For a temporary import a carnet is definitely necessary. Try to get one from your local automobile association.
Roads are generally fine in Southern Africa, ranging from "mostly tarmac" in South Africa to 85% gravel roads in Namibia. Cant say about the more northerly states like Malawi etc.
South Africa, Namibia & Lesotho offer a lot of scenic roads and as for NAM very remote and solitary areas. The countries further north have a less pronounced infrastructure - or should I say: They represent the "real" Africa ;-) Beautiful! You didnt mention Lesotho, but I consider it as much more exciting than Swaziland.
Botswana is rather flat and boring to ride, but their game reserves are dont offer the infrastructure like eg. the Kruger NP in S.A., but there you are really "in the bush", camping in the wild, keeping off the predators with a campfire. But I doubt whether you will be allowed inside on a bike, except for the transit roads passing through the Chobe NP and a few others. There you go zig-zagging through heaps of elephant dung - quite scary ;-)
For local information and contacts take a look at the following South African bikers' site:
http://wilddogtours.co.za/forum/
Hans
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Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
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