Private jet charter in Botswana
Just under ten hours separate Biggin Hill from the Okavango Delta, and a long-range jet does it without a stop. Botswana is a small market for business aviation and a large one for safari, so the planning is about three airports, the permits that precede them and the turboprops that take the party on. Our customers have access to 6,500 jets of all types and configurations available for rent. We will help you choose the best option based on your needs and objectives. Our catalog contains the models from the largest manufacturers: Gulfstream, Dassault, Embraer, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Learjet, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus, HondaJet, etc. We have established partnerships with the world's largest airlines and VIP terminals, which means we can offer you favourable flight conditions and a high level of service. Our experts will manage the organization of your flight - starting with paperwork, agreements, etc., and ending with a transfer and meeting at the airport. Our company provides a full range of business aviation and concierge services. For Botswana that means a landing permit and a handler booked in advance, a camp's written permission for any airstrip the party will use, and a local operator for the flights inside the country.
At your request, the aviation consultants of Private Jets UK will help you choose the jet with the suitable technical parameters (production year, flight hours, and home base). The cost of the private jet charter in Botswana depends on many factors, such as the model of the business jet, the number of passengers, departure and destination airports, type of flight, duration of parking, additional services, etc. Therefore, we calculate the price of each order individually taking into account your wishes. You can use an online calculator to get an instant charter quote. Please indicate your real contact details to get the final calculation.
You can calculate the cost of your flight in several ways:
- using an online calculator on the website (however, it shows only the approximate price);
- via Messenger (WhatsApp or Telegram);
- by landline or cell phone;
- via e-mail (jets@private-jets.co.uk).
Please note that the above-mentioned price is indicative only. It is calculated on this basis: a departure from Biggin Hill, a Bombardier Global 6000 flying nonstop to Maun Airport and two passengers aboard. If you want to get a personal quote, just fill out the online booking form below. Our aviation consultant will make the calculation within 20 minutes, and then contact you to specify the details of the flight.
How long does it take to fly to Botswana?
Botswana keeps Central Africa Time, two hours ahead of Greenwich all year, so the gap with Britain is two hours in winter and one in summer. A Global 6000 that leaves Biggin Hill at nine in the evening, London time, in winter lands at Maun after about ten hours at around nine in the morning, local time. Timing matters, because Maun and Gaborone are listed as open only from 06:00 to 22:00 local. Sectors to Maun, gate to gate:
4,633 nautical miles, the nearest London field and the base for the price at the top of the pageabout 9 h 55 min
4,643 nautical miles, the usual choice for Surrey, Hampshire and the Thames Valleyabout 10 h
4,948 nautical miles, the main Scottish departureabout 10 h 35 min
Range is the question before price
Maun lies 4,633 nautical miles from Biggin Hill by our routing allowance. A Global 6000 is published at roughly 6,000 nautical miles, so the sector is inside its range with a reserve, and it is the aircraft behind the title price. A Praetor 600, at about 4,000, or a Challenger 350, at about 3,200, needs a fuel stop somewhere in Africa on the way out; the Gulfstream G550 and G650ER fly it nonstop with more margin.
A stop adds about an hour and a half on the ground and a second set of landing charges, and passengers must meet the entry rules of the country where it is made.
The exact flight time depends on the model of the business jet, as well as the speed of the tail or head wind. Our consultant will make a detailed calculation of the flight time for the chosen business jet.
Prices for the private jet flights to Botswana
Typical private jet charter prices from Britain to Maun, listed cheapest first. Every row is a nonstop Global 6000, since smaller jets need a fuel stop. London City is left out, because its short runway is a poor start for a sector this long:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| London Biggin Hill - Maun 4,633 nm / 8,580 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £125,500 |
| Southampton - Maun 4,633 nm / 8,580 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £125,500 |
| London Farnborough - Maun 4,643 nm / 8,599 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £125,750 |
| London Stansted - Maun 4,662 nm / 8,634 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £126,250 |
| London Luton - Maun 4,671 nm / 8,651 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £126,500 |
| Bristol - Maun 4,680 nm / 8,667 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £126,750 |
| Cardiff - Maun 4,691 nm / 8,688 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £127,000 |
| Birmingham - Maun 4,725 nm / 8,751 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £127,900 |
| Manchester - Maun 4,784 nm / 8,860 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £129,450 |
| Leeds Bradford - Maun 4,804 nm / 8,897 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £129,950 |
| Newcastle - Maun 4,871 nm / 9,021 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £131,700 |
| Edinburgh - Maun 4,948 nm / 9,164 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £133,750 |
| Glasgow - Maun 4,960 nm / 9,186 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £134,050 |
Two things worth knowing about these figures
– The airport at the other end moves the price too. From Biggin Hill, Gaborone costs about £8,200 more than Maun on the same aircraft, and Kasane about £2,650 less; each hundred nautical miles adds roughly £2,600 on a Global 6000;
– A one-way price assumes the aircraft flies back empty. On a return trip it either waits in Botswana, with parking and crew accommodation as lines of their own, or flies home and comes back for you.
