Can you fly a drone in Botswana? 2026 tourist rules

Planning Botswana safari packages? You can bring a drone, but casual take-off-and-fly use is not the norm. Botswana requires drone registration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, known as CAAB, and visiting foreigners must contact the authority before flying. Protected areas, wildlife, airports, government sites, built-up areas and tourism facilities have strict limits or bans.

For most safari travellers, the sensible plan is to leave the drone at home unless CAAB has confirmed your paperwork and your safari operator has identified a lawful place to fly. A drone that is legal in open countryside may still be prohibited at a lodge, in a concession or near wildlife.

Last checked September 2026. Always confirm with official sources before travelling. This is general information, not legal advice. Drone requirements can change.

Quick answer: can tourists fly a drone in Botswana?

Yes, tourists may be able to fly a drone in Botswana, but they must meet CAAB requirements before operating it. The CAAB registration page says the rules cover private, commercial, corporate and special-use remotely piloted aircraft, with visual-line-of-sight operations as the standard and beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights requiring special approval.

• Is a permit or approval needed? Registration is required before operating a drone, and foreign visitors should notify CAAB in writing at least seven days before flying, according to current regulatory guidance.
• Can you fly in national parks? Do not assume so. National game parks and wildlife sanctuaries are listed as prohibited areas in the available Botswana operating guidance. Any exception would need written permission from CAAB or another relevant authority.
• Can you fly over a lodge or camp? No, the guidance lists tourism facilities such as hotels, lodges and campsites as restricted areas.
• Can you bring the drone through the airport? Arrange import or clearance permission before travel. Botswana safari guidance says drone importation is restricted and clearance must be arranged in advance.

The short version is simple: register first, obtain any required approval, and ask your safari operator about the exact location. Do not launch from a game drive vehicle or a lodge because the view looks clear.

Who regulates drones in Botswana?

The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana regulates civil aviation and drone operations. CAAB publishes the registration process, fee table, contact details and operating information for remotely piloted aircraft.

The relevant framework is the Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) Regulations 2024. A current regulatory summary identifies those regulations as the basis for drone operations in Botswana. Visitors should use the CAAB website and contact the authority directly rather than rely on an old blog, a social-media post or a drone retailer's advice.

CAAB's published page says its rules apply to remotely piloted aircraft with a maximum authorised take-off weight of 20 kilograms. The page also says the rules cover visual-line-of-sight operations and that beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations need special consideration approval.

That distinction matters on safari. A drone may travel farther than you can see it, but that does not mean the flight is lawful. First-person-view equipment does not remove the visual-line-of-sight requirement. Current guidance says an operator using FPV equipment must have a visual observer.

How much is a drone in Botswana?

If you mean the cost of registering a drone, CAAB's published fee table lists P1,050 for private use, P2,625 for commercial use and P3,150 for corporate use.

Use shown by CAAB	Published registration fee
Private use	P1,050
Commercial use	P2,625
Corporate use	P3,150

Those are registration fees, not the purchase price of a drone, a flight permit, an import charge or a safari operator's service fee. The research does not provide a reliable current retail price for drones sold in Botswana, so confirm any purchase price with a local retailer.

There is a fee discrepancy in online guidance. One non-government source lists different amounts and a separate temporary tourist category, including P4,025 for tourists. CAAB's own registration page lists P1,050, P2,625 and P3,150, but does not show that tourist amount. Treat the CAAB table as the stronger source and confirm the current fee and your correct category with CAAB before paying.

CAAB lists the Personnel Licensing Office at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone as the registration location. It also publishes personnellicensing@caab.co.bw, info@caab.co.bw and the telephone number 3688200/8345 for enquiries.

How to register and request approval before your safari

Start this process before you finalise your itinerary. The available guidance says foreign operators who want to fly must notify CAAB in writing at least seven days in advance. That is a minimum in the source, not a promise that an approval will arrive within seven days.

1. Contact CAAB. Tell the authority that you are an international visitor, give the drone's make, model and weight, and explain where and why you want to fly. Ask which registration and operating approvals apply to your trip. CAAB provides the relevant contact details on its registration page.
2. Submit the registration material. The available application guidance lists a passport or identification copy, proof of payment, an RPA user manual and completed forms among the requested documents. It also refers to fingerprint clearance from Botswana Police Services and an inspection of the drone.
3. Allow time for local steps. The same guidance says fingerprints and inspection may need to be completed in Botswana. A separate current summary reports that foreign applicants may be asked to travel to Gaborone or possibly Maun for a security interview and drone inspection. Confirm this directly with CAAB because it can affect your route and safari dates.
4. Wait for written confirmation. Carry the approval, registration certificate and supporting documents with the drone. Do not treat an email enquiry, an application receipt or permission from a lodge as permission to fly.
5. Confirm the exact launch site. Ask the lodge, concession manager, park authority and safari operator whether the location allows drone operations. Aviation approval alone may not give permission to use private land or enter a protected area.

The published CAAB page says all drones are registered through its Personnel Licensing Office. It also says incidents involving an RPA must be reported to the authority within 10 days in the circumstances described on that page.

