There are no particular health hazards for tourists in the Gaborone or Serowe areas but there is a risk of malaria in the north, ie the Okavango Delta.  Consult your family doctor for advice on what you need if you plan to visit the north of Botswana.

Botswana is a safe country to visit but, as everywhere, you need to exercise care by not displaying expensive jewellery, not leaving valuables (such as cameras, handbags, laptop computers) in view (eg in cars), not leaving your hire car or hotel room unlocked and not wandering at night.

Make sure you have arranged travel insurance: health care in Botswana is not free for tourists.

Don’t forget to pack your essential medications in your cabin luggage so you can get at them during the flight.

Some people wear special socks on planes to prevent thrombosis.  Your family doctor will be able to advise you on this.

If you have a medical problem whilst you are in Botswana, your hotel will be able to send for a doctor (see 3).

Emergency phone numbers in Botswana:

• • • Police: 999

    • Ambulance: 997

    • Fire Brigade: 998

Our proposals are not strenuous.  You need to be able to walk short distances, wander around museums and markets for a couple of hours and hang on to handrails on bumpy game drives.

Take and wear a sun hat and sun glasses and apply sun cream.  The sun is very powerful.  Carry and sip bottled water.

See also: www.gov.uk/travelaware for useful advice on overseas travel from the UK

You don’t need to take loads of cash.  It’s easy enough to withdraw small amounts at cash machines.  

• Cash is primarily needed for tipping, so getting small bills of 10 or 20 Pula will be most useful

Travellers’ cheques are not needed and may cost more in commission to convert than the charges on your card at cash machines. 

Your credit card will be accepted for most things, so long as your card provider has been notified. 

• Carry a separate note of your debit and credit card contact numbers in case they go astray.