E-mail: info(at)botswanasafarilodges.co.za | Call: +27(0)83 3016 774

Botswana Safari Lodges is a proud member of the Beyond African Safari Lodges portfolio.

FQA

Emergency Medical Cover and Travel Insurance

Insurance should cover cancellation of the trip for whatever reason, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, and damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money, or goods. Make sure that you are covered in the event of cancellation due to sickness/death or delayed flights.

It is your responsibility to provide comprehensive insurance for you and any dependents/travel partners.

Ensuring that you and your loved ones are protected is of utmost importance, especially when traveling. It is crucial that you take full responsibility for providing comprehensive insurance for yourself, dependents, or travel partners. This will give you peace of mind and protect you from unforeseen circumstances that may occur. Remember, accidents can happen at any time, pre-departure or during your trip, and it is better to be safe than to forfeit the money paid for your trip.

Take the necessary steps to secure a carefree trip by obtaining the right insurance coverage.

Once the booking has been confirmed the cancellation fees will apply.

Malaria

Malaria can kill quickly, if not diagnosed early enough for treatment. So why take the risk? Consult with your doctor about the best Malaria precautions. You should be on a course of antimalarials a week before departing your hometown, during the trip, and after you return home, for at least a week.

Symptoms of malaria – aches, chills, headaches and fever, muscle pains, and diarrhea. This is followed by breathing problems and eventual organ failure – leading to death, if not treated promptly. Take the right precautions, the risk of infection can be minimised by taking the correct medication.

How soon will a person feel sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito? For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as 7 days or as late as 1 year later. Two kinds of malaria, P. vivax and P. ovale, can occur again (relapsing malaria).

Malaria medication can cause some discomfort and you must make sure that you stay hydrated when taking the medication. The most common adverse reactions reported are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. These side effects can often be lessened by taking atovaquone- proguanil with food. All medicines may have some side effects.

Mosquitoes are active from dusk until dawn, and perhaps even in heavy shade near water. As the sun sets you should be applying mosquito repellant spray or cream to ALL exposed skin surfaces. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, or chinos greatly reduces the areas of attack.

Yellow Fever

This is a disease transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the Yellow Fever virus. Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you are coming from a country where yellow fever occurs. You will need to see your doctor to obtain a vaccination certificate, at least two weeks before you travel. Without a vaccination certificate, you will be refused entry to the country.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes. You can develop this disease if you are bitten by a mosquito infected with this virus. 

What is the best currency to take to Botswana?

Pula is a closed currency so cannot be obtained outside of Botswana. When you go on safari, typically everything will have been paid for already so you just need money for tipping and a few incidentals.

It’s generally best to take USD for this. If you’re combining with South Africa, taking ZAR is also a good idea.

The local currency is Pula. Pula is a closed currency so cannot be obtained outside of Botswana.

Heat & Hydration

The heat in Botswana may be intense, so always make sure you are well hydrated, use sunscreen with a high protection factor, and wear light clothes, a hat, and sunglasses. We know that relaxing next to the sparkling pool in the sun seems enticing, but dehydration/sunstroke can make you feel very ill.

Water Precautions

It is generally safe to drink the tap water in Botswana. When traveling outside the main cities and towns, visitors are recommended to drink bottled water. Bottled water is provided at all lodges and camps, and on all guided safaris. 

If you are on a camping trip, you ought to:

• have enough fresh water for your trip
• have a supply of water sterilization tablets, in case you have miscalculated
• know how to sterilize water, if you have forgotten the tablets

Can we bring food into Botswana? The answer is NO.

Botswana is a serious beef ranching country – and these precautions are to limit any possible contamination reaching areas where there are cattle.

Fresh meat, beef jerky, biltong, fish, cheeses, dairy products, fresh fruit, or vegetables are a no-no and will be confiscated at the entry point. This also applies to vacuum-packed versions of these products.