Overview
Botswana is one of Africa's great wilderness destinations, a landlocked country where the Okavango Delta spills into the Kalahari and elephant herds gather in their thousands along the Chobe River. There are no direct flights from the UK to Botswana, so every trip involves one connection, but the journey is straightforward and well served by reliable airlines. Use the price charts on this page to see how current fares are moving before you book.
Best time to fly to Botswana
The dry winter months from May to October are the classic safari season: water sources shrink and wildlife concentrates around the rivers, making game viewing exceptional. Days are warm but desert nights can be cold, so pack layers, and the Okavango floodwaters usually peak between June and August. The green season, November to April, brings heat, afternoon storms, newborn animals and superb birdlife, along with quieter camps and lower prices. The When to book chart above shows how prices shift across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
- Gaborone (GBE): Sir Seretse Khama International, the capital's airport and Botswana's main international gateway.
- Maun (MUB): the busy safari hub on the edge of the Okavango Delta, where light aircraft transfer you to the camps.
- Kasane (BBK): the gateway to Chobe National Park and an easy hop from Victoria Falls.
- Francistown (FRW): the second city in the north east, handy for the eastern reserves.
Airlines and routes
Most UK travellers fly London Heathrow to Johannesburg with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic (around 11 hours), then take a short connecting flight into Gaborone, Maun or Kasane with Airlink or Air Botswana. Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa) and Kenya Airways (via Nairobi) offer one-stop routes to Gaborone, while Emirates, Qatar Airways and KLM connect through Dubai, Doha and Amsterdam to Johannesburg. From Manchester there are no direct services to southern Africa, so expect to route via a Middle East or European hub, with total travel time usually 16 to 19 hours.
Popular places to visit in Botswana
- Okavango Delta: a UNESCO-listed inland delta explored by mokoro dugout canoe and on foot.
- Chobe National Park: famous for enormous elephant herds and sunset boat cruises on the river.
- Makgadikgadi Pans: shimmering salt flats, habituated meerkats and a seasonal zebra migration.
- Moremi Game Reserve: the protected heart of the Delta, superb for big cats and wild dog.
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve: vast, remote desert wilderness known for its black-maned lions.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Botswana
- Travel in the green season (November to April) for the lowest fares and avoid the July to August school holidays, which coincide with peak safari demand.
- Compare a through-fare to Maun or Kasane against a separate UK to Johannesburg ticket plus a regional add-on, which can work out cheaper.
- Stay flexible by a few days and check the price charts on this page, as midweek departures are often better value.
- Book long-haul legs three to six months ahead, especially for dry-season travel when seats on the small safari aircraft fill early.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, though Botswana has been introducing an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), so check the current requirements before you fly; a small tourism levy also applies. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages. The currency is the Botswana pula (BWP). For the best value, book flights a few months in advance and use the When to book chart above to time your purchase.
