Bass Digest/August, 2014
least prevent a rapid anti-climax to your trip being cut short before getting a line in the water.
We are going to be touching on the following aspects :
- Border Control
- Road Rules
- Accommodation
- Water Craft
- Fishing Permit
- Dam Location
- Fishing Equipment
Border Control
Etiquette
It is essential to keep your cool at all times when entering the border control area’s. Getting upset and losing your temper will definitely not work in your favour. Be polite and calm and before you know it you will be on your merry way in no time. Greet men with “Dumela RA” and ladies with “Dumela MA”, it is a form of respect and can mean the difference between getting a gate pass or getting a one way ticket to a 2 hour “routine” inspection of your vehicle and passengers.
Vehicle Clearance
Ensure that you have written Authorisation on a letter head from your Vehicle Finance and Insurance institutions that you are permitted to take the vehicle across the border. Border control usually doesn’t ask for this paperwork, but don’t be the unlucky individual that gets turned away at the border after travelling all that way because of one silly piece of paper. This written authorisation can be easily obtained and usually takes only 2-3 days to get your hands on.
Passport
Make 100% sure your passport is valid. At the very least if your passport is nearing it’s renewal ensure that your passport will only expire 30 days after your return to your home country. Also ensure that you have at least 2 fully free pages left in your passport.
Do not attempt to cross the Botswana on any kind of emergency travel documents. Botswana border control is becoming really sticky about people travelling on temporary passports. So plan up front and get your proper passport sorted out. Home Affairs has really bucked up their delivery on passport applications and it took a mere 7 days after application to receive my new passport.
Declaration
Do yourself a favour and declare your fishing equipment on entry. Complete a “FORM J” and
Article & Images by Brent Webber