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This trip is subject to special payment terms and cancellation penalties:
If full payment is not received 90 days prior to departure, Out Adventures reserves the right to cancel your booking based on the above cancellation terms.
BOTSWANA VISA: Tourists visiting Botswana for fewer than 90 days per calendar year are not required to obtain a visa in advance of their arrival. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after the date you enter Botswana. At least 3 completely blank pages in your passport are required for entry into Botswana. Click here for more info.
CULTURE SHOCK: Typically, Botswanans greet one another leisurely with a “hello” and a “how are you doing?” While most Botswanans understand English, a greeting given in a local language will be received with delight. Handshaking is common. Public displays of affection (LGBTQ+ or otherwise) are discouraged.
LOCAL LGBTQ+ SCENE: While there is no LGBTQ+ scene in Botswana, the vast majority of Botswanans are friendly to visitors regardless of gender and sexual orientation.
WEATHER: The best time to visit is typically during the long dry season from June to October. In June, you can expect clear skies, plenty of sunshine and little to no rain. Despite it being the first month of winter, daytime temperatures hover around 68-75F (20-24C). Temperatures at night may dip below 50F (10C) especially in desert areas.
REQUIRED VACCINATIONS: Based on the entry requirements for Botswana, there are no mandatory vaccinations. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, consult with your doctor or a travel medical clinic. Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.
ELECTRICITY: You will need an international travel plug/adapter for Type D, G, & M sockets. Visit the Botswana page on Power Plugs and Sockets of the World for more info.
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi will be available at the camp, but at slower speeds than what you are used to at home. You’ll be able to check e-mails and social media, but likely unable to stream video.
COVID-19 INFORMATION: We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, but it is our belief that each traveller has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from COVID-19. As of May 1, 2023, Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on most of our tours. Before booking, we recommend that you read our COVID-19 Information Page and our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to understand what we’re doing to minimize risk, and what will happen if you contract COVID-19 before or during an Out Adventures tour.
Out Adventures is all about good times with like-minded folks. Whether we’re sitting around a campfire or indulging in five-star decadence, our goal is to make the experience magical. We also support the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations whenever possible, and seeking out authentic local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.
Maun International Airport
Maun, Botswana
Phone: +267 686 0238
A charter flight from Maun International Airport to our camp is included in the trip cost, however the flights into Maun are not. Guidance on your international flights into Maun will be provided with your official trip confirmation email approximately 11 months prior to departure. Do not book your flights without first checking with an Out Adventures representative.
Maun International Airport
Maun, Botswana
Phone: +267 686 0238
A charter flight to Maun International Airport from our camp is included in the trip cost, however flights out of Maun are not. Guidance on your international flights into Maun will be provided with your official trip confirmation email approximately 11 months prior to departure. Do not book your flights without first checking with an Out Adventures representative.
Gratuities for the safari guides, trackers and camp staff are all included.
The local currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP). Kwara Camp is all-inclusive, however should you wish to purchase anything from the gift shop, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
NOTE: We recommend carrying approximately $200 USD to be used in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold. This should be in addition to any spending money.
Please note: Due to the small size of the charter aircraft from Maun to our camp there is a strict limit of 15kg/33lbs for hold luggage and 5kg/11lbs for carry on. DO NOT bring a large hard-shell suitcase. Please see the luggage and charter flight restrictions section below for more details.
The following packing list is a guideline, not gospel. Our Out Adventure Specialists are happy to answer any specific questions about how much or little to bring.
Travel Documents
General Personal Items
Shoes
Bottoms
Tops
Jackets
Other
Health-related Items
*Please note dull/neutral colours – khaki, beige, green – are best for safari. White is not practical due to dust.
Flying in Northern Botswana is a lot different than your average regional airline flight. We fly to remote, inaccessible airstrips, which rarely exceed 1 km in length. This is why it is of utmost importance that weight in the aircraft is within its limits.
IMPORTANT Weight restrictions: For weight limitations and therefore safety reasons, we need to know in advance if passenger is over 100kgs (220lbs) as flight surcharges shall apply.
IMPORTANT Luggage restrictions:
Moremi Air has a strict luggage weight policy of 15kg/33lbs for hold luggage and 5kg/11lbs for carry on. The baggage compartment on our aircraft has a door opening which is 1,0’’ (25cm) x2’7″ (62cm). The maximum size of bags is 24”/62cm long and 11”/30cm wide and 9”/25cm high.
Moremi Air cannot accept suitcases with hard frames, as they need to be able to squash the bags into the pod if necessary. A duffle-style bag with a hard bottom and wheels is fine as long as it fits within the dimensions. No hard Samsonite-type suitcases or luggage with rigid sides or wheels can be accommodated.
Passengers may be requested to re-pack if the bags are too large, too heavy or in incorrect bags/suitcases to be carried on board the aircraft – suitable bags can be purchased on arrival. We do understand that many guests are traveling for extended periods and may therefore have additional baggage, Excess luggage can be stored in Maun for collection on the guest’s return to Maun.
For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Out Adventures tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must include medical coverage of US$50,000 and emergency repatriation coverage of no less than US$200,000.
Click here for more details on our requirements and how to obtain coverage.
All Out Adventures are led by an LGBTQ+ (or LGBTQ+-welcoming) guide. Whenever possible, we hire destination locals. And we can also connect you with the right people if you’d like to delve deeper into the local culture.
Out Adventures are a great way to meet people from around the world and all walks of life. Bear in mind that everybody’s there for a good time, so mutual respect will go a long way. Please be on time for any meet ups, empathetic to the needs of others, and ready to roll with whatever the adventure brings.
Although we can’t tell you who your fellow travellers will be for privacy reasons, we can tell you many great friendships began with an Out Adventure. And just because we’re a gay tour operator doesn’t mean we’re exclusive: friends and family are always welcome to join the fun.
If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. We can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis.
We love when groups of friends join us on an Out Adventure, whether you’re celebrating a major milestone, or you just love to travel together. However, since we have travellers that will be flying solo, or as a couple, we would love your help ensuring everybody feels welcome and has an epic time. Here are some ways you can give us a hand, while also getting to know and befriending your fellow travellers:
If you’d rather relish an exclusive escape with just your own party, we also offer private departures. This is a great way to create and manage your own holiday guest list, while possibly saving money as well. Please contact one of our Adventure Specialists if you’re interested in a customized quote.
This tour is rated 1-1.5/5. All guests must have a good level of health and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.
PHYSICAL RATINGS:
1 – Relaxing
2 – Light
3 – Average
4 – Demanding
5 – Challenging
The itinerary is correct at time of publishing. If anything, it will only improve with feedback from prior travellers and our own research. It’s best to reference your final trip documents, rather than our website, in case there have been any changes that affect your departure.
