Safety Tips in Botswana

Malaria is a big problem in Africa. As northern Botswana lies in the high risk zone we decided to take anti-malaria tablets. We choose malarone recommended to us by our doctor. We had to start taking a tablet every 24 hours one day before entering the malaria zone and continue until one week after leaving it. Luckily, we didn't feel any side effects.
Actually, I didn't see a single mosquito, but we were there in a dry season. In spite of that, just to be on the safe side, I would take it again if I were to travel to any malaria zone.

I am not accusing anyone, but I have no doubt more than one VT Member has stolen hotel towels at some time in their travels. Well, don’t do it here! I first noticed this in the capital Gaborone. Hotels in Botswana embroider their towels with the name of the accommodation and the telephone number. You really don’t want to get involved with the police here and you certainly don’t want something on you that says “I HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE ..... HOTEL”. I was threatened with jail and a fine when I drove to the police Station to report I hit a fence with my car. What do you think they would do with a real crime and criminal?

Don’t do it here. I suggest you try another country if you really need some free towels.

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Botswana has a lot of ‘roads’ that are actually just sand. You can drive a 2 wheel drive car through almost all of Botswana, but avoid sand roads. You have to maintain at least a 40km per hour speed to push through and you are just asking for trouble. I got stuck twice (pictured) and had to be towed out twice. It could be very dangerous in remote areas. If you really want to get off road – hire a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

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Make sure to go all the way to Kasane and DON'T stop your journey at the border. Ngoma border is close to a game reserve and it's nothing there. No people lives in this area. It's not allowed to walk in the game reserve due to the wild animals. And the road is closed at night.

My taxi driver from Namibia had forgotten his passport and couldn't drive in Botswana. So I had to go off at the border. Thought it wouldn't be so difficult to take a taxi or bus from the Botswana border. But there were nobody here except for some dutch speaking people with 3-4 safari cars. I think they were in family because one guy had his mother in the other car. I kindly asked to pay for a ride to Kasane, but they refused (August 1, 2009). Thanks for a truck-driver who was stuck at the customs on the Botswana side. The south-African driver didn't have enough money to cross Botswana with his truck, so I paid the 200 Pula and joined his truck to Kasane.

If you are camping in a game reserve such as Moremi or Chobe, do NOT sleep in the open curled up only in a sleeping bag. If lion or hyenas are around, you may find yourself being dragged off into the bushes - never to see dawn again!

Camp fires do NOT frighten lion or hyena away. Make sure that you sleep inside a tent with no portion of your body protruding. You will lose a toe or foot; or perhaps even more.

On many nights we awoke with hyenas sniffing against the tent. It was on such occasions that I was deeply thankful I was INSIDE the tent!

There are no fuel supplies available in Moremi. The nearest fuel and garage facilities are in Maun, about 100km from Moremi. If you are travelling 4WD it is always a good idea to carry spare fuel (but never inside the vehicle).

There is a risk of malaria in Northern Botswana, this includes the Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe. The predominant species is Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most dangerous of the four species of human malaria.

Chloroquine is not effective in Botswana. Consider one of the following antimalarial drugs: atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine.

Visit your health care provider 4-6 weeks before travelling to Botswana for any necessary vaccinations and a prescription for an antimalarial drug.

Use DEET insect repellent on exposed skin and flying insect spray in the room where you sleep.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, particularly at dusk and dawn.

Sleep under a mosquito net.

I would like to Bring to the attention of the Self Driving people that the Police fines being handed out in Botswana has gone up Insanely!. I would recommend that you take extreme care to avoid buggering up your holidays due to unnecessary fines. A sample of the fine is attached.

1) Exceeding Speed Limits P3000-P5000 or 18-2Yrs in Prison
2) Drunken Driving P5000-P10 000 2 to 5 Yrs in Prison
3) Dangerous / Reckless Driving P 2000-P10 000
4) Failure TO Obey police Instructions P 1000- P5000
5) Improper Vehicle Condition P 1000- P 10 000

Oh yes and if you a foreigner be expected to be treated specially ! ( if you know what I mean).