Private jet flights within Botswana and to its neighbours
A Botswana trip is usually a hub and spoke. The long-range jet lands at Maun, Kasane or Gaborone, and a turboprop or a helicopter carries the party to the camps, whose airstrips are not for jets. Most sectors below start at Maun:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kasane - Victoria Falls 43 nm / 80 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 40 min | from £3,100 |
| Maun - Kasane 168 nm / 311 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 1 h 05 min | from £3,100 |
| Maun - Victoria Falls 184 nm / 341 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 1 h 10 min | from £3,100 |
| Maun - Gaborone 320 nm / 593 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 |
about 1 h 15 min | from £5,450 |
| Maun - Johannesburg 474 nm / 878 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 |
about 1 h 35 min | from £9,000 |
Two things worth knowing about the sectors inside the country
– Camp airstrips are private. A pilots' guide to Botswana asks for the written permission of the camp before landing on its strip;
– The jet stays at the gateway. Whether a foreign-registered jet may carry passengers between two Botswana points is a question we put to the aviation authority, not an assumption.
We can arrange the flights from any cities in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and European countries. Due to a large database of available business jets, we can help you find an optimal jet and crew. If you have any questions about the departure or the flight itself, you can ask them using the form below:
Prices depending on the type of business jet
We can clearly show the high dependence of the cost of the flight, on the type of aircraft - we have collected approximate data, at the price of 1 flight hour, for various types of business jets:
The cost per hour indicated in the table is preliminary and does not constitute an offer or a commercial offer. Exact prices are available from the managers of the company.
Online Calculator
If you want to make an urgent calculation of the cost of a private plane flight, use our online calculator. Just fill in all the fields of the form with a note that you are interested in a specific model of the aircraft and get the final price. NB! - the figures are sent to you by email or messenger, please carefully fill in the contact details to get the calculation.
All our calculations are as transparent as possible for you. After receiving the request, we will prepare a beautiful offer - where the costs and the final price will be clearly described. The exact price is agreed in advance and is written in the contract, so you can be sure of the final cost.
Private jets are ready to take off
Our database contains over 6,500 business jets (about 3,500 in Europe and 3,000 in the rest of the world) of different configurations and production years. The list of models is constantly updated. Unfortunately, we can't post a full list of available jets on our website due to confidentiality issues. Please contact the managers of the company for more accurate information. We will help you choose a suitable model taking into account your wishes. These are the typical choices for Botswana:
Turboprops and light jets
The class for the hops once the party is in Botswana. A Pilatus PC-12 NGX takes up to nine between Maun, Kasane and Victoria Falls.
Super-midsize
Fine for regional legs from Johannesburg. From London a Praetor 600 or a Challenger 350 needs a fuel stop in Africa.
Large cabin
For a family on a long stay or a delegation with staff, flown with a stop on the way out.
Ultra-long range
The class that flies London to Maun nonstop, and the one our title price is built on.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to Botswana in 6 easy steps:
- Flight request - indicating the route and your preferences for the model of business jet and other points.
- Coordination of flight details - our consultant will contact you to offer the possible flight options and answer all your questions.
- Commercial offer - we will send you a final offer on a specific model taking into account all your wishes.
- Signing of the contract.
- Payment for the flight and booking a business jet.
- Departure at the agreed time and date. Assistance during the whole flight.
In addition to renting the private jets and arranging the flights, we provide concierge services, premium transfer, security, exclusive catering, etc. We have learned to solve problems of any complexity, offering the service of the European level. Our experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you arrange your flight.
