Air Travel in Botswana
Currently there
is no non-stop or direct service between North America and Botswana.
The national airline, Air
Botswana (BP), provides international air services into Botswana
(Gaborone, Kasane, Maun and Francistown) from Harare (Zimbabwe) and
Johannesburg, South Africa.
The most convenient
route from the USA is via the primary connecting gateway into Botswana
- Johannesburg, South Africa.
Daily air service
from the U.S.A. is offered by South
African Airways via Johannesburg, South Africa through its gateway
airports in Washington, DC (IAD) and New York City (JFK). South African
Express provides frequent daily service between Johannesburg and Gaborone,
Botswana.
Delta
Airlines also offers direct service into Johannesburg from Atlanta
(HAR) and New York City (JFK).
Approximate Flight
Times
Flight times vary depending upon U.S. gateway (New York, Atlanta, or
Washington, D.C.) and final destination of Gaborone. At present, minimum
elapsed travel time from U.S.A. gateway to Gaborone, including stopovers
and connections, range from 21 - 24 hours, but can be longer depending
upon connections.
Flying Within
Botswana
Major
areas of Botswana are linked by air. The main airports are Sir Seretse
Khama International (GBE) and Maun International Airport (MUB).
- Sir Seretse
Khama International (GBE) is 15km (9 miles) northwest of Gaborone. To/from the airport: There are no regular bus services to and
from the airport but several hotels run combis (minibuses or vans).
Taxis are available to the city center (travel time is approx. 15
minutes). Facilities: Luggage storage, luggage shrink wrap,
banks, bar, snack bar, restaurant, post office, duty-free shops and
car hire.
- Maun International
Airport (MUB) receives direct flights from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town and Windhoek.
This gateway airport to the Okavango Delta serves a huge tourist market.
It is served by Air Botswana, Air Namibia and several charters. To/from
the airport: The city centre is less than 1km (0.6 mile) walk.
Taxis and shuttles are available. Facilities: Car hire and
lounge with Internet and Wi-Fi.
Other airports are
in Francistown, Ghanzi, Jwaneny, Kasane, Pont Drift and Selebi-Phikwe.
The national carrier,
Air Botswana, operates scheduled domestic flights from Gaborone to several destinations, including Francistown, Maun,
and Kasane while numerous other carriers operate services to the capital and private
operators maintain links to a variety of tourist destinations. Click
here to see Air Botswana's domestic flights working timetable.
The air charter
industry is well developed in Botswana, offering flights to the national
airport network as well as private destinations. Many visitors use charter
companies based in Maun to fly to the various lodges in Botswana. These
include Delta
Air, Mack Air, Moremi Air Services,
Northern Air, Sefofane,
Wildlife Helicopters and Kalahari
Air Services.
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