Africa · Southern Africa

Botswana

Republic of Botswana

Flag of Botswana
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+02:00
🏛️ Capital
Gaborone
👥 Population
2,359,609
📐 Area
582,000 km²
💱 Currency
Botswana pula (P)
🗣️ Languages
English, Tswana
📞 Calling Code
+267
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+02:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Southern Africa

About Botswana

Botswana stands apart from most African destinations as a country that has deliberately chosen quality over quantity in tourism, protecting its extraordinary wildlife and wilderness while building one of Africa's most stable and prosperous democracies. Landlocked in the heart of southern Africa, this vast land — roughly the size of France — is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta, and an abundance of game that few places on Earth can rival.

Visiting Botswana means entering a world where elephants vastly outnumber people, where the silence of the bush is broken only by the distant roar of a lion or the splash of a hippo. The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the planet's great natural wonders — an inland delta where the Okavango River fans out into a labyrinth of channels, lagoons, and islands teeming with wildlife. Arriving by light aircraft and exploring by mokoro (dugout canoe) and on foot is an experience that stays with you forever.

For the discerning traveler willing to invest in the experience, Botswana offers some of Africa's finest safari lodges, many of them community-owned or conservation-focused. Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve round out a safari itinerary of remarkable depth. This is a destination for those who want Africa at its most authentic, unhurried, and wild.

History & Background

The San people have inhabited the lands of present-day Botswana for at least 100,000 years, leaving behind extraordinary rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills — a UNESCO World Heritage Site revered as the "Mountains of the Gods." Later, Tswana-speaking groups established powerful chiefdoms across the region, developing sophisticated cattle-based economies and the kgotla governance system.

In 1885, Botswana was declared the Bechuanaland Protectorate under British protection — a status that, crucially, the Tswana chiefs themselves had requested to protect their lands from Boer expansion and Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company. The country gained independence peacefully on 30 September 1966 as one of Africa's poorest nations. The subsequent discovery of diamonds transformed Botswana's fortunes: through disciplined management of mineral revenues, the country achieved some of the world's fastest economic growth rates over the following decades, becoming a celebrated African success story.

Culture & People

Botswana's cultural identity is anchored in the Tswana people and their concept of "botho" — a philosophy of human dignity, mutual respect, and community responsibility that permeates daily life. The country's post-independence success story is deeply tied to this ethos of collective well-being and good governance, making Botswana a model of democratic stability across the continent.

Traditional Tswana society organizes itself around the kgotla, a community assembly where elders, chiefs, and citizens discuss matters of shared concern in open dialogue. Craft traditions are proudly maintained — the intricate coiled basketry of the Okavango region, featuring geometric patterns drawn from nature, has won international recognition. Music, dance, and storytelling remain living traditions at festivals and family celebrations. The San (Bushmen) of the Kalahari carry some of humanity's oldest cultural memories in their click-language songs and rock paintings.

Food & Cuisine

Botswana's traditional cuisine is humble, nourishing, and deeply tied to cattle-herding culture. Seswaa — slow-cooked, pounded beef or goat meat with salt — is the national dish, typically served at ceremonies and celebrations alongside bogobe (thick sorghum or maize porridge, similar to ugali or sadza). Morogo, a dish of wild or cultivated leafy greens cooked with tomato and onion, provides the vegetable accompaniment found on most family tables.

Safari lodges typically offer international menus alongside Botswana specialities, often featuring locally raised beef, game meats such as kudu and impala, and fresh river fish including bream and catfish from the Okavango. Bush braai (barbecue) evenings under open skies are a highlight of many safari stays, where meals become a social ceremony around the fire. Chibuku, a traditional fermented sorghum beer, and locally brewed spirits such as sorghum-based khadi are the traditional drinks of choice.

