General Information

Weather and Climate

Summer in Botswana is from November to March. There is always a possibility of rain in the summer, especially in December, January and February. It can get cold when it rains. The summer temperatures during the day vary from 30C°/86F° to 38C°/100.4F° sometimes higher and at night the temperature is usually approximately 18C°/64.4F° to 20C°/68F° in summer. Spring is from September to October. The day time temperatures are much the same as summer. However the evenings can range from approximately 14C°/57.2F° to 18C°/64.4F°. The fall/winter months are May, June, July and August. The temperatures are warm in the day usually ranging from 20C°/68F° to 25C°/77F° and cold at night sometimes dropping below freezing. The dry season is generally March to October.

Health & Vaccinations

Tholo Safaris Private Ranch is located in a low to no risk malaria area. Some of our Big Game hunting blocks are located within malaria areas where precaution must be taken. Please consult a health care professional to get sound advice before you travel. Have a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling from areas infected with Yellow Fever. Sometimes a tetanus vaccination maybe recommended. Please consult your doctor for sound professional advice.

Electricity

Power supply is 220/240 Volt. Most outlets are round 2 or 3 pole 15 amp plugs, Type M sockets. We recommend you come prepared with the correct adapters or converters to charge your equipment/cameras/cellphones.

Visas/ Passports

Please consult your travel agent regarding visa requirements and/or check on the Botswana Embassy website for more information well in advance. USA, Canada & UK do not need visas for Botswana.

Currency

Botswana’s currency is the Pula (BWP). Pula means “rain”. When traveling, be sure to have cash in a variety of bill sizes as sometimes getting change can be a problem at some places. We at Tholo Safaris accept USD, but many places such as shops and the airport may not. However, shops and restaurants at the Maun airport normally accept visa or master cards.

Packing List

  • Sunscreen, a hat or cap and sunglasses
  • Buff or face mask (wind/sun protection) and/ or beanie
  • A good pair of Binoculars and a Range finder if bow hunting
  • A flashlight or a headlamp
  • Good ear protection accessories (if rifle hunting)
  • Comfortable hiking/walking boots or trainers (terrain varies from sandy to rocky areas)
  • A warm outdoor sports/hunting jacket (cold on back of vehicle- wind resistant jacket needed)
  • Comfortable outdoor t-shirts or shirts
  • Dressing in layers is the best way to handle the temperature changes throughout the day
  • Outdoor hiking shorts (please note the Kalahari has many thorn bushes)
  • Long comfortable hunting/hiking pants (May/June/July/August can get cold)
  • A sweater or jersey
  • Casual comfortable clothes and shoes for relaxing in the evenings and travel days -Khaki, olive green, stone, browns or natural bush colours are advised to be best
  • Camouflage clothing is allowed on Tholo Safaris property and in Botswana
  • Personal toiletries, personal medications and basic personal first aid items

Rifle Hire

Tholo Safaris offers all clients the option to rent suitable rifles for the specific species that you will be hunting.

Traveling with firearms

A maximum of three firearms are allowed into Botswana: either two shotguns and one rifle /or/ two rifles and one shotgun. VAT is charged on ammunition upon entry into Botswana. A maximum of 100 rounds per firearm is allowed.
When traveling with firearms and ammunition you are required to pack them separately in lockable cases.
In Botswana it usually takes up to three weeks or longer to obtain a firearm permit from the time a request is submitted. Therefore if a guest would like to bring his/her own firearm it is important to organize this well in advance.

The above information/requirements are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you find out about the firearm regulations for your specific travels as airlines rules may differ.

Bow Hunting

Tholo Safaris offers walk and stalk bow hunting and also offers strategically placed blinds for bow hunters all over the property. We recommend that all bow hunters come well prepared, with accessories and spares that they may need, as Botswana does not offer much in regards to bow hunting supplies.

Contact us to book your next safari!

Tholo Safaris

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