Meat and Fruits/Vegetables in Botswana

[Defender TAZ]

Dear Tara

Many thanks for your informative post. I shall be travelling to the Central Kalahari via Orapa/Rakops and entering at Matswere Gate.

According to your map I shall be crossing the veterinary fence line (South to North) and then crossing out (East to West) to enter at Matswere.

Is this permissible?

Many thanks
Stuart

My understanding is South to North and East to West is no problem.

I recently drove from Khutse through two vet fences, West to East at Lephephe and just before Palapye and none were manned.

I was also not checked at any border gat either going into or out of Bots

[Plod]

Any further news on the movement of meat in zone 11? We will be going through in about five weeks time. I really don't want to spend the whole time eating chicken and bully beef!
Thanks.

[lekhubu943]

All sorted out weeks ago. No problems moving meat in zone 11.

[Plod]

All sorted out weeks ago. No problems moving meat in zone 11.

Thanks. That is a relief.

[witklipbank]

For meat in Botswana and the Veterinary Check points – the rule is : You can take raw meat from East to West and from South to North. You can not take meat the other way around (unless it is cooked). (This relates to Cloven hoofed animals - for poultry and fish, you can take these anywhere in Botswana). There are various checkpoints within Botswana to regulate raw cloven hoofed animal meat.

Some vegetables/fruits are also restricted due to fruit flies but to a lesser degree (only when there are outbreaks). The regulations change with regards to some meats/vegetables and these relate mostly to things like tomato, avocado, banana, payapa, bell peppers, any citrus, cucumber and wild fruits.

A few contact no's to call to check before you travel :
Wildlife Tsetse Control : Maun : +267 6860237
Martins Drift Border Control : +267 4915907
Ministry of Agriculture - Gaborone : +267 3950500

Elephants love citrus fruits and can break into vehicles to get these - always keep any fruit locked away securely in your vehicles (especially overnight) when camping.



For more info : http://blog.tracks4africa.co.za/vete...-and-botswana/

You can bring meat into Botswana through the border control - the limits are as follows :

• Red meat, goat, lamb - 25kg Per family
• Poultry meat - 5kg Per Person
• Tinned poultry meat - 20kg Per Person
• Eggs - 36 eggs Per Person
• Fresh milk - 2 litres Per Person
• Maize/ maize products - 25kg Per Person
• Wheat - 25kg Per Person
• Pulses (beans, peas, lentils) - 25kg Per Person
• Cabbage, Onions, Potatoes, Oranges, Tomatoes, Chimola, Rape, Spinach 1 bag Per Person
• Bread loaves - 6 per week

For a good butchery in Maun : Delta meat deli is probably the most convenient (it is situated at Riley’s garage which has a shop called Autozone there as well that stocks all camping/vehicle accessories and parts/batteries/car parts etc) there is also a Bureau de Change to change Rand. Alternatively, there is meat for sale in the SPAR, SHOPRITE, CHOPPIES stores and chicken/ham/sandwich meat in the WOOLWORTHS.

Delta Meat Deli
- Mon - Fri : 8:00 - 17:00
- Sat : 8:00 - 13:00
Phone: +267 686 1413
E-mail: [email protected]

Another butchery in Maun :
Beef Boys
- Mon - Fri : 8:00 - 17:00
- Sat : 8:00 - 14:00
[email protected] or +267-7213 6006

You can buy drinks/alcohol from any Liquorama bottle store in Maun – or cheaper... Lepopo Wholesale and it's located on S19 58.772 / E23 25.543 (closed at lunchtimes. 8am to 5pm). You can buy other groceries from Spar (there are two spars in Maun), Shoprite, Choppies and Woolworths food.

You can get firewood easily along the road between Maun and Moremi. You can also collect your own firewood just before you enter the park - though I always prefer to buy from the street sellers to contribute something to the locals. Do not leave firewood lying around in the campsites – (it will get stolen)

KASANE
Meat : Ron's Fresh Produce on [email protected], and [email protected]

PALAPYE
Meat : Sandys Butchery (next to Bimbos take away in the Choppies supermarket complex). They vacuum pack and you can phone them with an order - +267 71803784, owners name is Marius.

The following articles and consumables may be admitted free of duty through the border posts :
Wines - 2 litres
Spirituous and other alcoholic beverages - 1 litre
Cigarettes - 200
Cigars - 20
Cigarette or pipe tobacco - 250 gms
Perfume - 50 ml
Toilet water - 250 ml

Thanks

[KobusDJ]

Please take note. I found this on the BW Government Facebook Page. 19 December 2016

MINISTRY SUSPENDS IMPORTATION OF CROPS SUSCEPTIBLE TO TOMATO LEAF MINER

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has suspended importation of crops that are susceptible to attack by tomato leaf miner with immediate effect.
A press release from the ministry says the suspension was a result of detection of tomato leaf miner, a quarantine pest, also known as Tuta absoluta.
The release says given the economic importance of Tuta absoluta, the ministry has developed a strategy to prevent further introduction of the pest by suspending some crops from entering the country which include peppers (capsicum) seedlings and fruits, bell pepper (capsicum annuum) seedlings and fruits, tomato (solnum lycopersicum) seedlings and fruits, eggplant/aubergine (solanum melongena) seedlings and fruits, melon pear (solanum mucatum) seedlings and fruits as well as potato (solanum tuberosum) potato tubers for planting.

.

[witklipbank]

Tx Kobus.

[HermanvdW]

What is the latest regarding meat and fruit/veggies into Botswana?
Just going through the border and stay there for a couple of days. Can't buy in Botswana as I will not be close to a town.

[KobusDJ]

Hier is niks Aartappels

[KobusDJ]

Tomato Leaf Miner

Import ban triggers vegetable price hikes, shortages. - http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=65...017/january/12

Import ban increases veg prices in Botswana - http://www.freshplaza.com/article/16...es-in-Botswana

Even in South Africa.

More Bad News For South Africa: Tomato Leaf Miner Outbreak Reported - http://afkinsider.com/134604/bad-new...reak-reported/

No tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, bell peppers, melon pear and beetroot allowed.

Currently we are out of Potato and Tomato.

[schwott]

Is taking meat from Selebi Phikwe to Plumtree via Mmadinare and Matsiloje safe? In September 2016 we traveled from Selebi to Woodlands Stopover via Serule and our meat was "almost" confiscated there.

[KobusDJ]

Farmer's Weekly - Botswana faces fresh produce shortage - http://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-...duce-shortage/

[TRON]

Is taking meat from Selebi Phikwe to Plumtree via Mmadinare and Matsiloje safe? In September 2016 we traveled from Selebi to Woodlands Stopover via Serule and our meat was "almost" confiscated there.

You are not allowed to take meat from Selebi Phikwe to Francistown, you can take meat towards Matsiloje just as long as you don't cross the vet fences and you are not allowed to take meat over the border into Zimbabwe.

[KobusDJ]

1 Feb 2016

.

LIFTING OF THE BAN ON IMPORTATION OF POTATO, TOMATO, PEPPER AND EGG PLANT

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security wishes to inform farmers and the general public that the ban on importation of potato, tomato, pepper and eggplant (including seedlings) due to Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) has been lifted with immediate effect.
Prior to importation of seedlings, farmers are advised to have their farms inspected by agricultural agents. The Ministry advises farmers to adhere to the following control measures:
• Import seedlings ONLY from pest free areas.
• Farmers must follow proper phytosanitary protocols when importing seedlings and fresh produce.
• Field sanitation through collection and destruction of infested fruits and plants.
• Burry infested fruits and plants no less than 1 metre deep.
• Practice crop rotation with non-host crops.
• Cultivate the field to expose the pupae.
• Mass trap adult moths in and outside the farms using water baited lures and pheromone traps.
• Use insecticides recommended by the Ministry.
Fresh produce must be sourced from export markets ONLY. Therefore, the public’s full cooperation will be highly appreciated.
For further information contact the following:
H. Modiakgotla, P. Mawere, K. Sebua @ 3928745/3928786 (during working hours)
B.J. Mmusi @ (71460291); Toll free number 17755 (during working hours)

[Footloose]

Hi Tara
During May 2017 we will be traveling Botswana via McCarthy's Rest, Tshabong, Mabuasehube, Kaa, Kang, Khutse, then out through Ramatlabama. Do you foresee any problem if we take meat along this route ?

[nhouston]

Hi,

Travelling through Martin's Drift next week en-route to Chobe and then Hwange. What is the latest position re meat and fruit/veg? Last time I went through Martin's Drift I was stopped for meat and naartjies and tomatoes at the border post. They let me cook the meat and peel the naartjies - that was in 2012. They confiscated the tomatoes.

Cheers,

Ruwenzori

[lostprophet]

Hi,

Travelling through Martin's Drift next week en-route to Chobe and then Hwange. What is the latest position re meat and fruit/veg? Last time I went through Martin's Drift I was stopped for meat and naartjies and tomatoes at the border post. They let me cook the meat and peel the naartjies - that was in 2012. They confiscated the tomatoes.

Cheers,

Ruwenzori

Did you get any issues?

We will be doing this same route in 2 weeks time

[Gustav Preller]

I am also interested to hear. We are travelling on 16th April Zanzibar BP , Francistown, Kasane. Can we take meat across into Bots and will any be confiscated at the vet fences?

Is cooked meat OK?

[nhouston]

Hi,

I had no problems (this time) at Martin's Drift or going north to Kasane. There was only a short queue but loads of freight lorries and I was waved thtough. The only thing I was asked (jokingly I assume) was whether I was carrying any AK47s. No opening of fridge or freezer.

Cheers,

Ruwenzori

[nhouston]

I am also interested to hear. We are travelling on 16th April Zanzibar BP , Francistown, Kasane. Can we take meat across into Bots and will any be confiscated at the vet fences?

Is cooked meat OK?

Hi,

Cooked meat is fine. When I was stopped at Martin's Drift in 2012 I was able to cook the meat in front of them and then allowed through. Going north should not be a problem - I was not asked at any of the fences.

Cheers,

Ruwenzori