Top Attractions

  • Okavango Delta — Africa's crown jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where channels, islands, and lagoons host extraordinary concentrations of wildlife best explored by mokoro canoe.
  • Chobe National Park — Home to the world's largest elephant population, with dramatic sunset boat cruises along the Chobe River offering unforgettable close-up wildlife encounters.
  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve — One of Africa's largest game reserves, offering solitude, black-maned Kalahari lions, and vast fossil river valleys under immense desert skies.
  • Tsodilo Hills — A UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 4,500 San rock paintings on quartzite ridges rising dramatically from the Kalahari sands.
  • Makgadikgadi Pans — Vast ancient salt pans that transform into a flamingo nursery during the wet season and host dramatic zebra migrations.
  • Moremi Game Reserve — Botswana's first community-managed game reserve within the Okavango Delta, renowned for wild dogs, leopard sightings, and exceptional birding.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Book safari lodges 6–12 months in advance for peak season (June–October), as Botswana's commitment to low-volume tourism means top camps fill up fast.
  • Carry US dollars or South African rand for smaller purchases; most lodges accept major credit cards but ATMs are limited outside Gaborone and Maun.
  • Pack neutral-colored clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives — bright colors can disturb wildlife.
  • Anti-malaria precautions are strongly recommended for Chobe, Okavango, and northern Botswana, particularly during the wet season.
  • Respect wildlife and maintain safe distances — Botswana's big-five wildlife is genuinely wild and dangerous.
  • Hire a registered local guide for mokoro excursions and walking safaris to enhance safety and local knowledge.

Visa Overview

Citizens of most Western nations including the United States, United Kingdom, EU countries, Canada, and Australia do not require a visa to enter Botswana for stays of up to 90 days. Entry is granted on arrival at international airports and border crossings upon presentation of a valid passport. Citizens of some African Union nations also enjoy visa-free access. Visitors from countries requiring visas must apply in advance at a Botswana embassy. Always verify the latest requirements before travel.

Getting Around

Light aircraft charter flights are the primary way to move between remote safari camps in Botswana — bush airstrips connect lodges across the Okavango, Chobe, and Kalahari with surprising efficiency. From Maun, the gateway town to the Okavango Delta, road transfers and boat rides reach closer camps. In the south, a reasonable road network connects Gaborone to Francistown and the border crossings with Zimbabwe and South Africa. Car rental is available in the main cities, and self-drive safari is increasingly popular on the main routes.

Safety Notes

Botswana is among Africa's safest travel destinations, with a low crime rate and a stable political environment. Exercise standard urban precautions in Gaborone and Francistown, particularly at night. Wildlife poses the most significant risk for safari travelers — never walk unguided in unfenced areas and always follow your guide's instructions. Malaria is present in northern regions; consult a travel health professional about prophylactics before departure. Dehydration and sun exposure are genuine risks in the Kalahari — carry ample water at all times.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Botswana.

