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African Safaris and Tours
Getting to Botswana
Flights, Border Posts and Camp Transfers
Most travellers reach Botswana on a connecting flight through Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport, then take a scheduled flight on to Maun or Kasane. Cape Town also has scheduled flights to Maun, and Windhoek has them on selected days in some seasons. Ethiopian Airlines flies to Gaborone from Addis Ababa. There are no non-stop flights to Botswana from Europe, the Americas or Asia.
From Maun or Kasane, the last leg to your lodge is usually by light aircraft. Some camps are reached by road or by boat instead. When we plan your Botswana safari, we book each of these legs and build them into your itinerary.
Arriving by Air
Maun and Kasane are Botswana's two safari gateways. Gaborone, the capital, has the country's main international airport, but it is a long way from the wildlife areas in the north, so safari travellers usually connect on to Maun or Kasane.
Maun Airport
Maun Airport is on the north side of Maun and is the main gateway to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. Light-aircraft transfers to the Delta camps leave from here.
Kasane International Airport
Kasane International Airport is about 4 km south of Kasane town, close to Chobe National Park. It serves the Chobe lodges and fly-in itineraries that end in Chobe, including those that continue by road to Victoria Falls through the Kazungula border.
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is about 15 km north of central Gaborone. Safari itineraries seldom route through it, because the main wildlife areas lie in the north of the country.
Arriving by Road
Guided road transfers and scheduled tours run from Johannesburg, Windhoek and Victoria Falls. They are a good choice if you'd rather not fly or are working to a tighter budget. Distances are long, so plan with the Botswana distance table, and avoid driving after dark. The main border posts are listed in the questions below, and entry requirements are covered on our Botswana visa page.
Light-Aircraft Transfers Between Camps
Light-aircraft flights link most of the Botswana lodges we offer, and the flying is half the fun: channels, islands and floodplains laid out beneath you, sometimes with elephants wading below. When these flights are part of your itinerary, their cost is included in the price we quote.
Water Transfers
In the Okavango Delta's permanent-water areas, some camps are reached by motorboat, depending on the camp and the water level. The mokoro, the Delta's traditional poled canoe, is used mainly for excursions and a few short transfers.
Luggage Limits
Light-aircraft transfers in Botswana usually allow 20 kg per person, including hand luggage and camera equipment, packed in soft-sided bags with no wheels or frames. Allowances vary by operator, so we confirm the limit for each flight when we book. Commercial flights into Maun and Kasane have their own allowances. If you need to carry more, tell us when you book and we'll advise on the options.
Flight routes, airport details and border posts last checked October 2026.
Getting to Botswana: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Botswana from overseas?
Most overseas travellers fly to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport and connect to Maun or Kasane, Botswana's two safari gateways. Cape Town also has scheduled flights to Maun, and Ethiopian Airlines flies to Gaborone from Addis Ababa. There are no non-stop flights to Botswana from Europe, the Americas or Asia.
Which airport should I fly into for a Botswana safari?
Fly into Maun for the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve, and into Kasane for Chobe National Park or a trip that adds Victoria Falls. A common route is to arrive in Maun, fly between camps by light aircraft and leave from Kasane. Gaborone's airport is about 15 km north of the capital, far from the main safari areas.
How do I get from Maun to my safari camp?
Most camps are reached by light aircraft from Maun Airport, on a short, scenic flight over the Delta that we book as part of your itinerary. Some camps in the Delta's permanent-water areas are reached by motorboat, depending on water levels, and lodges near Maun and Kasane are often reached by road.
What is the luggage allowance on light-aircraft transfers?
Light-aircraft transfers in Botswana usually allow 20 kg per person, including hand luggage and camera equipment, in soft-sided bags with no wheels or rigid frames. Limits vary by operator, so we confirm the allowance for each flight when we book. If you need to bring more, we'll advise on extra seats or storage.
Can I drive into Botswana from South Africa?
Yes. The main road border posts between South Africa and Botswana are Tlokweng (Kopfontein), Ramatlabama, Pioneer Gate (Skilpadshek) and Martin's Drift, and Pont Drift serves the Tuli area. None of them is open around the clock, and Limpopo crossings such as Martin's Drift can close temporarily during floods, so check before you travel and cross in daylight.
Which border posts link Botswana with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe?
For Namibia, the main posts are Mamuno on the Trans-Kalahari route, Mohembo in the Panhandle and Ngoma near Chobe. Zambia is reached over the Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi, open since 2021. For Zimbabwe, the main crossings are Kazungula Road near Kasane and Ramokgwebana near Plumtree.
Map of Lodges in and around Botswana
Botswana Travel Topics
10 Reasons To Visit Botswana
Ten reasons, from the Okavango's flood and Chobe's elephant herds to the Makgadikgadi salt pans, Kalahari lions and San trackers, wild dogs in the Linyanti, mokoro trips, and a low-volume tourism policy that keeps vehicle numbers down.
Best Botswana Safari Lodges
Our pick of Botswana's safari lodges, region by region: Mombo and Xigera in the Delta, Chobe Game Lodge on the river, Jack's Camp on the pans and Savute Elephant Lodge, plus how to choose between them.
Botswana Chobe National Park
A practical guide to Chobe: getting there from Kasane, river cruises versus game drives, where the elephants come down to drink, the lodges we use, and how to add Victoria Falls on the way in or out.
The Perfect Okavango Delta Honeymoon Safari
Planning a honeymoon in the Okavango Delta: the camps that suit couples, from Camp Okavango to Mombo, with sunrise boat cruises, mokoro trips, and private dinners and helicopter flights where the camp offers them.
10 Reasons To Visit The Savuti
Ten reasons to put Savuti on your route: bull elephants, big lion prides, wild dogs, the Savuti Marsh, San rock art in the Gubatsa Hills, and a channel with a habit of drying up for years at a time.
5 Best Lodges In The Chobe National Park
Five lodges in and around Chobe National Park that we would happily send you to: Chobe Game Lodge with its all-female guiding team, Ngoma, Muchenje, Chobe Chilwero, and &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas, which moves camp to follow the game.
How Much Does It Cost to Go on a Safari in Botswana?
What a Botswana safari actually costs, and why: camping versus mobile versus lodge, the season you travel, flights between camps, park fees and tips, and where a few honest savings can be made.
10 Best Lodges In Okavango Delta
Ten Okavango Delta camps we rate, from Eagle Island and Xigera to Jao, Jacana and Duba Plains, with what each does best, from mokoro trips on the water to family suites and walking safaris.