Botswana

Conditional

Issuer: No permit for casual public photography; the Ministry of Environment and Tourism handles environmental filming and photography permits for protected areas

Cost: Personal and hobby photography is excluded. Commercial permit fees vary by activity and protected area; confirm current rates with the ministry before applying

Commercial filming and photography in national parks and game reserves uses the government's environmental permit process. Apply directly or through a registered film fixer, allow about 30 working days for review, and expect a memorandum of agreement before the permit is issued. Concession holders in the Okavango Delta add their own terms.

Regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) with registration, security clearance, and permit fees; drones are prohibited in all national parks, game reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries, including Chobe and Moremi

Special research permits exist but are rarely granted to visitors. Flying without registration risks confiscation and fines. For depth, see Drone Authority.

Yes to photograph in public

Street photography is lawful. Avoid military and government security sites, and ask before photographing people; in rural communities a greeting first is expected courtesy.

Restricted (no FoP)

The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2006 provides no freedom-of-panorama exception; the only related allowance (Section 18(b)) covers short excerpts for reporting current events. Selling images centered on copyrighted public art or modern architecture can require permission. Wildlife and landscapes, the reason photographers come, are unaffected. Wikimedia Commons classifies Botswana as no-FoP.