As a Polish citizen I need a visa to Botswana. Having done some desk research I've found the prices ranging from $5 to more than $100 and now I don't know what's the actual price. Has anybody been recently to Botswana and knows the fee?
Adam
--- "A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." Tim Cahill
I would love to visit Botswana and the Okavango Delta again one-day so checked out the current official website:
http://www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw There it says $5 (+postage) for a visa but I also heard from a travelling friend just come back that there is something like a "tourist tax" of $100 to $200 per day in "some" regions. Botswana is not a place to backpack neither rent-a-car alone so see some group safari offers for as little as €2500 (two weeks) from Europe.
Recommended is to combine a Botswana trip with South Africa, my camping tip and recommended professional service at a low budget is "Drifters" at: www.globosapiens.net/rangutan/travel-tip-drifters-adventure-tours-1540.html Their Botswana video is at:
www.drifters.co.za/video/drift852sml.wmv They will assist with any up-to-date visa questions too, I guess they know the land well and arrange the visas at the border for $5! [NB: I am not an agent for any of my tips, they are all tested and providers of excellent quality!]
R'Rudi
[ This Message was edited by: rangutan on 2007-10-19 08:33 ]
Thanks for replies.
Rudi, I came across the same site you provided, but they say something about a letter of support from the host. What can it be? I heard that some Polish travellers obtained the visa in Cape Town having produced a letter of support from the Polish embassy. I also heard that that the process of getting visa can last as long as two weeks. Is it possible then to 'order' a visa in Cape Town and pick it up in Pretoria or Johannesburg?
Thanks Rudi for the link to Drifters and the movie is really great despite poor quality. Unfortunately 2500 euros for two weeks is far too expensive for me. My friends and me plan to go there independently and rent a 4WD there. I read reports of some travellers who covered this way Southern Africa and it's much cheaper than a package. We plan to visit also South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and probably Victoria Falls. Now we're researching things and it's not sure yet we manage to go there next June. We plan this for six weeks.
Amanda, I have the EU passport as well and wish newbies to the EU would be treated the same as the old members as far as visas to Botswana are concerned :) But unfortunately they aren't. I do need a visa and preferably get it in South Africa. The nearest embassy of Botswana is in Brussels, but it's almost impossible to contact them and get some info about the visa process (according to tips from Polish travellers who wanted to obtain a visa there). We still have some time and hope we manage to sort things out.
Adam
--- "A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." Tim Cahill