Botswana pula (BWP) P
Updated: 2026-05-19
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.803714
AAVE 0.000826
ADA 0.292560
AED 0.270135
AFN 4.597903
AKT 0.091248
ALGO 0.684995
ALL 6.036789
AMD 27.071076
AMP 87.913717
ANG 0.132522
AOA 67.566837
APE 0.510047
APT 0.077911
AR 0.034431
ARB 0.629352
ARS 102.691211
ATOM 0.035752
ATS 0.869456
AUD 0.103062
AVAX 0.007970
AWG 0.131666
AXS 0.062642
AZM 625.229842
AZN 0.125046
BAKE 99.485775
BAM 0.123581
BAT 0.759223
BBD 0.147112
BCH 0.000194
BDT 9.038859
BEF 2.548911
BGN 0.123581
BHD 0.027657
BIF 219.129255
BMD 0.073556
BNB 0.000115
BND 0.094155
BOB 0.509806
BRL 0.368501
BSD 0.073556
BSV 0.004889
BSW 85.937072
BTC 0.000001
BTG 0.191212
BTN 7.090014
BTT 228,629.633108
BUSD 0.073593
BYN 0.202279
BYR 2,022.786953
BZD 0.148049
CAD 0.101124
CAKE 0.052032
CDF 168.807735
CELO 0.914102
CFX 1.249148
CHF 0.057802
CHZ 1.496019
CLP 66.276035
CNH 0.500477
CNY 0.500305
COMP 0.003339
COP 279.450143
CRC 33.300070
CRO 1.052583
CRV 0.311761
CSPR 24.899950
CUC 0.073556
CUP 1.764984
CVE 6.967504
CVX 0.042380
CYP 0.036981
CZK 1.536092
DAI 0.073593
DASH 0.001715
DCR 0.004370
DEM 0.123581
DFI 74.906689
DJF 13.088500
DKK 0.472173
DOGE 0.705241
DOP 4.354220
DOT 0.058903
DYDX 0.508539
DZD 9.765171
EEK 0.988646
EGLD 0.018766
EGP 3.922196
ENJ 1.712605
EOS 0.909299
ERN 1.103343
ESP 10.513242
ETB 11.582546
ETC 0.008259
ETH 0.000035
EUR 0.063186
EURC 0.063137
FEI 0.073837
FIL 0.076223
FIM 0.375686
FJD 0.162198
FKP 0.054840
FLOW 2.038437
FLR 8.805637
FRAX 0.074074
FRF 0.414472
FTT 0.227659
GALA 21.876658
GBP 0.054840
GEL 0.196504
GGP 0.054840
GHC 8,414.764924
GHS 0.841476
GIP 0.054840
GMD 5.433843
GMX 0.011117
GNF 645.218932
GNO 0.000622
GRD 21.530581
GRT 2.924591
GT 0.010368
GTQ 0.560747
GUSD 0.073720
GYD 15.384024
HBAR 0.817169
HKD 0.576039
HNL 1.956759
HNT 0.089315
HOT 185.387271
HRK 0.476074
HT 0.507250
HTG 9.627593
HUF 22.784445
ICP 0.028481
IDR 1,303.791829
IEP 0.049763
ILS 0.213484
IMP 0.054840
IMX 0.432099
INJ 0.014113
INR 7.090014
IQD 96.377747
IRR 96,958.846595
ISK 9.060796
ITL 122.344879
JEP 0.054840
JMD 11.631204
JOD 0.052151
JPY 11.690572
KAS 2.128485
KAVA 1.277199
KCS 0.009182
KDA 8.842928
KES 9.512167
KGS 6.434456
KHR 295.011349
KLAY 1.414119
KMF 31.085404
KNC 0.512306
KPW 66.199108
KRW 110.714964
KSM 0.014772
KWD 0.022644
KYD 0.061181
KZT 34.514782
LAK 1,613.417745
LBP 6,594.157316
LDO 0.206530
LEO 0.007292
LINK 0.007589
LKR 24.497026
LRC 4.538667
LRD 13.481285
LSL 1.224658
LTC 0.001355
LTL 0.218168
LUF 2.548911
LUNA 1.162157
LUNC 935.839476
LVL 0.044407
LYD 0.467073
MAD 0.676936
MANA 0.834619
MBX 1.878462
MDL 1.272896
MGA 307.784360
MGF 1,538.921801
MINA 1.287625
MKD 3.893778
MKR 0.000043
MMK 154.412442
MNT 263.256020
MOP 0.593321