How to rent a business jet with a crew
5 main stages:
-
Sending an application
-
Clarification of details and search for options
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Preparation and coordination of optimal options
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Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
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Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in Botswana
Three airports take the jets. None is a business aviation hub in the way Johannesburg is, so the job is to match the airport to the part of the country:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Maun MUB / FBMN |
On the north side of Maun, at 943 metres, the gateway to the Okavango Delta | Runway 08/26 of 3,700 metres, asphalt. Listed open 0400 to 2000 UTC (06:00 to 22:00 local), with customs and the status of an airport of entry. No slots, handling not mandatory. A busy field: in the peak months it is described as the second busiest in Africa for aircraft movements |
| Sir Seretse Khama International GBE / FBSK |
About 15 km north of Gaborone, at 1,006 metres | Runway 08/26 of 4,000 metres, concrete, the longest in the country. Same listed hours as Maun, customs, airport of entry. The airport of the capital and of business travel |
| Kasane International BBK / FBKE |
About 4 km south of Kasane and of the Namibian border, at 1,000 metres | Runway 08/26 of 3,000 metres, asphalt, extended to take a Boeing 737. Shorter listed hours: 0430 to 1600 UTC (06:30 to 18:00 local). A point of entry with customs, and the airport for Chobe National Park |
The records we hold do not name an executive terminal at Maun or Kasane. Handling is booked through a supervising agent, and General Aviation Services Ltd is the one listed for both. Gaborone lists General Aviation Services, Jetmate Aviation, Avnex Aviation Services and Just Aviation. Who actually meets the aircraft on the apron is confirmed in the quote.
Fuel needs a plan. A pilots' guide to Botswana lists Jet A1 at Gaborone from 05:20 to 20:30, at Maun from 06:30 to 18:30 and at Kasane from 07:00 to 18:00, all local, paid in rand or US dollars. Maun is open until 22:00 but fuel there stops at 18:30, so an evening departure is fuelled earlier in the day.
Three points settle most Botswana flights before a quote goes out:
Landing and overflight permits
One permit specialist suggests 24 to 48 working hours for a standard request, and its overflight permits run for 72 hours from the requested schedule. The authority's working hours are listed as 0600 to 1500 UTC, and no fixed lead time for landing permits is published, so we file as early as we can.
Documents for a private flight
The file typically has the aircraft registration and type, the operator, the schedule, the route with its entry and exit points of the Gaborone flight information region, the purpose of the flight and, when asked for, the certificates, the insurance and the crew and passenger details. A change of date, timing or routing may need a revised permit.
Crew and passengers on the ground
Crew visas are typically issued on arrival for up to 72 hours, and crew hotels are listed in Maun, 10 to 15 minutes from the airport. Arrivals are timed to the opening hours, since a late landing is not possible.
Arriving from Britain: passports, health and customs
British citizens need no visa for a visit of up to 90 days. The rules that catch people are the small ones:
valid for at least six months after the day of arrival, with at least three blank pages; keep the entry stampcheck every passport, children included
an original or certified copy of the full birth certificate on entry and exit, and a signed affidavit from a parent who is not travellingfor anyone aged 17 and under
foreign or local cash worth 10,000 Botswana pula or more must be declared, or the traveller can be prosecuteddeclare at the airport
a certificate is required from travellers coming from a country listed as a transmission risk; Britain is not one, but a fuel stop in Africa can beask us when the route is drawn
Coming home is a flight into Britain. A General Aviation Report goes to the border authorities not earlier than 48 hours and not later than two hours before departure, and British and Irish citizens need no electronic travel authorisation. Most other nationalities do.
Read the travel advice before you book
The British government advises that attacks cannot be ruled out, and reports rising violent crime in Gaborone, Francistown and Maun, including thefts from cars at traffic lights. At lodges on the Chobe river there have been room break-ins, especially at river-front properties. Dangerous animals can be on highways, and outside the main towns driving after dark is risky because of wildlife and livestock. Flooding from November to March can close border crossings at short notice.
On health, the advice lists malaria, schistosomiasis and occasional anthrax among wild animals. Healthcare is good in the big towns and limited in rural areas, private hospitals ask for payment first, and a serious case may need evacuation to the UK or South Africa, so insurance must cover it. We read the advice against your itinerary and check it again close to departure.
Which airport for which part of Botswana
The airport is chosen by the destination, and the destination by the season:
the delta lies in the north, with Moremi Game Reserve on its eastern side; Maun is the main gateway, and the camps are reached from there by light aircraft or helicopterMaun
Kasane stands on the north-eastern boundary of Chobe National Park, about 70 km by road from Victoria FallsKasane
the capital, with the longest runway in the country and scheduled links to Johannesburg and Cape TownGaborone
a Maun operator lists flights to the Makgadikgadi pans, the Kalahari and Tsodilo HillsMaun, then a light aircraft
The Botswana year: floods, dry months and green season
The Okavango has an odd calendar: summer rain over the Angolan highlands takes four to five months to travel south, so the delta fills while the sky is clear:
the flood begins to arrive in the northern delta and rises as it moves south; mokoro trips are possiblewater arriving
the flood peaks in dry weather and the delta grows to about three times its permanent size; July and August are rated as prime for wildlife, with wild dogs denning from June to Augustpeak season, the busiest weeks
the water recedes and is lowest in October and November; October is typically the hottest and driest month, and the first storms arrive in Novemberhot, dry, quieter
the green season, with short afternoon storms; calving of impala and wildebeest, and the strongest birding of the yeargreen, lower rates
Why the peak weeks fill first
The best months for wildlife are also the months of the highest flood, so camps, turboprop seats and rooms in Maun go early. We ask for a second choice of dates.
