Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
parties agree - you can exchange names and addresses and sort it out later through your
insurance companies.
» In theory, owners are responsible for keeping their livestock off the road, but in practice
animals wander wherever they want. If you hit a domestic animal, your distress (and pos-
sible vehicle damage) will be compounded by trying to find the owner and the red tape in-
volved when filing a claim.
» Wild animals, including elephants and the estimated three million wild donkeys in Bot-
swana, are a hazard, even along the highways. The Maun-Nata and Nata-Kasane roads
are frequently traversed by elephants. The chances of hitting a wild or domestic animal
are far, far greater after dark, so driving at night is definitely not recommended.
» One common, but minor, annoyance are the so-called 'buffalo fences' (officially called
Veterinary Cordon Fences). These are set up to stop the spread of disease from wild anim-
als to livestock. In most cases your vehicle may be searched (they're looking for fresh
meat or dairy products) and you may have to walk (and put additional pairs of shoes)
through a soda solution and drive your car through soda-treated water.
Hitching
Hitching in Botswana is an accepted way to get around, given that public transport is
sometimes erratic, or nonexistent, in remote areas. Travellers who decide to hitch,
however, should understand that they are taking a small but potentially serious risk.
People who do choose to hitch will be safer if they travel in pairs and let someone know
where they are planning to go.
The equivalent of a bus fare will frequently be requested in exchange for a lift, but to
prevent uncomfortable situations at the end of the ride, determine a price before climbing
in.
It is totally inadvisable to hitch along the backroads, for example through the Tuli
Block or from Maun to Kasane through Chobe National Park. This is because traffic along
these roads is virtually nonexistent; in fact, vehicles may only come past a few times a
day, leaving the hopeful hitchhiker at risk of exposure or, even worse, running out of wa-
ter. One way to circumvent this problem is to arrange a lift in advance at a nearby lodge.
Local Transport
Public transport in Botswana is geared towards the needs of the local populace and is con-
fined to main roads between major population centres. Although cheap and reliable, it is
