Botswana
Travel Destination – Botswana
Botswana is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, from the vast savannahs of the Kalahari to the water-filled channels of the Okavango Delta. Spectacular safari experiences and encounters with elephants, lions, and other iconic species make it an awe inspiring experience. Preparing for travel enhances both comfort and safety, incorporating health precautions and safe safari practices.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
For a safe trip to Botswana, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is highly recommended. They can create a personalised health plan for your visit, whether you’ll be on safari in Chobe National Park, exploring the Okavango Delta, or visiting rural communities. Your vaccination history will be reviewed, additional vaccines may be recommended, and prescriptions for necessary medications will be provided. Aim to see your doctor six to eight weeks before departure for multi-dose vaccines, but even last-minute consultations are valuable for essential health advice and accelerated vaccination schedules.
Insect avoidance
In Botswana, diseases can be spread through insects such as mosquitoes that can transmit Malaria and Dengue, and tsetse flies which can carry African sleeping sickness. Effective bite prevention includes staying in screened or air-conditioned rooms, and using a permethrin-treated bed net when this isn’t possible. When outdoors, wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants, and apply repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Treating clothing with permethrin and avoiding areas with thick vegetation where tsetse flies may be active can further reduce risk. Limiting standing water near campsites also helps minimise mosquito breeding.
Food and water hygiene
Safe eating habits are key to avoiding gastroenteritis and other gastrointestinal illnesses when eating the range of traditional and modern food offered by Botswana. Always clean your hands before meals, either with soap and water or hand sanitiser. Consume food that is cooked fresh, served hot, and well-cooked, and avoid raw or reheated options. Peelable fruits tend to be safer choices, such as mangos or bananas. To prevent waterborne infections, drink only bottled, boiled, or filtered water and steer clear of untreated tap water and ice made from it.
Rabies prevention
Rabies does not occur in Australia, but it is present in many land animals in Botswana, including dogs and wildlife. Minimising your risk begins with avoiding animals, particularly strays or wild species. Before your trip, speak with a travel doctor about whether the rabies vaccine is recommended for you, especially if you’ll be travelling to remote regions, spending time outdoors, or working with animals. If you experience any possible exposure in Botswana, seek immediate medical care. Early treatment can prevent rabies, whereas the disease is almost universally fatal after symptoms develop.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Botswana?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that affects the liver and is commonly transmitted through contaminated food and drinking water. Symptoms can range from mild fatigue and nausea to jaundice, dark urine, and more severe illness. Rates of Hepatitis A are greater in Botswana compared to Australia, and most people aren't vaccinated as part of Australia’s standard schedule. Travellers who have not had the full two-dose Hepatitis A vaccine are encouraged to get immunised before visiting Botswana, particularly if they will be staying in rural communities or eating outside of hotels and lodges.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection transmitted via food or water contaminated with Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi. It often begins with fever and stomach symptoms and can become life-threatening if untreated. Vaccination is recommended for travellers who haven’t been immunised previously as typhoid is more prevalent in Botswana and sanitation standards vary. This is particularly important for those spending time outside urban centres or eating meals prepared in non-commercial settings. Safe food and water practices remain critical even after vaccination.
Hepatitis B
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The hepatitis B virus spreads through blood and bodily fluids and can lead to serious liver disease. Risk factors include unprotected sex, sharing personal items like razors, and undergoing tattooing or piercing with non-sterile equipment. While childhood vaccination covers many younger Australians, some adults have not yet received vaccines. Travellers to Botswana who are unvaccinated, especially those planning longer stays or potential close-contact activities, should consider receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine. Your travel doctor will assess your medical history and itinerary to determine whether Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended.
Routine vaccinations
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While Australians benefit from low rates of measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus, these infections still occur more regularly in Botswana. Travellers may face increased exposure, especially in busy urban and regional settings. A pre-travel vaccination assessment is recommended to ensure your routine immunisations are up to date, and to confirm if boosters for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza, or COVID-19 are needed.
Botswana
Other health risks in Botswana
Malaria
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Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted through mosquito bites. Malaria affects the liver and blood, causing fever, exhaustion, muscle aches, and potentially severe complications. Northern Botswana, including areas around the Okavango Delta and Chobe, carries a significant risk. Travellers to these regions are generally advised to take antimalarial tablets. Your travel doctor can advise which medication is most suitable. Tablets need to be taken before, during, and after your trip. Preventing mosquito bites at night is also a key part of malaria protection.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is not widespread in Botswana, but isolated cases can still occur, especially in travellers arriving from neighbouring regions where the virus circulates. The infection is caused by the bite of an Aedes mosquito and may produce fever, headaches, body aches, and rashes. Severe dengue can develop after repeated infections and may lead to serious complications such as bleeding and sudden drops in blood pressure. Since Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, protection measures remain important, such as using repellent, wearing long sleeves, and eliminating stagnant water.
Rabies
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The rabies virus does not occur in Australia, but it is carried by many land animals in Botswana, including dogs and wildlife. Minimising your risk begins with avoiding animals, particularly strays or wild species. Before your trip, speak with a travel doctor about whether the rabies vaccine is recommended for you, especially if you’ll be travelling to remote regions, spending time outdoors, or working with animals. If you experience any possible exposure in Botswana, seek immediate medical care. Early treatment can prevent rabies, whereas the disease is almost universally fatal after symptoms develop.
Gastroenteritis
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In Botswana, travellers may experience Gastroenteritis due to bacteria present in untreated water or contaminated meals. Common pathogens include campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli or salmonella. Onset of symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain or nausea typically occur one to three days after exposure.
Because fluid loss can quickly lead to dehydration, oral rehydration solutions are the cornerstone of treatment. Most cases resolve without antibiotics within several days, but medical assessment is advised if symptoms worsen, persist, or prevent adequate fluid replacement. Antibiotics are reserved for certain travellers with risk factors or severe illness. Handwashing and avoiding high-risk foods and beverages remain the best ways to prevent illness.
Non-infectious conditions
Deep vein thrombosis
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Travel to Botswana often involves long-haul flights or extended road transfers, both of which can contribute to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by reducing circulation in the legs. Preventive strategies include keeping hydrated, taking breaks to walk or stretch, and avoiding long periods of sitting still. Compression stockings can offer extra protection to travellers with increased risk. Management of DVT typically requires blood-thinning treatment.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Botswana’s wildlife-rich parks and vast open roads make it an exciting destination for travellers, but staying safe requires thoughtful preparation. Long journeys are common, so opt for reputable transport providers and ensure vehicles have functioning seatbelts. If riding a motorbike, wear a certified helmet and be familiar with Botswana’s road regulations and driving conditions. When exploring national parks or wilderness areas, pack lightly, use insect repellent and sunscreen, and wear well-broken-in boots suitable for uneven terrain. Wildlife encounters can occur unexpectedly, so follow local guidelines at all times. Travel insurance that covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation is highly advisable.