What budget for activities and outings Botswana?
There are many tour operators in Botswana. Admittedly, their services are more expensive, but they will take care of all the formalities, the guide and the entrance fees, which are included in the price.
Entrance fees to parks and reserves are still affordable, especially for self-drivers going on fully-equipped safaris. Other travellers can use an incoming agency or tour operator to organize all safari logistics, at a higher but all-inclusive price.
All major cities in Botswana have shopping centers and supermarkets. You can easily find basic, local and imported products. Gas stations have their own 24-hour mini-markets.
What budget to eat Botswana?
There are small local restaurants serving Botswana specialities such as seswaa, made from boiled and pounded meat.
What is the budget for accommodation Botswana?
Hotels, bed & breakfasts, lodges, bush camps and campsites - there are many types of accommodation in Botswana. But to each his own, and bush lodges, located in game reserves or neighbouring areas, are not for everyone's pocket. Although they offer daily packages including accommodation, food and activities, with certain exceptions, the prices charged are quite high, depending on the service. However, the range is wide: from US$200 to US$3,000 per person per day! The other, equally costly solution for accommodation in the wilderness is the bush camp, a mobile accommodation and catering facility set up by tour operators. On arrival, the logistics team sets up everything: tents, toilets, showers, tables and chairs for meals cooked on site. You can choose between participative or non-participative camps, which means, as the name implies, that you are involved (or not) in setting up the camp: assembly/disassembly, participation in cooking and tidying up... All styles of camp coexist, from the most rustic to the most luxurious, from the closest to nature to the most sophisticated. The atmosphere and clientele vary, partly according to these criteria, but for all camps, the service is highly professional and meticulous. Accommodation is always very comfortable, and catering is of the highest quality. For experienced self-drivers who travel fully equipped, camping is undoubtedly the least expensive form of accommodation. Camping is available in most tourist centers (Maun, Kasane, Ghanzi, Francistown and even Gaborone), in public reserves and in private or community reserves. In the reserves, entrance fees are added to the price of camping in the strict sense of the term. Camping in public and community reserves is more akin to wilderness camping. Indeed, most camping sites are simply places to pitch a tent, with no infrastructure other than a sign indicating the location. The most popular, such as those at Xakanaxa, Khwai in Moremi, Savute in Chobe or Deception Valley in the Central Kalahari, have functioning sanitary facilities and even showers. The rule is absolute autonomy, including for water and electricity. Most travellers use a tour operator who takes care of everything, from reserving the site and paying park entrance fees to setting up the camp and cooking. All major tourist centers have at least one hotel. Diversity is the hallmark of this category: from large hotels with several hundred rooms to small family-run structures, from very refined, even luxurious, comfort to the most basic. Generally speaking, service is highly professional, bathrooms are clean and functional, and electricity is available at all hours. You'll also find a few guesthouses. Comfort is of a high standard, with a family atmosphere, personalized service and rates that are generally lower than those of larger hotels.
Travel budget Botswana and cost of living
Botswana is an expensive destination, no doubt about it! First of all, the cost of a plane ticket is at least €800 for a round trip from Europe to Johannesburg, and around €1,300 if you're flying to Maun (expect to pay more if you're coming from Quebec). Secondly, Botswana's tourism policy is low volume, high income, low impact. In other words, the government has preferred to encourage expensive tourism in order to limit the volume of visitors and thus reduce the impact on the environment, while ensuring that the activity remains viable. While it's regrettable that the selection process is based on money, it's clear that this policy is effective and that Botswana offers some of the finest safaris, while preserving its natural areas admirably. Here, there are no 4 x 4s around a lion or a rhinoceros, and visitors are totally immersed in nature. This rare privilege, surely the greatest luxury possible these days, has to be earned. Readers can rest assured, however, that it is possible to enjoy a beautiful safari for a "relatively" reasonable budget, provided that comfort is not excessive (a basic camp with a good mattress and a well-balanced but unsophisticated meal). Finally, this high price tag applies above all to the exceptional reserves of northern Botswana: Okavango Delta, Moremi, Chobe, Makgadikgadi Pans and Central Kalahari. Visiting the less sought-after south of the country is more affordable. This is particularly true of the Tuli Block, a pearl still ignored by travellers.
