Travel has always been a part of medical education. Many of the great figures of British psychiatry seemed to have derived some of their inspiration from periods spent in European clinics, and more recently no c.v. seemed truly complete without the all important ‘Been to America’. Unfortunately, as the Atlantic has become cheaper to cross, the professional welcome at the other end has become increasingly lukewarm and the VQE and FLEX have proved substantial deterrents. There are, however, several alternatives which are worth considering. From 1980 to 1983 I worked as a psychiatrist in Africa, in the Republic of Botswana, and I thought a description of some of the practical aspects involved in making such a step might be of interest.