Travel Access: Botswana is among 54 African countries whose citizens can apply online for a Bahrain eVisa, avoiding an embassy visit. Okavango Opening: Kanana Nyana has welcomed its first guests in the Delta. The intimate new Ker & Downey camp has four safari suites beside the Xudum Channel. Passport Fees: New Botswana passport charges take effect November 1: P400 for an ordinary passport, P200 for children under 16 and P100 for an emergency travel document; replacing a lost, stolen or soiled e-passport costs P2,000. San Land Rights: A government roadmap could give San communities legally protected rights in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and a role in conservation, though the sharing of tourism revenue remains unresolved. Conservation Travel: Botswana and partners in the five-country KAZA conservation area reaffirmed efforts to connect wildlife habitats while supporting communities living alongside wildlife.
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Okavango Opening: Kanana Nyana, a new four-suite safari camp, has welcomed its first guests in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, with an intimate forest setting beside the Xudum Channel. Travel Costs: From 1 November, Botswana’s ordinary passport will cost P400, a child’s passport P200 and an emergency travel document P100; replacing a lost, stolen or damaged e-passport will cost P2,000. San Land Rights: Government has approved a roadmap that could restore Indigenous San communities’ rights in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Their role in managing conservation and sharing tourism revenue remains unresolved. Diaspora Tourism: The Botswana Association in the US wants to mobilise its members to promote tourism, investment and cultural preservation at home. US Travel: Botswana is among countries whose citizens face a bond of up to US$20,000 when applying for certain US visitor visas; consular officers set the amount.
Okavango Opening: Kanana Nyana, a new four-suite safari camp by Ker & Downey, has welcomed its first guests beneath the forest canopy beside the Xudum Channel in the Delta. Travel Costs: Botswana’s revised passport fees take effect on November 1: an ordinary passport will cost P400, a child’s P200, and a replacement e-passport P2,000. Regional Tourism: Botswana was South Africa’s fifth-largest source of overnight visitors in September, with 38,672 arrivals, according to Statistics South Africa. Conservation: IFAW and the KAZA secretariat reaffirmed plans to connect wildlife habitats across Botswana and four neighbouring countries, supporting the landscapes that draw safari visitors. Diaspora Links: The Botswana Association in the US says it aims to mobilise its 500 members to promote tourism, investment and cultural ties with home.
Okavango Opening: Ker & Downey’s new Kanana Nyana camp has welcomed its first guests in the Okavango Delta. The intimate forested camp has four safari suites and views of the Xudum Channel. Travel Costs: Botswana’s revised passport fees take effect on 1 November. An ordinary passport will cost P400, a child’s P200 and an emergency travel document P100. Regional Tourism: South Africa received 38,672 overnight visitors from Botswana in September, making Botswana its fifth-largest source market, according to new figures. Conservation Landscape: IFAW and the KAZA conservation area reaffirmed their partnership to connect wildlife habitats across five countries, including Botswana—work that helps sustain the region’s safari landscapes.
Passport Costs: Botswana’s revised passport fees take effect November 1: an ordinary passport will cost P400, a child’s P200 and an emergency travel document P100. Replacing a lost, stolen or soiled e-passport will cost P2,000. Wildlife Tourism: IFAW and the five-country KAZA conservation area are advancing connected habitats and community-friendly wildlife protection across a region home to about 228,000 elephants—an important foundation for cross-border safari tourism. Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings and filmmaker workshops to Rietfontein and Andriesvale in October, drawing at least 600 residents and showcasing rural cultural experiences. Travel Alert: Botswana passport holders seeking US visitor visas are subject to a bond of up to $20,000, depending on the consular officer’s decision.
Travel Costs: Botswana’s revised passport fees take effect on 1 November. Ordinary passports will cost P400, children’s passports P200 and emergency travel documents P100; replacing a lost, stolen or soiled e-passport will cost P2,000. Wildlife Conservation: Botswana and the KAZA conservation partnership reaffirmed plans to connect habitats across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, supporting wildlife movement and communities across the region. Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings and industry events to Rietfontein and Andriesvale from 12 to 18 October, drawing at least 600 residents and putting rural Kalahari communities in the spotlight.
