Major city · Botswana
Ghanzi
Skip Ghanzi unless you need a fuel or rest stop on the Trans-Kalahari Highway between Maun and Namibia: one night, no more.
Ghanzi is a dusty cattle-and-truck town on the A3 highway, the main route between Maun and the Namibian border. It has a handful of lodges, a San-run cultural lodge and one Indian restaurant. Most travellers pass through in an hour; only stop if you are driving the Kalahari crossing and need a bed.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BWP
- Best months
- May–Sep (dry, cool)
- avoid Nov–Mar (rain, heat, mosquitoes)
- Airports
- Maun (MUB) · Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone (GBE)
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Botswana ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Botswana government sources before booking; most Western passports are visa-exempt, others use the Botswana e-visa.
- Botswana ↗Light-aircraft transfers limit luggage by weight and require soft bags; confirm the limit with your camp or operator before packing.
- Botswana ↗Self-driving in Moremi, Chobe and the Central Kalahari needs a properly equipped 4x4, booked campsites and experience in sand driving.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Ghanzi999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ghanzi, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkCurrency is the Botswana pula (BWP), about 13–14 per US$ in 2026 (check).Botswana-wide
- SIM or eSIMMascom, Orange and BTC (beMOBILE) sell SIMs with passport registration in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone.Botswana-wide
- Tap waterTap water is treated in towns; camps provide filtered water.Botswana-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%.Botswana-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/G/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Botswana-wide
- SafetyGhanzi is safe for a stopover.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFlush toilets in towns and camps; long drop at some public campsites.Botswana-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police · 997 ambulance · 998 fire
- Sundays & holidaysShops close early on Saturdays and are limited on Sundays in small towns.Botswana-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMUB Maun Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights; about 3 h by road east on the A3.
- Getting aroundNo public transport within town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedLodge double room, a night, per roomBWP 500
- Mid-range bedLodge double room, a night, per roomBWP 800
- High-end bedLodge double room, a night, per roomBWP 1,200
A day, not counting the bed: Budget BWP 400 · Mid BWP 700 · High BWP 1,500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MUB Maun Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights; about 3 h by road east on the A3. Ghanzi has no airport — check.) · GBE Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone (Longer road link south; national buses run to Ghanzi — check.)
Map of Ghanzi
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jul
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Dec
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jun (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jan (8 rain days), driest Jun (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ghanzi: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2 rd
Jun
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
1 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
1 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4 rd
Nov
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport within town. Walk the main strip or drive. Taxis are rare; ask your lodge.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kalahari Game Reserve (Central Kalahari)
cautionDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Drive south on the A3 then east on the A2; about 2 h to the Matswere gate
A full day with a 4x4; no fuel inside the reserve.
Tsabong
skipDoor to door: About 3 h
Drive south on the A3, about 2 h 30 min
Another small town; only if you are heading to the border.
Door to door: About 3.5 h
Drive east on the A3, about 3 h
Maun has flights, supermarkets and safari operators.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
A3 highway edge
Tautona Lodge and Dqae Qare San Lodge are both just off the A3; you need your own vehicle.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- P300–500 excl. bed
- Mid
- P500–1,000 excl. bed
- High
- P1,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Lodge double room1 × 1 night × BWP 800 | BWP 800 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × BWP 700 | BWP 1,400 |
| Meal at Tandurei (Indian restaurant)2 × BWP 120 | BWP 240 |
| Fuel (full tank, 4x4)1 × BWP 800 · check | BWP 800 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | BWP 324 |
| Trip total≈ BWP 1,782 per person per day, bed included | BWP 3,564 |
2026 estimate in Botswana pula (BWP); fuel and vehicle hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Meal at Tandureicheck | P100–200 |
| Litre of petrolcheck | P15–18 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | P15–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No petrol station open 24 h: fill up in Maun or before crossing from Namibia.
- Cell signal is patchy on the highway; download maps offline.
- Lodges require advance booking; walk-ins are not guaranteed.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 999
- Ambulance
- 997
- Fire
- 998
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
GhanziGhanzi
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Go aterese e, tsweetsweeTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police999
- Ambulance997
- Fire998
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Ghanzi → Maun: about P100–150, 3 h (check)
- Bus Ghanzi → Gaborone: about P200–300, 6–7 h (check)
Say or show
- Dumela — Hello (doo-MEH-lah)
- Ke a leboha — Thank you (keh ah leh-BOH-hah)
- Ke bokae? — How much? (keh boh-KAH-eh)
- Ee / Nnyaa — Yes / No (eh / NYAH)
English is widely spoken; Setswana phrases are appreciated.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ghanzi. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep (dry, cool) · avoid Nov–Mar (rain, heat, mosquitoes) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Tautona Lodge and Dqae Qare San Lodge with verified phone and seasonal rates.
- Fuel-stop fixture with live status (open/closed) for the two filling stations.
- Bus schedule fixture for Seabelo and other operators from Gaborone and Maun.
Sources
- officialBotswana Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage: Ghanzi, revision 5276015 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Ghanzi
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