Transportation in Botswana
The capital city of Gaborone is small and getting from one end to the other is as easy as taking a short walk. The railway station lies in the north, while the bus station is in the south. The airport is located outside of town to the south east and will require visitors to hire a taxi or a rental car. Public transport is not available to and from the airport.
Safari holidays in Botswana often entail travelling by a combination of modes of transport. So prepare to explore by boat, land and light aircraft.
This Botswana Transportation Guide gives an indication of how to get to and from Botswana, and also how to get around within the country. Use it in conjunction with our Botswana Tours page in order to get the most out of your trip to Botswana. More specific city information can be found in our various destination sites around the country:
Botswana Transportation Guide
Getting to Botswana
By Air
Gaborone International Airport is Botswana's premier airport; receiving flights from many airports around the world. Domestic Botswanian airlines also fly in and out of Gaborone Airport. There are flights operated by Air Botswana everyday between Gaborone and Francistown. The one-hour journey will set you back just $85 each way. Ticketing offices for the airline are present at the airport as well as at the Cresta Thapama Lodge (Blue Jacket Street) in the town centre.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.
By Train
Botswana's rail network extends along its eastern side and connects Ramokgwebane in the northeast with the southern town of Ramtlabama. There are trains running daily between Francistown and Gaborone at 10 am. On Fridays, the trains leave at 8 am and 2.30 pm. Tickets by first class cost 35 Pula one way and second class tickets cost 20 Pula. The night train takes nine hours to get you from Francistown to Gaborone but also goes beyond to southern Lobatse. Tickets by this train are more expensive than the day train and will cost 120 Pula by first class, 100 Pula by second class and 25 Pula by third class. Be sure to check the current rail schedule as it is subject to change.
By Bus
Gaborone is about 433 km from Francistown, 492 km from Maun and 490 km from Kasane. There are regular minibus and bus services serving these routes in the morning. However, be cautioned that if there aren't enough people to load the bus up to capacity, services may be cancelled.
The bus station is close to the main railway line in the south of the city of Gaborone. Try and reach there by 9 am to ensure you get to the destination of your choice on the day you want too!
Bus schedules tend to follow the pattern mentioned below, but do enquire to reconfirm once you arrive.
To Gaborone - A minimum of one service runs every day - if demand exists, as many as 5 services may run. Tickets cost 35 Pula.
To Kasane - There are buses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. A combie transfer is available on this route daily but may not be as comfortable and tends to be crowded. It will cost about P 45.
To Maun - Buses run almost hourly on this route until early afternoon. Tickets run to P 45.
To Bulawayo and Harare - Services on this sector are not very regular, so check once you arrive.
By Water
A car ferry service connects Botswana to Zambia on the Zambezi River.
Getting Around Botswana
Airlines usually fly in to Maun from Harare and Johannesburg though there are some services that arrive at other locations like Victoria Falls, Dar-es-Salaam, Lusaka and Lilongwe, from where you can make your way into Gaborone by road or train. Taking a small aircraft charter is a popular means of getting around Botswana and many travellers on safari here will end up taking one of these light aircraft flights at some point in their journey. The local hubs are Kasane and Maun and a lot of camps and lodges have their own private landing strips.
By Road
Safari holidays in Botswana often entail travelling by a combination of modes of transport. So prepare to explore by boat, land and light aircraft. If you plan to go it alone on a self-drive safari, be sure you have routes well mapped out and are aware of constraints in areas where your vehicle may not be able to go.
Car Hire
Larger towns and cities in Botswana are connected by a well maintained road network. However, getting around by car in Botswana isn't always the best choice for a traveller. National parks and game reserves tend to be off-road territory and there are some places even your 4x4 may not be able to get you! Also, keep in mind that a lot of the land you may drive through might be arid desert land and won't be much fun. Add to that the restrictions placed by law on the number of vehicles and visitors in a park at any given time and you have quite a challenge planning a self-drive trip.
By Train
Botswana's train network is slow but presents an interesting way to explore the country. If you're lucky you'll find a carriage that's empty and your journey should be quite pleasant. If not, prepare to crowd in!
Trains run between Gaborone, Palapye, Lobatse and Francistown. Buses tend to be quite unreliable, so if you prefer using public transport, trains are the way to go.
By Taxi
Taxis are available in limited numbers in Francistown and Gaborone but most towns are small enough to be explored on foot. Shared taxi services are common.
