Since Botswana lives partly from tourism, there is no visa requirement for a large number of nationalities. Please check the current requirements for your citizenship here:

http://www.gov.bw/Ministries–Authorities/Ministries/Ministry-of-Labour–Home-Affairs-MLHA/Tools–Services/Services–Forms/Requirements-for-VISA-application/ 

Currency:

Botswana’s currency is the pula (the Setswana word for “rain”). One pula is 100 thebe (the Setswana word for “shield”). Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices and authorized hotels.

US dollars, euros, British pounds and the South African rand are accepted at exchange offices and by some restaurants (at a poor rate there).

Banks and payment transactions

There are seven main commercial banks and a number of exchange offices in Botswana. Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Full banking services are available in major cities, although ATMs can be found across the country. Most credit cards are accepted in hotels and restaurants. Cultural sites and community art and craft businesses usually only accept cash.

Public transport in Botswana caters to the needs of the local population and is limited to the main roads between the major population centers. Although cheap and reliable, it is of little use to the traveler as most of Botswana’s attractions are off the beaten path.

Even main roads in Botswana can only be driven with correctly equipped 4 × 4 vehicles. Most lodges offer transfers or they can be arranged. If you would like to drive yourself in Botswana, your national driver’s license will be accepted (with an official English translation if necessary). Driving is on the left side of the road and the national speed limit on tarred roads is 120 km / h and 60 km / h in towns and villages.

Wild animals can cross the streets at any time.

There are international airports in Maun, Kasane, and Gaborone, while smaller charter flights are used to reach the other top attractions and camps.

Malaria 

Botswana is a malaria risk area. Anti-malarial drugs are a must – you should consult your doctor in this regard. Anti-malarial medication should be taken at least a week before you travel. Precautions, like wearing long sleeved shirts and jeans in the evenings, reduce your chances of getting mosquito bites. Pack mosquito repellent cream or spray and spread it on your hands, face and neck. This will help prevent mosquito bites. As in many places in Africa, many people in Botswana get the disease every year. However, malaria is more common in rural areas where populations live close together. A mosquito needs to drink the blood of someone who has the virus in their bloodstream, before they become carriers and pass the virus on to other people. The lodges in the safari areas of Botswana are on the one hand in remote locations and on the other hand they are small with very few people – the chances of being infected by a mosquito are therefore limited. 

However, that does not mean that no precautions should be taken

Yellow fever 

You must be vaccinated against this disease at least 10 days before leaving for southern Africa. At the time of your vaccination, you will be issued with a yellow fever certificate that you should keep with all of your other travel documents. You have to show your yellow fever certificate at every border control. If you do not get your vaccination no later than 10 days before departure or if you do not have your certificate, you could be refused entry into the country.  

This is true for most of the countries in Africa. 

Tsetse fly and sleeping sickness

The Botswana government undertook a project to rid the country of the sleeping sickness transmitted by the tsetse fly. Not only is sleeping sickness a threat to humans, it has been fatal to cattle, putting the country’s lucrative beef industry at risk. 

Take normal precautions as you would in other countries around the world. Keep a close eye on your handbags, wallets and cameras at all times. Avoid walking at night and use hotel-recommended, reliable taxis. Use the safe boxes of the hotels or lodges for your valuables and only carry as much cash with you as is necessary. Wear as little jewelry as possible, if at all, and never leave valuables in hotel rooms or in an unattended vehicle. Overall, Kenya is a safe African country.

Nairobi has some of the best restaurants in Africa. From fast food to upscale modern cuisine, there are many different cuisines and restaurants on offer. Many five star hotels have excellent restaurants. Restaurants are called “hotels” and there are plenty of them in Nairobi. 

It is well worth trying the local dishes, such as pilau, a chicken and rice dish, cabbage and rice, as well as the staple food Kenya Ugali, which is made from cornmeal. 

Many restaurants can be found in the city center and in the Westlands and Hurlingham areas, which areas are highly frequented by tourists. Among the many cuisines there are Indian, Brazilian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, German and French restaurants. Fast food restaurants, especially those from the South African chains (Steers or Nandos), are widespread in the larger urban areas. 

Bottled water is advisable for the first few weeks of your stay. When buying bottled water, make sure that the bottle is sealed. Never drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected (e.g. with iodine tablets). Never drink from streams, rivers and lakes, and avoid drinking from pumps or fountains. Some offer pure water, but it can be contaminated by animals. Except in upscale hotels and restaurants, you should avoid ice cubes, washed vegetables or fruit. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Food from unlicensed suppliers should be avoided at all times.

Kenya is located on the equator and has a pleasant tropical climate, whereby there are location-dependent temperature fluctuations that are triggered by several factors, such as altitude. The temperatures fluctuate around 6 ° C per 1000m altitude. Kenya’s daytime temperatures range between 20 ° C and 28 ° C, with the coast being warmer. The coast is hot and humid all year round, the heat is pleasant and is tempered by the monsoon winds. Kenya is too close to the equator to have a real winter and summer.

Comfortable, light and casual clothing is the best choice for a safari. It can get quite cool in the early morning hours, so you should wear warmer clothing until the air warms up in the sun. “Kenya Convertibles” are khaki pants with zip-off legs and are perfect for cool early morning game drives. Walking shorts, long pants, cotton shirts and T-shirts are just the thing. A cotton bush jacket or windbreaker, as well as a warm sweater or fleece jacket, is useful on cool nights. Headgear should also be part of the standard. 

Most safaris don’t have many hiking or walking routes, so a comfortable pair of hiking or tennis shoes and a pair of sandals should be sufficient. 

In Kenya’s major cities, the dress code is conservative but not overly formal. Jeans and appropriate tops for women are fine. Bathing suits are acceptable on the beach, but keep a low profile in public places.