The Botswana calendar: holidays and festivals
A few dates move demand for aircraft and rooms:
What a date does to a flight plan
Public holidays can slow permit work, so for a fixed date we file the permits before the holiday week.
Flying to Botswana with a dog or a cat
Botswana is workable for a pet, with one catch: the published entry point for animals is Gaborone, and the trip is more likely to end in Maun or Kasane.
The facts to read before you book
A pet flying from Britain needs a Botswana import permit, applied for well ahead; only animals from Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe are exempt. A licensed vet completes the health certificate no more than 30 days before travel. The rabies vaccination is given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival, and a multi-year vaccine is not accepted. A titre test is not required, a microchip is strongly recommended, and with these conditions met there is no quarantine.
The published entry point is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Whether an animal may enter through Maun or Kasane on a private aircraft we have not found stated, so we confirm it with the Botswana authorities in writing before we quote.
- A microchip, fitted before the rabies vaccination, which the return to Britain requires;
- For the return, a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood test, because Botswana is not a listed country;
- For dogs only, a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival in Britain. A cat needs no treatment.
GOV.UK tells owners to check the approved travel route for the return, and its guidance does not say how the rule applies to a private aircraft, so we confirm the paperwork in writing before the flight. An animal that does not meet the rules can be quarantined for up to four months. Requirements for ferrets, birds and anything less usual are collected on our flying with pets guide.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with nobody aboard, offered at a fraction of the usual price. Much safari traffic is one-way by nature: a family flies out for a fortnight, and the aircraft comes home or moves on.
Where Botswana empty legs come from
– Aircraft that bring a party to Botswana and fly back to Britain empty, the leg most often offered;
– Regional legs between Maun, Johannesburg and Victoria Falls.
A client who can offer a few days has a far better chance of a match, though a leg can disappear when the original booking changes. What is free is listed on our empty legs page. Typical empty legs for Botswana:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maun - Kasane | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | 9 seats | £1,300 |
| Johannesburg - Maun | Citation XLS+ | 9 seats | £3,800 |
| Maun - UK (London Biggin Hill) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £52,700 |
| Maun - UK (Farnborough) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £52,800 |
| UK (London Luton) - Maun | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £53,150 |
| UK (Birmingham) - Maun | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £53,700 |
| UK (Manchester) - Maun | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £54,350 |
| UK (Edinburgh) - Maun | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £56,200 |
How to read those figures
Each price is for the whole aircraft. A Global 6000 from London Luton to Maun at £53,150 with eight aboard comes to about £6,650 a head. An open return date helps.
Helicopter charter
In Botswana a helicopter is a way to see the delta rather than a transfer between airports, and it is arranged case by case. One Maun operator, Helicopter Horizons, lists scenic and photography flights, lodge transfers and flights over the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi pans, the Kalahari and Tsodilo Hills, with Bell 206 and Robinson R44 helicopters. The times below are straight-line planning estimates from Maun:
to the reserve on the east side of the delta, a scenic flightabout 35 min
to the salt pans, a half-day flightabout 1 h 15 min
to Tsodilo Hills in the north-west, an out-and-back flightabout 1 h 15 min
Maun stands at about 940 metres, where a helicopter carries less than at sea level, so the load is stated in the quote.
Before you plan around a helicopter
Camps and reserves have their own rules, so we confirm permission for every landing site before we quote. A camp's lawn is not a site until it has been approved.
Flights from the UK to Botswana
Biggin Hill, Farnborough, Stansted and Luton send most of the traffic on this corridor, with Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester behind them and Scotland and Northern Ireland at the long end; the price table higher up covers thirteen of those pairings. Our clients have access to all airports of the UK and Europe. Due to the unique partnership conditions, we can offer our clients the best prices for business aviation services. Our experts will consult you on the availability of private jets in a particular city and help you choose the best option.
