Drone Laws in Botswana
Drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Botswana.
Botswana Drone Regulations
Botswana Drone RegulationsAccording to Botswana’s national aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), flying a drone is legal in Botswana, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.
If you’d like to contact CAAB directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: caab@caab.co.bw / +267 368 8200
Why fly a drone in Botswana? To get aerial shots of beautiful spots like this!
General Rules for Flying a Drone in Botswana
Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Botswana.
- All drones must be registered with the CAAB.
- Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight with their drone while flying.
- Drones may be flown up to 400 feet above ground level, and no farther than 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the drone pilot.
- Drone pilots may not fly more than one drone at the same time.
- Drone pilots must be 18 years of age or older.
- Drones may not be flow within 3 kilometers (2 miles) of any airport or airfield.
- Drones must give the right away to manned aircraft.
- Drones may not be flown at night.
Drone Flights Request
1 – A photocopy of your driver’s license or passport.
3 – Payment proof (Private-P250 ($19); Commercial-P500 ($38)) is required for each application.
4 – The completed vetting form (DIS Form) (To be completed at CAAB)
6* – Authorization letter from the property owner (For commercial operation).
* Numbers 2 and 6 can be resolved only by the operator in Botswana.
Restricted Areas of Operation in Botswana
According to the CAAB’s Bye-Law 07 of 2016, it is illegal to operate a drone in the following areas:
- Within a controlled airspace unless with the specific permission of the relevant ATC authority and then only if two way communication with that authority can be maintained
- Within a 3 kilometer radius of an unmanned airfield unless the operator can monitor the unmanned airfield’s frequency of 125.5 MHz
- Over national game parks and wildlife sanctuaries
- Over any tourism facility
- Over any wildlife in a manner in which the drone may disturb such wildlife
- Within a lateral distance of 200 meters from any power line
- Across an international boundary if the drone is registered in Botswana
- Over any prohibited and restricted airspace specified in an AIP
- Over any major public roads
- Over any moving vehicular traffic
- Adjacent to or above a prison, police station, crime scene, court of law, and government facilities including military and security installations
- Over any private property unless with the specific permission of the owner
- Over built up areas
- Over public gatherings
In some instances the CAAB can grant permission to fly over the restricted areas of operation mentioned above. To request permission, contact the CAAB or relevant authority, and, in writing, give the following details:
- The drone’s certificate of registration number
- Date and time of proposed flight
- Reason for the proposed flight
For more information on Botswana’s drone laws, see this page on the CAAB website.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in Botswana? Send us an email at support@uavcoach.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Botswana can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Botswana? Here you go:
