Well, Bonzaii, all depends on how you budget. I got away with spending a tad shy of 1000usd per month. And I was there together with my wife. And we went Nam - Bots and back again. And Vic Falls inbetween, and some sightseeing on top of that.

But then again we stayed at campsites while some had private rooms in hostels, travelled from Windhuk to Swakop with a combi while some rented cars, and hitchhiked form Maun to Kasane and back while some took flights. :)

ahh, yes, but is the market flooded with low hour pilots? are there still chances?

Well I doubt it's flooded with ATPs

I think 350tt qualifies as low time

It's not flooded with pilots. But I can't stress enough how important it is to come with the ratings. Specially a GA8.

if i do jump across the ditch, i plan on having a 210 rating with 5-10hrs (i know a guy), also considering doing the bush course over there when i arrive ( equals more time in the country for the employers, bush flying experience, and a reason to bring all my gear if issues at the border) - though i could just do a bush flying course in NZ instead, might be a bit more complete.

lilflyboy262...2
I heard 206/210 were the most valuable for africa?

C207 time couldn't hurt as well.

Oh, I forgot to add something about vaccinations. SOME of the shots are much cheaper here than in the US. I paid around $150 per rabies shot in the US and it was $39 here in Botswana.

heading to maun
 

Hello. I am heading to maun in the first week of December. I might be a bit late since I am still awaiting my visa. I was looking for a place to stay and preferably would love to share it wuth a similar person who is out looking for a job. Anyone interested can reply to this post.

have a good day guys.

A bush flying course is useless to be honest. Sure it's a fun way to get some hours but the flying it teaches in impractical in Botswana.
A C210 rating isn't that good for Botswana. Sure there is a few companies that fly them but not as the mainstay of the fleet.
A 210 will help you in getting a job in Namibia however.
A C207 will only get you into one company in maun.
C206s are handy, but companies are slowly phasing them out. You will need on to be considered at wilderness however.
A GA8 rating is worth it's weight in gold. But only in Maun...

Little story to lighten the load:
Last year, before I went to Africa and got my Hep A, Yellow fever and Meningitis shots in Russia (cost me $50 for everything) I asked about Malaria and anything I can take do to, well...not get it.
Doctor said to use Maleron, but when I said that I was going there to fly aircraft, her eyes almost shot out of her sockets and she said repeatedly: "No, No, No! Do not, under any circumstance take any anti-malaria medication if you plan to operate anything more complex than a car! They all have side effects like hallucinations and disorientation! Promise me you will not take anything!" She then gave me a container of pills and said: "if you feel any flu-like symptoms when you are in Africa, it is not the flu. It is Malaria, and only then do you take these pills!"

Africa
 

I was based in Nigeria and Tanzania.
I took those pills as an Anti Malarial protection.
Malarone and they are approved by USA-FAA

You want doxycycline for malaria, it's cheap, readily available, has no major side effects, heck they even use to to treat acne.

I've also been told that the best way to go about things is to take the doxy until you are settled in with everything, then go off it, if you think you're getting sick get a $5 blood test, if you are positive for malaria then self administer the curative malaria kit (CMK).

I was told by my doctor, that to take malaria meds for more than 30 days was hazardous to your kidneys and/or liver.
So best to wait until you get flu symptoms and then start taking the meds right away, and get to a hospital/doctor to be tested, if you've got it, then they meds they give for it will be the same, so you just keep taking it. If you don't have it, you don't risk much.
But the "preventative" doesn't actually prevent it, what it does is get the medicine in your blood stream early, so the symptoms are reduced. If you start taking the meds at the first sign of flu symptoms, you get about the same effect.
My wife, and her family, have all had numerous bouts of malaria, the first few times they take the meds, and then the next few times the symptoms are significantly less and they don't take the meds, by the 5th or 6th time, it's just a few days "flu".

I'm on my way! See you all in a couple of days :)

Hello everyone i'll be coming over there by 10th, right now just getting my necessary paperwork done, see you guys there :)
By the way just curious to ask, Is anyone who is coming from Joburg close to or around 10th? I mean we can share the gas or rent if you are planning to go by car or something.

DRS absolutely correct. 3 months is the limit for most prophylaxis otherwise there is a danger of liver damage. Stick to quinine in the form of G&T. Still get liver damage but it is more enjoyable :ok:

Wow! has Bots changed it's immigration laws re: India?

I'm coming there in jan. will be camping in audi camp.

how many hours you guys think should be good I'm a CFII with MEL rating and have about 400 some hours. any chances to get a job.

My advice is don't stay at Audi. It's nice, but a very long way from town.

You'll be better off at Sedia or Motsebe

Stay in the US and work as a CFII. Better hours and more hours.
I started working as a lowly CFI 6 months ago, I'm up to around 700h now.