South Africa Botswana
South Africa 
BotswanaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
The Tlokweng/Kopfontein crossing links Gaborone with the South African network.
Driving rules in Botswana
- Drive on the left.
- Wildlife on roads, especially at night.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
What to see when you arrive in Botswana
- the Okavango Delta
- the Chobe National Park
- the Makgadikgadi salt pans
- the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- the Tsodilo Hills
Once you're driving in Botswana
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence (English, or with a certified English translation/IDP) for up to 90 days before conversion is required; SADC-issued licences are exempt. Always carry the national licence plus IDP together, as the IDP alone is not valid.
Tolls & road charges
Botswana currently has no national toll-road network or electronic toll tags; main highways such as the A1 (Gaborone–Francistown) are free to use. The main border-crossing cost travellers meet is the road-safety/permit levy paid on entering with a foreign-registered vehicle.
Parking in the cities
Gaborone uses paid, attended parking bays in the central business district and around malls, typically paid in cash pula to a marshal or meter, with marked disc/time limits. Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles can be clamped or towed by the city council.
Fines & camera enforcement
Speeding and other offences draw on-the-spot fines payable in pula, and allowing cattle to stray onto the road reserve carries fines of roughly P2,000–P5,000. Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited; rental firms recover camera and unpaid-fine charges from the card on file.
If you have an accident
By law you must stop, not move the vehicles, and report any accident to the police; the emergency number is 999 (or 997 for ambulance). A police report is required for insurance and rental claims, and you should exchange details and photograph the scene before moving anything.
Driving in the capital
Beyond Gaborone the country-defining driving quirk is straying cattle, donkeys and wildlife on open highways - hitting livestock can make you liable, and animal-related crashes are a leading cause of fatalities, so never drive these roads at night. Expect to stop at veterinary cordon fences where raw meat and sometimes dairy are confiscated.
Sources: gov.bw · landrovingafrica.com · earthtrekkers.com · tyremap.com