Travelling Sustainably Through Botswana
Botswana’s primary attraction is its vast wilderness. From the endless palm-covered islands of the Okavango...
17 July 2024 
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If you’re planning a self-drive adventure to Botswana, then you’ll be happy to know that we’ve created this Botswana border posts crossing guide just for you. Before we jump into the border post locations, we’d like to offer a snippet of advice: skip the queues and spend some time taking the scenic route to one of the smaller border crossings. After all, travel is about the journey, not the destination.
A typical dirt road in Botswana
| Namibia Border Post | Opening Hours | Contact Number | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mamuno/Buitepos | 07:00 – 18:00 | 6592013/6592064 | 22°16’93”S 19°59’48”E |
| Muhembo/Shakawe | 06:00 – 18:00 | 6875505 | 18°15’642”S 021°45’719”E |
| Ngoma Bridge | 07:00 – 18:00 | 6236002/6250736 | 17°55’538”S 024°43’244”E |
| Impalila Island | 07:00 – 18:00 | 71303418 | 17°45’52”S 025°11’30”E |
| Zambia Border Post | Opening Hours | Contact Number | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kazungula Ferry | 06:00 – 18:00 | 2150420/651717 | 17°47’625”S 025°15’737”E |
| Zimbabwe Border Post | Opening Hours | Contact Number | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kazungula Road | 06:00 – 18:00 | 2150320 | 17°48’911”S 025°15’715”E |
| Pandamatenga | 08:00 – 16:00 | 6232029 | 18°32’949”S 025°37’593”E |
| Ramokgwebana – Plum Tree | 07:00 – 20:00 | 2489266 | 25°38’319”S 025°34’440”E |
| Matsiloje – Mphoengs | 06:00 – 18:00 | 2483205 | |
| Maitengwe | 06:00 – 18:00 | 2986272 |
If you’re lucky, you might spot leopard in Botswana
| South Africa Border Post | Opening Hours | Contact Number | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pont Drift – Mashatu | 07:00 – 16:00 | 015-575 1056 | 22°12′53″S 29°08′18″E |
| Platjan | 08:00 – 16:00 | 015-575 1040 | 22°29′08″S 28°50′01″E |
| Zanzibar | 08:00 – 16:00 | 014-767 1024 | 22°34′19″S 28°27′59″E |
| Groblersbrug / Martin’s Drift | 08:00 – 18:00 | 014-767 1019 | 22°59′53″S 27°56′31″E |
| Parr’s Halt – Stockpoort B | 08:00 – 18:00 | 014-763 4586 | 23°24′10″S 27°21′24″E |
| Sikwane – Derdepoort B | 06:00 – 19:00 | 014-778 0725 | 24°38′33″S 26°24′13″E |
| Tlokweng Gate – Kopfontein | 06:00 – 00:00 | 018-365 9055 | 24°42′23″S 26°05′38″E |
| Ramotswa – Swartkoppie | 06:00 – 22:00 | 018-365 9010 | 24°52′21″S 25°52′57″E |
| Pioneer Gate – Skilpadshek | 06:00 – 00:00 | 018-366 0011 | 25°16′32″S 25°42′50″E |
| Ramatlabama | 06:00 – 22:00 | 018-390 2533 | 25°38′31″S 25°34′27″E |
| Phitshane Molopo | 07:00 – 16:00 | 067-548 7204 | 25°44′55″S 25°06′27″E |
| Bray | 07:00 – 16:00 | 053-937 0026 | 25°27′24″S 23°42′51″E |
| Makopong | 08:00 – 18:00 | 053-922 Ask Vorstershoop 2011 | 25°21′55″S 22°58′29″E |
| McCarthy’s Rust | 08:00 – 18:00 | 053-781 0285 | 26°12′05″S 22°34′04″E |
| Middleputs | 07:30 – 16:00 | 053-781 0212 | 26°40′14″S 21°52′57″E |
Look out for elephants along Botswana’s remote roads
Pontdrift is arguably the most exciting of the Botswana border posts to cross. During the dry season, when the Limpopo River is not flowing (typically anywhere between June and November) you can drive across the sandy riverbed – nothing 4×4 tyres (and adjusting the pressure accordingly) can’t handle.
Citizens of some African countries won’t need a visa for crossing a Botswana border post, but if you’re travelling with an emergency passport or any other kind of travelling document, you will require a visa.
South African and international driver’s licenses are accepted.
Third-party insurance (at P50) is required and is valid for 90 days.
If the vehicle is rented, not registered in your name, or not yet fully paid, you will need an affidavit from the police giving you permission from the rental company, financial institution, or owner to take the vehicle across a Botswana border post. Both this letter and the registration documents need to be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
You need a temporary import permit (TIP) to bring a vehicle into Botswana. You can buy this at the Botswana border post.
You will need a country of origin sticker for your vehicle, indicating the country it’s registered in.
In other words, you should budget for about P180 for a return trip across one of Botswana’s border posts.
You may have goods to the value of R500 within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) area, and outside the SACU area, you may have goods to the value of R3 000.
This can include up to two litres of wine, one litre of spirits or other liquor, 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, 250 g tobacco, 50 ml perfume and 250 ml eau de toilette.
As far as meat is concerned, regulations change regularly, so it would be best to enquire at the customs office before trying to import meat.
If you do have an import permit, you may bring in the following for private use:
Remember, no pork whatsoever is allowed across Botswana’s border. A detailed list of produce import regulations can be found on the Botswana Tourism website.
Photo Source: Getty
Leaded and unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available at petrol stations in Botswana.
No inoculations are required, but hepatitis A and tetanus shots are advisable. To ensure you stay healthy while travelling in Africa, you will need prophylactic Malaria treatment as the risk in Botswana is high.
Botswana’s currency is the Pula.
Stay safe on the road on your self-drive adventure through Botswana
Armed with this Botswana border posts information you should be feeling prepared to explore this beautiful country. Along with your camera and journal, don’t forget to take along an open mind and adventurous spirit. Welcome Africa with a smile and she is sure to smile back.
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