but you can take it to Tsodillo Hills or Moremi, Chobe and Savute. Meat that you bought at Woolworths in Gauteng, you can drive with to Maun, to Chobe, to Kasane, to Livingstone and beyond… But as soon as you turn south, you can’t have it any more. (Understand ? )

Communications
Botswana has three Mobile Operators. Mascom, Orange and beMobile. Look at the websites for coverage maps.
All providers in SA have roaming agreements with the Botswana service providers

Other Links
Botswana Tourism
Maun Self Drive 4x4
Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Daily News

[native]

General Botswana Info

Thanks Oom K

[4ePajero]

Kobus,

Great idea.

Suggestion: As more info is added in other posts, it is your responsibility to edit it into your original post.

Vehicle registration papers:

You will need the following:
1. If you are the owner: The original reg. papers / certified copies. Certified copies are dodgy (had mine refused once)

2. If you are not the owner, copy of registration papers and a original letter from owner, giving you permission to take vehicle into Botswana.

[Hoffie]

I also think this is a great idea. A moderator should put this up as a sticky.

[bushcamp]

Remembering from my time spent as a field guide (in bots, zim, zam, malawi, tanzania and Moz) there is also a speed reduction law - if your vehicle takes more than 15 passengers, slow 20km/h down on all roads. P450 fine (last time I got one, about ten or so years ago)

[TiaanS]

Great Idea, thanks Mr K

Just some of my own finding:

General Botswana Info

Money Matters
Where credit cards are accepted, your Visa will work. Cash can be withdrawn from most ATMs with Visa cards. It is worthwhile to withdraw large sums at a time, as there is a fixed fee per transaction. (Ask your bank for the current international fees)

MasterCard can also be used to pay for goods but can not be use to withdrawing from any ATM (Visa Only at ATM’s)

General Botswana Info

[B]Fuel[B]
Petrol BWP5-35
Diesel BWP5-07
All fuel originates from the South African refineries.
Cash only!

Can use credit card to pay for fuel at some fuelling stations, but cash is still king.
No Garage card accepted

[KobusDJ]

...edit it into your original post

Gerhard, will do so.

Remembering from my time spent as a field guide (in bots, zim, zam, malawi, tanzania and Moz) there is also a speed reduction law - if your vehicle takes more than 15 passengers, slow 20km/h down on all roads. P450 fine (last time I got one, about ten or so years ago)

This law is now basically the same as in SA. It depends on the class or classification. Said vehicles must have a 100 or 80 sign at the back. I will see if I can get the correct info in my daughter's "Drivers Licence Study Guide."

Vehicle Registration Numbes (How to identify them)
Botswana Registration numbers has the following format. It Starts with the letter "B", followed by three numbers, then three alphabetic characters. The first vehicle registered with this format was B 000 AAA.
Government vehicle's plates are red with white letters (front and back). Public transport (Busses, Taxis... ) have a white numberplate with black letters at the front, and blue with white letters at the back. All other vehicles have white with black letters at the front, and yellow with black letters at the back.

[Rico]

Paid R100.00 when entered Bots at Buitepos in July this year.
P60 (vehicle) + P20 (road) * 1.25 (exchange rate) = R100.00.

Strange - in front of us were travellers from Norway with a rented vehicle and they did not pay the P20 ?

[freeflyd]

We had a really good experience on a recent trip. At Gumara just south of Etsha 6 and north of Maun there is a very friendly and competent mechanic. He raplaced the head gasket of a Toyota 1989 DC 2.2. Spares available in town. Ask at Shell garage for C Trees.

[KobusDJ]

Fuel Price updated.

[kakydanou]

Hi,

Planning a trip there in 2008, would USD in cash be accepted or is it better to get Pulas? With the USD so low it's tempting...

K&D

[Hoffie]

Hi,

Planning a trip there in 2008, would USD in cash be accepted or is it better to get Pulas? With the USD so low it's tempting...

K&D

Pula only for Botswana and preferably cash. No Rands, USD or Euro are accepted. The only place I know of where Rands are accepted is at Mabua Pans.

[KobusDJ]

Fuel Price updated.

[KobusDJ]

Fuel Price updated.

[kakydanou]

Just back from Bots': Fuel paid most of the time with visa without any problems. They also did accept our USD at most of the places we went at a much better rate as the ZAR...
Best rate was in front of Maun airport, at the tourist shop: 1USD=6 Pulas and no commissions charged.

Dan

[BMC]

Border Entry Fees
To save money you can get a multiple entry vehicle permit & road safety permit for BWP110 , instead of BWP60 per entry.

[kakydanou]

There is quite a change in CKGR camp sites:

-new names, CKL3 is now CKWIL06 (Lebolobo/Letiahau) and wrongly sign posted as CKWIL07. For instance, CKWIL07 (old CKL2, Lekhubu) is sign posted as CKWIL06. At least, that's what was shown on my reservation... I'm sure it will leads to nice talks at the camp sites there, when you find someone using "your" campsite.

-CKA3 has a new location and is called CKPAS03 S21°21,277 E023° 19,175 so good bye honey badgers...
-CKA2 is now CKPAS02 S21° 16,159 E023° 28,665
-CKA1 new location and called CKPAS01 S21° 14,417 E023° 35,726

All camp site do have new names but quite easy to guess, like Sunday pan 3 was CKS3 and called now CKSUN03, etc...

They all have bucket shower and long drop.

We have seen at several gates, that from 2009, it will not be possible to pay at the gate anymore but all bookings must be paid in advance.

More infos to follow soon.

Dan

[Derick]

Kobus, is the fuel Price still up to date?

[KobusDJ]

Kobus, is the fuel Price still up to date?

Yes

[Derick]

Hi,

Just want to check on the meat situation into Botswana. It say's 25kg of meat per family. We will be traveling from Stockpoort to Khama and then futher to just above the Central Kalahari GR at Haina Safari Lodge. Stay there for 3 Nights and then to Mankwe. Will i be able to take my meat all the way from SA to Mankwe. Anyone with current experience can also comment please. Meat will be vacuum packed and frozen.

Derick