Botswana Travel Forum

Hi!
I'm a girl (25 years) who will travel by herself to volunteer in Gaborone for a month starting the next July.I wonder if somebody could help me suggesting to get or not to get on a bus to do this trial.Somebody told me it's cheaper to fly to Johannesburg from my country(Italy)and from there catch a bus from the rotunda.I don't know if it's safe,or if it's better just flying straight to Gaborone.
Thank you for the attention.
Viviana

I would rather fly directly from Johannesburg to Gaborone.
The bus station is not in a good area. Especially for a 25 yr old female.
Unless there are tour buses that leave from the OR Tambo airport.

I agree, I think you should fly, maybe it is not the cheapest deal, but most convenience, quick and safe. Check both options for the best deal, a ticket from Italy to Gaborone (with change over somewhere, most probably in Johannesburg) or only to Johannesburg + a ticket from there to Gaborone.

I agree with June. I would fly in and then get a connecting flight to Gaberone. You can see what SAA has to offer on www.flysaa.com

I would not let my daughter take a bus from JHB to Gaberone on her own.

Regards

Mike

Thank you indeed...Viviana

Its not the bus trip from johannesburg to gabarone that is iffy, but its the transfer from the OR Tambo airport to the park station bus terminal and within Park station that may be a big challenge safety wise. Its only when you are inside the bus, that you could breath a sigh of relief. Every passenger have to be registered and their passport shown to the ticket master before the bus goes.

I have sent and meet several friends and clients on this bus trips, and have done it myself , and I havent heard of any untoward incident happening on this particular route except of course the occasional bus breakdown or challenges at the border inspection. Last time i bought a ticket for a friend it was 210 rands one way. Round trip airfare will be about 2500 rands for jnb-gbrne-jnb.

There is a daily bus trip in the afternoon from joburg to gabs, but it starts at 1:30 pm, so it will be dark when you reach gabs.This is the more reliable one.

The morning bus leaves at 7:30 am, but its not as regular as the afternoon one and dependent on reliability of the bus that is servicing the route. It arrives in gabs at 2:30 pm . The first time i tried this trip, the bus conductress was very helpfull in getting me a taxi in gabarone to go to the main terminal for my onward trip to francistown.

Email me if you are interested in this route for further info and help


bong