Botswana has been open to international travelers since December of 2020, and air travel to Gaborone, Kasane and Maun International Airports has resumed. If you are traveling to Botswana, we want to help you understand all of the rapidly changing regulations and protocols in this country as well as in South Africa where many of our guests first enter the African continent through Johannesburg or Cape Town. We assure you, that your safety on safari is our first priority. As you consider your safari plans for the balance of 2021 and beyond, please contact us so that we can help you along the way.

Be sure that as you plan your travel to Botswana, you continue to check the official Center for Disease Control (CDC) website (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-botswana) for updates on the status of COVID-19 in Botswana as well as the key information for remaining safe while in the country.

The website features recommendations for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Some key points to keep in mind at this time are:

• All travelers must present a printed copy of a valid negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) result within 72 hours of departure for Botswana.

• Upon arrival into Botswana, all travelers must take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test, at no cost to the traveler.
All arriving travelers will undergo health screening upon entry.

• Symptomatic individuals upon entry, or who develop COVID-19 after entry, must self-isolate, at their own expense, in a mandated facility, for 10 days with a test in the second half of the isolation period.

• Close contacts with positive COVID-19 patients will be asked to isolate for 14 days.

• Travelers must have a negative PCR test the day before departure to leave Botswana via their international departure flights. Without this, travelers will be denied check-in. Golden Africa will facilitate this test for all guests.

Currently, all passengers returning to the U.S. are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they can board a flight to the U.S. Fully vaccinated people do not need to self-quarantine after returning to the United States, unless required by a state or local jurisdiction. For travelers from other countries, please check your country’s official website.

Given the many changes in travel that have been necessitated by COVID-19, Golden Africa is continuing to update and change our requirements and protocols to ensure our travelers’ safety. We are active managers in the local COVID-19 management organization, Project Sanitise Maun (www.sanitisemaun.com) and are completely up to date on all local regulations; we will keep you continuously informed as we go through the planning process for each safari.

We look forward to welcoming you to Botswana – our commitment to you is that your safety is our priority. Should you have to cancel or postpone your plans due to COVID-19 concerns or circumstances, please see our current COVID Terms and Conditions.