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Border post · Botswana to South Africa

Martin's Drift

Central District · 23.00°S 27.94°E

Short answer

Martin's Drift border post is open from 06:00 to 22:00 on the Botswana side (checked 12 October 2026). It crosses to Groblersbrug in South Africa.

Hours
06:00 to 22:00Botswana side · checked
Other side
Groblersbrug (South Africa)
Nearest town
Palapye
Road
B140 / N11

What to know

  • Immigration Department, Wikipedia and Drive South Africa: 06:00 to 22:00. The BMA hours list shows 08:00 to 22:00 for Groblersbrug.
  • The main crossing for Palapye, Francistown and the north, over the Limpopo near Sherwood. It carries heavy truck traffic: the transport minister said in August 2025 that hauliers use it to avoid the cost of Beitbridge.
  • In August 2025 the government said it would move the post to 24 hours and a joint team with South Africa was working on a one-stop post. We have found no announcement since that either has happened, so plan on 06:00 to 22:00.
  • Floods shut the crossing in March 2025.
  • Foreign-registered cars pay a road permit, the road safety levy and third-party insurance at the customs counter on the way in. Drive South Africa (June 2026) puts the three at about P200 for a car, and we could not find an official BURS tariff to check that against. Carry pula as well as a card.

Bring with you

  • Your passport
  • The vehicle's registration papers
  • For a hired car, the rental company's letter of authority to take it across
  • Whatever South Africa asks of your passport: visa, fees and the papers it wants to see
Entry rules for South Africa

Quick answers

What time does Martin's Drift border post open and close?

06:00 to 22:00 on the Botswana side. Immigration Department, Wikipedia and Drive South Africa: 06:00 to 22:00. The BMA hours list shows 08:00 to 22:00 for Groblersbrug.

Where does Martin's Drift border post go?

It crosses to Groblersbrug in South Africa. The nearest Botswana town is Palapye.

Places to stay within 40 km

8
  • Baupo Game Lodge
    Guest house
    +27 78 478 6404baupogamelodge.co.za
    31.7 KM
  • Bua Nnete Guest House
    Hotel
    +27 72 378 3830buannete.co.za
    11.0 KM
  • Kokomori Birder's Lodge
    Hotel
    kokomori.co.za
    6.7 KM
  • Kwa Nokeng Lodge
    Hotel
    +267 491 5908kwanokeng.com
    28 M
  • Africa Ranch
    Campsite
    22.8 KM
  • Babala Lodge
    Hotel
    37.4 KM
  • Buffalo Thorn Lodge
    Hotel
    20.5 KM
  • Campsite Kokomori Birder's Lodge
    Campsite
    5.5 KM

Sources

  1. Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Botswana ports of entry with operating hours (PDF, updated April 2025, copy hosted by pcf11.org)checked 12 Oct 2026, official
  2. Botswana Unified Revenue Service, customs offices and border posts list (no hours given)checked 12 Oct 2026, official
  3. Border Management Authority, South African ports of entry (hours list)checked 12 Oct 2026, official
  4. Wikipedia, Botswana and South Africa border crossings tablechecked 12 Oct 2026, one source only
  5. Drive South Africa, Botswana border posts crossing guide (updated 12 June 2026)checked 12 Oct 2026, one source only
  6. Botswana Daily News (BOPA), Martins Drift border post potential revenue boost (11 August 2025)checked 12 Oct 2026, official
  7. Botswana Daily News (BOPA), Martins Drift project to ease traffic volumes (12 July 2023)checked 12 Oct 2026, official
  8. SAnews, BMA suspends operations at five ports of entry (3 March 2025)checked 12 Oct 2026, official

Cite as: Travel Africa Guide, "Martin's Drift border post hours", checked 12 October 2026, https://travelafrica.guide/botswana/border-posts/martins-drift/