Botswana/South Africa: Tlokweng Border Post temporarily closed! [update]

update (24 September 2025): BURS has confirmed that services at the border post have resumed! 

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has announced the temporary closure of the Tlokweng Border Post, known on the South African side as the Kopfontein Border Post, on 24 September 2025. The closure is due to operational challenges and will affect all travellers, commuters, and cross-border trade for the day.

The Tlokweng/Kopfontein Border Post is one of the busiest crossings between Gaborone, Botswana, and Zeerust, South Africa, located just 15 km east of Gaborone's city centre. It is a key port of entry for private travellers, tourist traffic, and commercial trucks heading to and from South Africa.

Alternative Ports of Entry

During the closure, travellers are advised to use nearby border posts, such as:

• Ramotswa Border Post (South Africa: Swartkopfontein) – located southwest of Gaborone, ideal for those heading to or from Zeerust or Rustenburg.
• Pioneer Gate Border Post (South Africa: Skilpadshek) – the main border crossing on the Trans-Kalahari Highway (A2/N4), suitable for commercial and long-distance travellers between Gaborone and Johannesburg/Pretoria.
• Lobatse Border Post (South Africa: Ramatlabama) – located further south, convenient for travellers connecting to Mahikeng.

Travellers should plan their journeys accordingly, allow extra time for possible congestion at alternative crossings, and stay updated on announcements from BURS and the South African Border Management Authority.

 

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Botswana-South Africa border post update: Bray Border Post temporarily closed!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has announced the temporary closure of the Bray Border Post, a crossing point between Botswana and South Africa. The closure is the result of flooding caused by recent heavy rains in the region.
Travellers planning to cross between southern Botswana and South Africa’s North West Province are advised to use alternative border posts and routes until further notice. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as conditions change.

The Bray Border Post is a small but vital port of entry, connecting Bray, South Africa, to southern Botswana. It serves nearby Botswana towns such as Werda (approximately 55 km from the border) and Khakhea (around 95 km away).

Travel Advisory: Temporary closure of Phitshane Molopo Border Post between Botswana and South Africa! [update]

update (17 April 2025): BURS has announced that operations at the Phitshane Molopo Border Post (South Africa: Makgobistad Border Post) has resumed yesterday (16 April 2025). This follows temporary closure of the border post due to flooding of the Molopo River.

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has issued an important travel advisory regarding the temporary closure of the Phitshane Molopo Border Post (South Africa: Makgobistad Border Post). The closure is due to rising water levels in the Molopo River, and it will remain in effect until further notice.
Travellers planning to cross between Botswana and South Africa are strongly advised to use alternative ports of entry during this period. Popular alternatives include Ramatlabama, Tlokweng/Kopfontein, and Pioneer/Skilpadshek, though increased traffic and possible delays are expected at these posts.

The Phitshane Molopo Border Post is located in southern Botswana's Southern District, connecting to South Africa's North West Province via the Makgobistad Border Post. Though considered a minor border crossing, it plays an important role for local communities and regional travelers.

• Operating hours: 07:00 – 16:00 daily (temporarily suspended)
• Road access (Botswana side): Tarred B211 road, offering smoother travel
• Road access (South Africa side): Rural gravel roads, often affected by weather and terrain

Botswana-South Africa border post update: Bray Border Post reopened!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has officially announced the reopening of the Bray Border Post on 01 April 2025. The crossing, which connects Botswana and South Africa, was temporarily closed due to flooding of the Molopo River. Travellers can once again use this convenient entry point for cross-border movement between the two countries.

The Bray Border Post is a small but essential crossing between South Africa's North West province and southern Botswana  It is located near Bray, South Africa, with the nearest Botswana towns being    Werda (55 km away) and Khakhea (95 km away).

The standard operating hours for the Bray Border Post are from 07:00 to 16:00 daily. Facilities at the border post are limited. Travellers should ensure they carry all necessary documentation, including a valid passport and vehicle papers. Fuel is available on both sides of the border. However, it's advisable to confirm availability in advance, especially on the Botswana side, as the next fuel stations are located in Sekoma (185 km away), Phepeng (110 km), or Tsabong (195 km).

For hassle-free travel, plan ahead and check for any updates on border conditions before your journey. Stay tuned for more travel news and updates!

Botswana-South Africa border post update: Martin’s Drift Border Post to reopen!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has issued a travel advisory confirming the reopening of the Martin's Drift border post (South Africa: Grobler’s Bridge/Groblersbrug border post) on 27 March 2025. The crossing was temporarily closed due to flooding of the Limpopo River.

The Martin's Drift border post (South Africa: Grobler’s Bridge/Groblersbrug border post) is a key gateway between Botswana and South Africa, operating daily from 06:00 to 22:00. Travellers are advised to arrive early to avoid delays, especially during peak travel seasons, school holidays, and long weekends, when long queues are common. The crossing is also a major route for trucks transporting goods between South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia, adding to congestion.

For hassle-free travel, ensure you have all necessary travel documents and factor in potential delays. Stay updated for further announcements regarding border crossing regulations and traffic conditions.

Botswana/South Africa: Three border posts currently inaccessible!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), the revenue service and a government agency of the Botswana government, just informed the public that there is traffic disruption on the roads linking Botswana and South Africa. The affected border posts are Pioneer Gate/Skilpadshek, Ramotswa/Swartkopfontein and Tlokweng/Kopfontein. BURS is advising travellers to use alternative ports of entry. We'll keep you posted!

Botswana bans the use of any foreign currency!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has announced that it will no longer accept any foreign currency as payment from 01 August 2019. The decision to ban the use of foreign currencies is made to curb high administrative costs incurred by BURS as the cost of converting foreign currency to Botswana Pula is increasingly becoming financially unsustainable. For continued smooth service, BURS provides Point of Sale (PoS) facilities at Botswana's ports of entries as well as at all BURS offices. Furthermore, there are operational bureau exchange services providers at all of the country's major ports of entry to facilitate foreign exchange services.