Hire a car in Botswana without a credit card. Collect it at Maun, Kasane or Gaborone airport, with full cover included and the deposit on your debit card.
Why hire a car in Botswana?
Botswana's big attractions are its wildlife areas: the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans. Moremi is a favourite with self-drive campers, and with your own car you can combine these areas at your own pace. Four-wheel drive is required in the national parks and reserves, so choose a 4x4 in the search if you plan to drive into a park, and check its rental conditions before you book.
Where to start your trip
Maun, on the edge of the Okavango Delta, is the base for Moremi and the pans. Kasane is the gateway to Chobe and lies close to Victoria Falls. The road between Maun and Kasane is about 610 kilometres. Gaborone, the capital, lies in the south, about 850 kilometres from Maun. Francistown can be chosen in the search above.
You can also drive into Botswana from Namibia or South Africa on several routes; see one-way and cross-border car hire.
Driving in Botswana
Botswana drives on the left. Your own licence is valid for up to 90 days; bring an International Driving Permit as well. The speed limit is 120 km/h on tarred roads, 60 km/h in towns and villages and 40 km/h in the parks. Outside the towns, stray wildlife and livestock make driving dangerous, especially after dark. In remote areas filling stations may only take cash.
In the parks, stay on the established tracks and camp only at designated campsites. The Botswana Tourism Organisation advises carrying at least 100 litres of fuel and 20 litres of water per person on expeditions into the remote parks.
Best time to hire a car in Botswana
The Botswana Tourism Organisation names April to October as the best months to visit. Game viewing is best in the dry season, from May to October, and the elephants and buffalo of the Chobe riverfront come down to the river to drink in the dry winter months. The rainy season runs from November to March, when floods can affect roads and border crossings. Nxai Pan is at its best from December to April if the rains are good.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a car in Botswana without a credit card?
Yes. We show you the cars that let you leave the deposit on a debit card. The amount is shown on the page of each pick-up point.
Do I need a 4x4 in Botswana?
For the national parks and reserves, yes: four-wheel drive is required there.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Botswana?
Bring one with your own licence. A foreign licence is valid for up to 90 days.
Which debit cards are accepted for the deposit?
A Visa or Mastercard debit card in the main driver's name, valid for at least six months after you return the car. Prepaid and virtual cards are not accepted. These are the rules in the rental conditions we checked; the conditions of the car you choose are shown before you book.