US Travel: Botswana is among 50 countries whose citizens may be required to post a $10,000–$20,000 bond for a US visitor visa; consular officers set the amount for eligible applicants. KAZA Conservation: IFAW and the Kavango-Zambezi conservation area reaffirmed plans to connect wildlife habitats across five countries, including Botswana, while supporting communities living alongside wildlife. Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings and filmmaker training to Rietfontein and nearby Andriesvale, drawing at least 600 residents and showcasing the region as a destination for cultural experiences.
Wildlife: A Botswana study of two matriarchs found elephants sleep for just two hours a day on average, and can stay awake for up to two days when danger is near — a striking insight for safari-goers. Adventure Travel: Women are increasingly taking on remote trips and safaris solo; one traveller recalls making friends while camping in the Botswana bush. Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings, filmmaker training and debate to Rietfontein from October 12–18, drawing at least 600 people and extending its reach to Andriesvale. Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including honours for its conference and events offering and city business hospitality.
Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings and filmmaker training to Rietfontein and Andriesvale from October 12–18, drawing at least 600 residents and spotlighting cultural experiences beyond Botswana’s main centres. Regional Travel: Eswatini and Lesotho parliamentarians have urged the three countries to explore easier movement for their citizens, a proposal that could simplify cross-border trips to and from Botswana. Hospitality: Gaborone’s Hotel 4:30 won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Botswana’s Luxury Conference and Event Hotel and Luxury City Business Hotel. Chobe Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting its Zambezi Queen journeys on the Chobe River as a distinctive option for travellers seeking an experience beyond traditional river-cruise routes.
Kalahari Culture: The Africa Human Rights Film Festival brought screenings and filmmaker training to Rietfontein and Andriesvale, drawing at least 600 residents and showcasing the Kalahari as a destination for cultural experiences. Chobe Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting trips on the Chobe River aboard the Zambezi Queen, with options to extend stays in Namibia. Safari Stays: A new guide to wildlife lodges spotlights Xigera in the Okavango Delta, where guests can reach the lodge by plane and boat or vehicle, with wildlife and wetlands on its doorstep. Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 earned three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Botswana’s Luxury Conference and Event Hotel. Regional Road Access: Zimbabwe’s badly damaged Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road is disrupting tourism; some visitors are routing through Botswana, and Rovos Rail guests had to be flown to Victoria Falls.
Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 has won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Luxury Conference and Event Hotel in Botswana. Regional Access: Eswatini and Lesotho parliamentarians want Botswana to explore easier cross-border travel, though no changes have been announced. Safari Stays: Xigera Safari Lodge in the Okavango Delta is featured among standout wildlife lodges, with access by air from Maun followed by road or boat transfer. Victoria Falls Route: A badly deteriorated road is pushing some visitors to reach Victoria Falls via Botswana, highlighting the route’s growing travel impact. River Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting Chobe River trips aboard the Zambezi Queen as an option for travellers seeking an experiential holiday. Visa-free Travel: Botswana citizens are among those eligible to visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days.
Hospitality: Gaborone’s Hotel 4:30 won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Botswana’s Luxury Conference and Event Hotel and Luxury City Business Hotel. Safari Stays: Xigera Safari Lodge in the Okavango Delta pairs wildlife-rich surroundings with art-filled suites; getting there involves a flight from Maun and a vehicle or boat transfer. River Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting trips on the Chobe River and the Zambezi Queen, with Namibia extensions also on offer. Travel Access: Botswana passport holders are among those eligible for visa-free visits to Hong Kong for up to 90 days. Regional Routes: Victoria Falls visitors are reportedly travelling via Botswana to avoid Zimbabwe’s badly damaged Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road, which has made the journey far longer and forced some rail tourists to fly.
Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Luxury Conference and Event Hotel in Botswana and Luxury City Business Hotel. Travel Access: Botswana is among the countries whose citizens can visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days, subject to entry requirements. Chobe Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting trips on the Chobe River aboard the Zambezi Queen as an option for travellers seeking more unusual river journeys. Regional Routes: Zimbabwe’s deteriorating Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road is pushing some visitors to travel via Botswana; luxury Rovos Rail passengers had to be flown to Victoria Falls after the road became too dangerous. Okavango Stays: Xigera Safari Lodge in Moremi Game Reserve offers art-filled suites amid the Delta’s wetlands, with access via a flight from Maun and onward transfers.
Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 has won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Luxury Conference and Event Hotel in Botswana and Luxury City Business Hotel in Botswana. Chobe Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting the Zambezi Queen on the Chobe River as an experiential holiday, with the option to extend a trip in Namibia. Regional Access: Poor conditions on Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road are stretching a five-hour drive to as long as 15 hours; some visitors are routing through Botswana, while rail tourists have had to fly to Victoria Falls. Okavango Update: andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge is set to undergo renovation. Travel Access: Botswana citizens are among those eligible for visa-free stays of up to 90 days in Hong Kong, subject to entry requirements. Business Tourism: Francistown is looking to its national business conference to attract investment and support local hotels, transport and other businesses through delegate spending.
Gaborone Hospitality: Hotel 4:30 has won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Botswana’s Luxury Conference and Event Hotel and Luxury City Business Hotel. Okavango Stays: Xigera Safari Lodge in Moremi is featured among standout wildlife lodges, while andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge is set for renovation. River Journeys: AmaWaterways is promoting Chobe River cruises aboard the Zambezi Queen as an off-the-beaten-path holiday, with options to extend stays in Namibia. Regional Access: The deteriorating Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road is disrupting visitor journeys; some travellers are routing through Botswana to reach the falls.
Hospitality: Gaborone’s Hotel 4:30 has won three 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, including Botswana’s Luxury Conference and Event Hotel and Luxury City Business Hotel. Chobe Cruises: AmaWaterways is promoting the Chobe River and Zambezi Queen as distinctive options for travellers seeking an African river cruise. Cross-Border Travel: Botswana passport holders are among the nationalities eligible for visa-free visits of up to 90 days to Hong Kong, subject to entry requirements. Victoria Falls Access: Severe damage to Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road is disrupting journeys, with some visitors reportedly travelling via Botswana to avoid the route. Safari Planning: A guide to African safari choices highlights Botswana’s remote waterways; meanwhile, Kruger National Park’s entry fees rise from 1 November, with SADC rates set at R296 per adult and R147 per child.
River Cruising: AmaWaterways is promoting the Chobe River and its Zambezi Queen cruise as distinctive holiday options, with new 2027 journeys and expanded pre- and post-cruise stays. Travel Access: Botswana citizens are among those eligible for visa-free visits of up to 90 days in Hong Kong; travellers need a valid passport, onward or return ticket and proof of funds. Francistown Events: A national business conference is expected to bring delegates and spending to the city, supporting hotels, transport, restaurants and other local businesses. Safari Planning: Kruger National Park entry fees rise on 1 November. Botswana visitors pay the SADC rate, increasing to R296 per adult from R275. Okavango Stay: Xigera Safari Lodge in Moremi Game Reserve is highlighted among standout wildlife stays, with wetland surroundings, art by African artists and access by light aircraft from Maun.
Travel Access: Hong Kong’s visa-free list includes Botswana, allowing citizens to visit for up to 90 days. Okavango Stays: Xigera Safari Lodge in Moremi Reserve is highlighted for its art-filled suites and wildlife-rich wetland setting; andBeyond’s Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge is also set for renovation. Regional Travel Costs: Kruger National Park entry fees rise on 1 November. Botswana visitors fall under the SADC tariff, which increases to R296 per adult and R147 per child.
Okavango Lodge Spotlight: Xigera Safari Lodge in Moremi is featured among standout wildlife stays, with art-filled suites set amid wetlands and woodland where elephants, lions, leopards and wild dogs roam. Francistown Tourism: A national business conference is expected to boost local hotels, transport and restaurants as delegates gather to discuss investment and economic growth. Regional Travel: Zimbabwe’s tourism minister has promoted the KAZA UniVisa as a way to make cross-border travel easier across the Kavango-Zambezi conservation area, which includes Botswana. Safari Costs: Kruger entry fees rise on November 1; Botswana visitors, covered by the SADC rate, will pay R296 per adult, up from R275. Okavango Update: andBeyond’s Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge is set for renovation.
Safari Planning: Go2Africa’s 2027 outlook points to immersive, low-density and conservation-focused trips, while safari guides stress following safety rules and respecting wildlife. Okavango Lodge: andBeyond Xaranna is being rebuilt and is set to reopen in August 2027, with a redesigned guest experience in its 90,500-hectare concession. Francistown Events: A national business conference is expected to bring delegates and spending to the city’s hotels, transport and other local services. Regional Travel: Kruger National Park entry fees rise on 1 November; Botswana visitors, covered by the SADC tariff, will pay R296 per adult, up from R275.
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