List of TOP 25 business aviation airports:
| Airport | Country | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
 London Heathrow Airport |
England | EGLL | LHR |
| Birmingham Airport |
England | EGBB | BHX |
| London Gatwick |
England | EGKK | LGW |
| London City Airport |
England | EGLC | LCY |
| London Luton |
England | EGGW | LTN |
| Edinburgh Airport |
Scotland | EGPH | EDI |
| Leeds Airport |
England | EGNM | LBA |
| Manchester Airport |
England | EGCC | MAN |
| London Stansted |
England | EGSS | STN |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
England | EGGP | LPL |
| Newcastle Airport |
England | EGNT | NCL |
| Bristol Airport |
England | EGGD | BRS |
| Glasgow Airport |
Scotland | EGPF | GLA |
| East Midlands Airport |
England | EGNX | EMA |
| Southampton Airport |
England | EGHI | SOU |
| Jersey Airport |
Channel Islands | EGJJ | JER |
| Cardiff International Airport |
Wales | EGFF | CWL |
| Inverness Airport |
Scotland | EGPE | INV |
| Bournemouth Airport |
England | EGHH | BOH |
| London Farnborough Airport |
England | EGLF | FAB |
| Oxford Airport |
England | EGTK | OXF |
| London Biggin Hill |
England | EGKB | BQH |
| Belfast Airport |
Northern Ireland | EGAA | BFS |
| Gibraltar Airport |
Gibraltar | LXGB | GIB |
| Aberdeen Airport |
Scotland | EGPD | ABZ |
Botswana charters from the booking notes: six typical trips
Six typical jobs put together from booking notes with the particulars changed, so none describes one named client or date.
OKAVANGO · THE FLOOD
Four adults and a July date
Farnborough - Maun, Global 6000, about 10 h · 4 pax
The camps were booked first for the weeks of the highest water, and the jet fitted around them.
CHOBE · VICTORIA FALLS
A couple and a river week
Biggin Hill - Kasane, Global 6000, about 9 h 45 min · 2 pax
Kasane suited a week on the Chobe river and a day at Victoria Falls. The aircraft left in the early afternoon, well before the airport closed.
GABORONE · A DELEGATION
A small group with a protocol officer
London Luton - Gaborone, Global 6000, about 10 h 40 min · 6 pax
The permit file went in early, and the arrival was timed well inside the airport's hours.
MAKGADIKGADI · A FAMILY
Six people and a long stay
Biggin Hill - Maun, G650ER, about 9 h 45 min · 6 pax
The family wanted a cabin to sleep in, and the jet waited at Maun while light aircraft took them to the pans.
WITH THE DOG · A QUESTION OF ENTRY
Two adults and a spaniel on a posting
Biggin Hill - Maun, Global 6000, about 9 h 55 min · 2 pax + dog
The import permit and the entry point at Gaborone decided the plan before any aircraft did, and the rabies blood test for the way home was taken early.
EMPTY LEG · A FLEXIBLE RETURN
A Maun departure with a window of three days
Maun - London Luton, Global 6000 empty leg, about 10 h · 4 pax
The client gave a window instead of a date and paid about £53,150, under half of a fresh one-way charter on the sector.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Botswana
1How long does it take to fly to Botswana by private jet?
About 9 hours 55 minutes nonstop from London Biggin Hill to Maun on a Global 6000, and 10 hours 35 minutes from Edinburgh. A smaller aircraft needs a fuel stop. Botswana is two hours ahead of Britain in winter and one in summer.
2How much does a private jet to Botswana cost?
From about £125,500 one way from Biggin Hill to Maun on a Global 6000. Gaborone from Biggin Hill is about £133,700 on the same aircraft. A turboprop hop from Maun to Kasane starts from £3,100.
3Which airport should a private jet use in Botswana?
Maun (MUB / FBMN) for the Okavango Delta, Kasane (BBK / FBKE) for Chobe and Victoria Falls, Gaborone (GBE / FBSK) for the capital. All three are airports of entry with customs. Maun and Gaborone are listed as open from 06:00 to 22:00 local, Kasane from 06:30 to 18:00.
4Do British passengers need a visa for a private flight to Botswana?
No. British citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. The passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival and have at least three blank pages, and cash of 10,000 pula or more must be declared.
5Can a private jet land at the camps in the Okavango?
No. Camp airstrips are private and used by light aircraft with the written permission of the camp. The usual plan is a jet to Maun and a turboprop or helicopter on to the camp.
6Can I take my dog or cat to Botswana on a private jet?
Yes, with an import permit applied for in advance, a vet's certificate issued within 30 days of travel and a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival. The published entry point is Gaborone, so we confirm any other entry in writing. For the return Botswana is not a listed country, so the animal needs a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood test.