Botswana Immigration Checkpoints

All You Need To Know About Crossing Into Botswana by Car

Some people, especially those coming from neighbouring South Africa, prefer to do self-drive trips into Botswana. This is because they get to see much more along the way, and it’s also a lot cheaper. If you do decide to go down this route, there are some important things to bear in mind, and YourBotswana has compiled them for you!

Things to Consider Before you go on Your Self-Drive Adventure

A 4×4 vehicle is an absolute must because the routes through Botswana can be treacherous. Taking a 4×4 means you’re less likely to break down or get stuck in the middle of nowhere, which you certainly don’t want when you’ve got all sorts of wild animals roaming around. A small car just won’t do.

A visit to your doctor’s for Malaria medications – If you’re heading for Northern Botswana in the high summer season, you need to take Malaria medication well in advance of your trip. It’s always best to take some even after your trip just to be sure. Chances are you won’t contract Malaria, but it’s best to err on the side of caution if you’re travelling to the North of Botswana, which is a high-risk part of the country.

bw-borders

Border Posts – Botswana/South Africa

Place Contact Details Opening Times
Pont Drift (Tuli) PO Box 129, Selebi Phikwe – Tel: +267 264 5260 – Fax: +267 264 5354 07h30 – 16h30
Martin’s Drift PO Box 100, Sherwood – Tel: +267 491 5907 /5913 – Fax: +267 491 5905 06h00 – 22h00
Zanzibar PO Box 122, Tsetsebjwe – Tel: +267 264 6217/263 0012 – Fax: +267 263 0009 07h00 – 18h30
Platjan PO Box 129, Selebi Phikwe – Tel: +267 264 6333 – Fax: +267 264 6375 08h00 – 16h00
Sikwane PO Box 54, Sikwane – Tel:   +267 570 0000 – Fax: +267 577 8209 07h30 – 16h30
Tlokweng P/Bag 00102, Gaborone – Tel: +267 317 800 – Fax: +267 393 1403 06h00 – 00h00
Ramotswa (Bridge) PO Box V118, Ramotswa – Tel: +267 539 0344 – Fax: +267 539 0344 07h00 – 18h00
Pioneer Gate PO Box 211, Lobatse – Tel: +267 533 3992/0387 – Fax: +267 530 1161 06h00 – 00h00
Ramatlabama P/Bag 001, Pitshane – Tel: +267 540 7170/548 6296 – Fax: +267 548 6306 06h00 – 22h00
Phitshane Molopo PO Box 32, Phitshane Molopo – Tel: +267 548 7204 07h30 – 18h00
Hereford/Bray PO Box 103, Werda – Tel: +267 653 0068/9 07h00 – 16h30
Makopong PO Box 164, Werda – Tel: +267 653 0063 – Fax: +267 653 0064 07h30 – 16h30
Bokspits Not provided 08h00 – 16h00
McCarthy Rust/Tshabong P/Bag 10, Tshabong – Tel: +267 653 0056 – Fax: +267 653 0055 08h00 – 18h00
Middlepits P/Bag M10,Tsabong – Tel: +267 653 0060 – Fax: +267 653 0055 08h00 – 16h00
Two Rivers Not provided 07h30 – 16h00
Parr’s Halt Not provided 08h00 – 16h00

Border Posts – Botswana/Namibia

Place Contact Details Opening Times
Mamuno PO Box 69, Charles Hill – Tel: +267 659 2013 – Fax: +267 659 2271 07h00 – 00h00
Ngoma PO Box 346, Kasane – Tel: +267 620 0050 07h00 – 18h00
Mohembo PO Box 197, Shakawe – Tel: +267 687 5505 – Fax: +267 687 5524 06h00 – 18h00

Border Posts – Botswana/Zimbabwe

Place Contact Details Opening Times
Ramokgwebana PO Box 1, Ramokgwebana – Tel: +267 248 9266 – Fax: +267 248 9286 06h00 – 22h00
Maitenngwe PO Box 174, Maitengwe – Tel: +267 248 3275 07h00 – 16h30
Pandamatenga PO Box 95, Kasane – Tel: +267 623 2029 08h00 – 17h00
Matsiloje PO Box 93, Matsiloje – Tel: +267 248 3275 07h00 – 16h30
Kazungula Road PO Box 41, Kasane – Tel: +267 625 0320/1303 – Fax: +267 625 1315 06h00 – 20h00

Border Posts – Botswana/Zambia

Place Contact Details Opening Times
Kazungula Ferry P O Box 41, Kasane – Tel: +267 625 0420 – Fax: +267 625 0192 06h00 – 18h30

Airports

Place Contact Details Opening Times
Sir Seretse Khama Airport P/Bag 00102, Gaborone – Tel: +267 395 3022/364 3190 – Fax: +267 391 2506 06h00 – 22h00
Francistown Airport PO Box 457, Francistown – Tel:   +267 241 2065 – Fax: +267 241 3114 06h00 – 22h00
Kasane Airport PO Box 347, Kasane – Tel: +267 625 0175 06h00 – 18h00
Maun Airport PO Box 219, Maun – Tel: +267 686 0278 – Fax: +267 686 0194 07h30 – 16h30
Jwaneng Airport PO Box 5, Jwaneng – Tel: +267 588 0309 07h00 – 16h30
Selebi Phikwe Airport PO Box 213, Selebi Phikwe – Tel: +267 260 1238 07h30 – 16h30
Sowa Airport P/Bag SOW 55, Sowa Town – Tel: +267 621 3219 – Fax: +267 621 3219 07h30 – 16h30

How Much It Will Cost To Cross Into Botswana

  • Single entry – P50
  • Return trip – P90
  • Road fund tax (disc valid for 1 year must be displayed) – P20
  • Fee per trailer – P20
  • Third-party insurance (valid for 90 days) – P50

*Please re-confirm the fees before you set off! YourBotswana is more than willing to help and will respond to email enquiries.

International driver’s licenses are accepted.

Vehicle registration documents required – If the vehicle you’re driving is yours, you’ll need to show a certified copy of the vehicle registration/vehicle license papers at the border posts. You’ll also need to present a letter from your bank allowing you to take the vehicle across the border. The letter must be also indicate dates.

Hired vehicles (or registered in someone else’s name) – you will need an affidavit from the police in your country of residence giving you permission from the rental company or owner to take the vehicle into Botswana. Both the bank letter and copies of license papers need to have been signed by a Commissioner of Oaths in your country of residence.

You will need a temporary import permit (TIP) to bring a vehicle into Botswana, which you’ll be able to purchase at any border post in Botswana.

Non-residents visiting Botswana from a country outside the Southern African Common Customs Area for a limited period are normally required to produce a carnet, triptyque or bill of entry (any duty liability being secured by bond or cash deposit) in respect of their motor vehicles.

*(Note: The Southern African Common Customs Area comprises Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland and Namibia)

A simplified system involving a Temporary Import Permit is applied to motor vehicles, the bona fide property of a resident of Malawi, Mozambique or Zimbabwe, and a similar system is applied reciprocally between Zambia and Botswana.

No boat, mokoro (dug-out canoe) or aquatic apparatus may be imported into Botswana unless the owner is in possession of an Import Permit issued by Department of Water Affairs.


Do you still have questions? Please refer to the border posts list above for contact details to make further enquiries.

Reference: http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/ports-entry-botswana

7 years ago

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