Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus & Combi
Buses and combis regularly travel to all major towns and villages throughout Botswana
but are less frequent in sparsely populated areas such as western Botswana and the Kala-
hari. Public transport to smaller villages is often nonexistent, unless the village is along a
major route.
The extent and frequency of buses and combis also depends on the quantity and quality
of roads; for example, there is no public transport along the direct route between Maun
and Kasane (ie through Chobe National Park), and services elsewhere can be suspended if
roads are flooded. Also, bear in mind that there are very few long-distance services, so
most people travelling between Gaborone and Kasane or Maun, for example, will need a
connection in Francistown.
Buses are usually comfortable, and normally leave at a set time regardless of whether
they're full or not. Finding out the departure times for buses is a matter of asking around
the bus station, because schedules are not posted anywhere. Combis leave when full, usu-
ally from the same station as the buses. Tickets for all public buses and combis cannot be
bought in advance; they can only be purchased on board.
Car & Motorcycle
The best way to travel around Botswana is to hire a vehicle. With your own car you can
avoid public transport and organised tours. Remember, however, that distances are long
and we generally recommend that you rent a vehicle outside the country (preferably South
Africa), where the range of choice is greater and prices are generally lower.
You cannot hire motorbikes in Botswana and, unlike Namibia, the terrain is not well
suited to biking. It's also important to note that motorbikes are
not
permitted in national
parks and reserves for safety reasons.
DRIVING LICENCE
Your home driving licence is valid for six months in Botswana, but if it isn't written in
English you must provide a certified translation. In any case, it is advisable to obtain an
International Driving Permit (IDP). Your national automobile association can issue this
and it is valid for 12 months.
FUEL & SPARE PARTS
Fuel is relatively expensive in Botswana - at the time of writing it was P9.15 for petrol,
P9.40 for diesel - but prices vary according to the remoteness of the petrol station. Petrol