If you are booking a safari, ask the operator this question before paying a deposit: "Can I legally launch a drone at the places on this itinerary, and who will obtain written permission?" A good operator can tell you when the answer is no. That is useful information, not a disappointment.

Customs: bringing a drone into Botswana

Bring the drone only after confirming the import and clearance process with the relevant Botswana authorities. Safari travel guidance says Botswana restricts drone importation and that clearance must be arranged beforehand.

The research does not establish a single current airport procedure, a guaranteed import fee or a guaranteed processing time for a tourist carrying one personal drone. Do not rely on a claim that drones are automatically accepted as ordinary camera equipment. Ask CAAB and Botswana customs what documents you need for your airport and itinerary, then keep their written response with your passport and equipment.

Pack the drone so officials can inspect it. Keep the aircraft, controller, batteries, charger, serial number and purchase documentation together. These are practical packing steps, not a substitute for an import permit or CAAB approval.

If you plan to fly only outside parks, import permission can still matter. Bringing the drone into the country and operating it are separate issues. Approval to enter does not automatically approve a flight, and a registration certificate does not automatically permit take-off at a lodge or reserve.

Can you fly a drone in Botswana's national parks?

As a general rule, no. Available Botswana operating guidance lists all national game parks and wildlife sanctuaries as prohibited areas for RPA flights. Treat national parks and protected wildlife areas as no-fly zones unless CAAB and the relevant park or land authority give you specific written permission.

This includes the places many visitors most want to film. A drone should not be launched in Chobe National Park, over animals, or from a camp inside a protected area without confirmed permission. The same caution applies to private reserves and concessions. Park status and land ownership may differ, but neither makes a flight automatically legal.

Wildlife is the main reason to be conservative. The available guidance prohibits flying over wildlife in a way that disturbs it. A drone's sound and movement can change animal behaviour, interrupt a hunt or push animals away from water. Do not chase an elephant, circle a lion or descend towards a nesting site for a closer shot.

South African national-park guidance also says drones are generally not allowed in national parks and conservation areas without a special permit and permission. That source is about South Africa, not Botswana, but it reflects the wider safari rule: protected areas treat drones as a wildlife and visitor-safety issue, not as ordinary camera gear.

Before booking, tell your operator that you have a drone. If your itinerary includes a park, a river concession or a private reserve, ask where it must remain packed. This avoids an awkward argument at camp and protects the animals you came to see.

Where else can you not fly?

The available Botswana guidance lists several additional restrictions. It says an RPA must not be flown in the following situations unless the required authority gives specific permission:

• Controlled airspace without permission from the relevant air traffic control authority and a maintained two-way communication link.
• Within 3 kilometres of an unmanned airfield unless the operator can monitor the specified frequency.
• Over major public roads, moving traffic, public gatherings or built-up areas.
• Adjacent to or above prisons, police stations, crime scenes, courts, government facilities, military sites and security installations.
• Over private property without the owner's permission.
• Over tourism facilities, including hotels, lodges and campsites.
• Within 200 metres of a power line.
• Across an international boundary.

The same guidance says flights should not take place in prohibited or restricted airspace identified in Botswana's Aeronautical Information Publication. If your route approaches an airport, border, town or government site, check the current airspace information with CAAB before you travel.

Do not assume that an empty-looking stretch of bush is unrestricted. A remote area may still be a wildlife sanctuary, private property, controlled airspace or part of a concession with its own permission requirements.

What are the penalties for breaking Botswana drone rules?

CAAB's registration page includes a penalties section, but the research provided here does not state a reliable current fine, prison term or equipment-seizure figure. Do not rely on online articles that quote a specific penalty unless CAAB or another official Botswana authority confirms it.

Flying without registration, entering a prohibited area or disturbing wildlife can expose you to official action, and the practical consequences may include a stopped flight, an investigation, removal from a site or loss of your equipment. The exact outcome depends on the offence and the authority involved. Ask CAAB for the current penalty provisions before operating.

Insurance does not make an illegal flight legal. Nor does a guide's informal approval. If you cannot produce written permission for the aircraft, the operator and the location, keep the drone packed.

Alternatives to flying your own drone

The easiest alternative is to book a safari that already has approved aerial photography, where available. Ask the operator whether the footage comes from a licensed local drone pilot and whether the flight has permission for the specific property and purpose. Do not assume that a commercial operator can fly in a national park simply because you are paying for the footage.

You can also use ground photography, a telephoto lens, a lodge lookout or footage supplied by the property. Many safari moments are better recorded from the ground anyway. A low-impact camera does not buzz over a herd or interrupt a quiet waterhole.

If aerial footage is central to your project, consider hiring a Botswana-based operator to handle the application and flight planning. The research confirms that specialist providers market local drone services, but it does not verify any particular provider's licence or approval. Check the operator's CAAB registration and written permissions yourself.

Planning your Botswana safari

Before you book, decide whether aerial filming is worth the registration, import and location approvals. If it is, contact CAAB before setting your dates and ask your safari operator which parts of the itinerary are legally off-limits. You can compare trips from verified operators in the trips below and request quotes, then ask the operators below how they handle drone restrictions.