Following Botswana’s opening of borders on Monday (November 9) for regional flights, Air Botswana has resumed flights to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport from Tuesday, November 10. Long-haul flights into the country remain suspended with the exception of charter flights. The carrier suspended flights in March due to the COVID pandemic.

The airline will initially offer four weekly flights between Gaborone and Johannesburg. On Sundays, flight BP201 departs Gaborone at 08h00 and arrives in Johannesburg at 09h10. Return flight BP204 departs Johannesburg at 12h15 and arrives at 13h25. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, flight BP207 departs Gaborone at 14h30 and arrives in Johannesburg at 15h40. Flight BP208 departs Johannesburg at 18h40 and arrives in Gaborone at 19h50.

Flights may be increased or reduced depending on the spread of COVID and/or travel demand.

Travel regulations and guidelines can be found on the government’s official social media pages, Twitter and Facebook @bwgovernment.

Currently, arriving passengers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR result not more than 72 before departure and will be screened for COVID-19 on entry.

Anyone showing symptoms must undertake mandatory testing and possible quarantine. They must remain in contact with the local health authority for 14 days while self-monitoring. Returning citizens and residents not meeting the requirement will undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine and testing at their own cost. Non-citizens who do not meet requirements will not be allowed entry.

Departing passengers must comply with regulations of their destination country.