Southern Africa · UN member
Botswana: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Botswana
Botswana is a country in Southern Africa with its capital in Gaborone. It has a population of 2.6 million (#143 in the world) and covers 581,730 km². The official languages are English and Tswana. The currency is the Botswana pula (BWP, P).
Where is Botswana? Map of Botswana
Southern Africa, north of South Africa.
- Region
- Southern Africa
- Coordinates
- 22° S, 24° E
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Botswana
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Botswana showing Gaborone (capital) and the largest cities: Francistown, Maun, Molepolole, Serowe, Palapye, Mahalapye, Kanye and Selebi-Phikwe.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Botswana
- Passport
Botswana's eVisa application terms say the passport must have at least six months' validity left and at least three unused pages.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 102 need no visa, 95 need an eVisa, 1 needs a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Botswana entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Botswana's eVisa application terms list, for tourists, a tour plan or copy of the travel schedule, flight bookings, confirmation of bookings at hotels or lodges, and a return ticket.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Vaccinations
WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from, or having transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Customs allowance
The UK Foreign Office says to declare foreign or local cash currency taken into Botswana if the value is BWP 10,000 or more, and that if you do not, you could be liable to prosecution.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Botswana
- Safety: Botswana is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Botswana Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May and August — when daytime highs in Gaborone are around 25–26°C.
- Money: the Botswana pula (BWP) — 1 US dollar is about 13.7413 BWP.
- Plugs: type D, G and M, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999, Ambulance 997, Fire 998.
- Language: English and Tswana are official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+2 in Gaborone.
- Capital: Gaborone. About 2.6 million people live in Botswana.
- Outdoors: 3 national parks.
Key facts
Botswana at a glance
Languages spoken: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Geography & history
About Botswana
In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of B…
Read the full history
In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana." More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 2019, and he is Botswana’s fifth president since independence. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Location
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Climate
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Highest point
Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m
Natural resources
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
National symbols
zebra
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Botswana
The default speed limits in Botswana are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 3030 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)16.5 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Botswana safe to visit?
Botswana is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Botswana Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about entry requirements for those entering from Ebola-affected regions ('Entry requirements' page).
Updated 1 Jun 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Botswana
The best time to visit Botswana is May and August, when daytime highs in Gaborone are around 25–26°C. April and June to July are also a good time to go. November is the warmest month (33°C by day), July the coldest (5°C at night), and December the wettest with about 90 mm of rain.
- Jan33°C19°C
- Feb32°C19°C
- Mar31°C17°C
- Apr28°C13°C
- May25°C9°C
- Jun22°C5°C
- Jul21°C5°C
- Aug26°C8°C
- Sep30°C12°C
- Oct33°C16°C
- Nov33°C17°C
- Dec33°C19°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Botswana
Plugs & sockets
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
- Type Mthree large round pins in a triangle
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
3 national parks in Botswana
- 19,180 km² protected
- oldest from 1967
Largest: Chobe National Park · Makgadikgadi Pans National Park · Nxai Pan National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Botswana pula exchange rates today
Botswana uses the Botswana pula (BWP, P). One US dollar buys 13.7413 BWP; over the last 30 days the BWP has lost 1.1% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in BWP
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Botswana ranks
How Botswana compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Botswana
129 airports and airfields — 4 large, 3 medium and 120 small, plus 2 heliports. 5 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Botswana borders 4 countries along 4,347 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Motswana armed forces
Botswana ranks #124 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $614 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Gaborone (269,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Export partners
UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)
Top exports
diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Botswana
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec).
Motswana passport
Ranked #106: 48 countries visa-free, 24 with visa on arrival, 7 with an eTA and 29 with an eVisa.
Motswana passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Botswana's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Botswana
Dial +267 before the local number. Internet domain .bw.
Climate footprint
7.5 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 2.96 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Botswana: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Botswana
Botswana Places Third in Africa for Remote Workers but Lacks a Nomad Visa
A new 2026 ranking puts Botswana third in Africa for remote workers on safety grounds, but the country has no digital nomad visa. Travellers working …
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IziVisas places the Nigerian passport 181st worldwide and 47th out of 54 African countries in its 2026 assessment, giving holders visa-free access to…
Nigerian travellers' visa-free access shrinks, complicating trips to Botswana and beyond
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Frequently asked questions about Botswana
What do I need to travel to Botswana?
How long must my passport be valid for Botswana?
Where is Botswana?
What is Botswana known for?
What is the capital of Botswana?
What language is spoken in Botswana?
What currency does Botswana use?
What is the calling code of Botswana?
Which countries border Botswana?
How strong is the Motswana passport?
What is the speed limit in Botswana?
Is Botswana safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
What plug type does Botswana use?
How many airports does Botswana have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.