Airfares and flights: Botswana 

International and regional airline access

• Botswana's primary international airports are in Maun (MUB),  Kasane (BBK) and Gabarone (GBE).  
• Best access is from the regional hubs in Johannesburg, Harare, Victoria Falls, Lusaka, Windhoek and Nairobi.
• Victoria Falls is the primary safari hub into Botswana so it's often best to base access decisions into Botswana on the best means of getting in and out of Victoria Falls.  [Go to the Zimbabwe guidelines...]

Domestic hubs in Botswana

Most safaris in Botswana are done on a mobile basis or alternatively on packaged fly-in trips.  So other than planning your safari, it's usually unnecessary to have to deal with domestic flights.

• Maun (MUB) itself is the primary safari hub offering access to the Okavango, Moremi, Kalahari and Chobe.  

• Kasane (BBK) is the main gateway from Victoria Falls into Chobe and serves as important base for charter operations into the safari regions.  

• Gabarone (GBE) whilst having international status is remote from the safari spots and is therefore inconsequential.

• Over two dozen airstrips throughout the Okavango, Moremi, Kalahari and Chobe areas are utilized by safari operators for accessing individual camps.

Airlines and Charters in Botswana

• In October 1999 a disgruntled pilot effectively wrecked Air Botswana's fleet in one foul swoop [photos].  Private charter companies provide reliable services between Maun and Kasane and the outlying safari camps.  
• Any unscheduled flights are arranged on either a seat rate or charter rate (whereby you hire the entire aircraft for a specific leg).  

Alternate travel options in Botswana

Travel by road: 

• Botswana's infrastructure on the ground isn't easy - the roads themselves are mostly long stretches of dirt and once you get into the safari areas they become little more than un-signposted tracks. Some of the best safaris will entail various combinations of vehicle, light aircraft and boat usage in order to complete. 
• If you're undertaking a self-drive safari then make sure that you plan it well in terms of route and season. 
• Coach and bus services provide no access into the main safari destinations.

Rail options in Botswana: 

• Botswana's rail system links Gabarone, Lobatse and Francistown but doesn't serve the safari destinations in any way.  

Additional information on Botswana

• Gather more info about the Okavango, Moremi, Chobe and Kalahari

• Find out more about Botswana's safari season

• Consider a range of safaris in Botswana

• Explore the full display map of Botswana for more detail

• Go to the Zambezi Webguide on Botswana

A guide to flight planning from SafariMall.com

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