MRO 29.409534
MRU 2.940953
MTL 0.027126
MUR 3.477959
MVR 1.136044
MWK 128.021364
MXN 1.272871
MXV 0.144038
MYR 0.292337
MZM 4,698.062518
MZN 4.698063
NAD 1.224658
NEAR 0.045586
NEO 0.025441
NEXO 0.082698
NFT 260,071.991743
NGN 100.850150
NIO 2.703749
NLG 0.139243
NOK 0.682132
NPR 11.349340
NZD 0.125636
OKB 0.000900
OMR 0.028295
ONE 35.884844
OP 0.572923
ORDI 0.017672
PAB 0.073556
PAXG 0.000016
PEN 0.251726
PEPE 19,973.857527
PGK 0.324980
PHP 4.539234
PI 0.484592
PKR 20.493192
PLN 0.268058
POL 0.809198
PTE 12.667627
PYG 447.695409
QAR 0.267744
QNT 0.000983
QTUM 0.081461
ROL 3,291.637448
RON 0.329164
RPL 0.042382
RSD 7.416093
RUB 5.330980
RUNE 0.164358
RVN 13.309256
RWF 107.547496
SAND 1.021398
SAR 0.275836
SBD 0.588903
SCR 1.079849
SDD 4,415.068603
SDG 44.150686
SEK 0.692095
SGD 0.094155
SHIB 12,761.338454
SHP 0.054840
SIT 15.141859
SKK 1.903537
SLE 1.684795
SLL 1,684.794503
SNX 0.237461
SOL 0.000865
SOS 42.032639
SPL 0.012259
SRD 2.738114
SRG 2,738.113869
SSP 346.790022
STD 1,564.741783
STN 1.564742
STX 0.307923
SUI 0.069519
SVC 0.643616
SYP 8.130579
SZL 1.224658
THB 2.399425
THETA 0.372579
TJS 0.684684
TMM 1,289.888912
TMT 0.257978
TND 0.213615
TON 0.036554
TOP 0.174984
TRL 3,352,946.006722
TRX 0.206225
TRY 3.352946
TTD 0.498935
TUSD 0.073646
TVD 0.103062
TWD 2.327153
TWT 0.153937
TZS 191.394671
UAH 3.246884
UGX 277.210901
UNI 0.020832
USD 0.073556
USDC 0.073581
USDD 0.073631
USDP 0.073656
USDT 0.073623
UYU 2.948398
UZS 885.029770
VAL 122.344879
VEB 3,805,252,688.491932
VED 38.050829
VEF 3,805,082.923768
VES 38.050829
VET 10.919693
VND 1,936.763844
VUV 8.733613
WAVES 0.193532
WEMIX 0.272294
WOO 4.355503
WST 0.198238
XAF 41.447205
XAG 0.000966
XAU 0.000016
XAUT 0.000016
XBT 0.000001
XCD 0.199142
XCG 0.132522
XCH 0.026502
XDC 2.366224
XDR 0.053811
XEC 10,027.573399
XEM 110.521846
XLM 0.501035
XMR 0.000190
XOF 41.447205
XPD 0.000052
XPF 7.540078
XPT 0.000037
XRP 0.053216
XTZ 0.215125
YER 17.551967
ZAR 1.224658
ZEC 0.000128
ZIL 18.709117
ZMK 1,390.211365
ZMW 1.390211
ZWD 26.619977
ZWG 1.905857
ZWL 4,762.209953

No currencies match your search.

Cities in Botswana 331
Browse all cities and towns
Artisia Beetsha Bere Bethel Boatlaname Bodibeng Bokaa Bokaa Boro Borobadilepe Botlhapatlou Botlhatlogo Chanoga Charles Hill Chobokwane Chuchubega D'kar Daonara Dekar Diabo Diagane Digawana Dikgonye Dikhukhung Dikwididi Dinatshana Diphudugodu Dipotsana Diremogolo Lands Ditlharapa Ditshegwane Ditshiping Ditshukudu Dumadumane Dutlwe East Hanahai Eretsha Etsha 1 Etsha 13 Etsha 6 Etsha 8 Etsha 9 Francistown Gabane Gaborone Gakgatla Gakuto Galekgatshwane Gamajalela Gamodubu Gane Gaphatshwa Gasita Gathwane Ghanzi Ghanzi Gonutsuga Good Hope Goora-seno Gopong Gowe Groote Laagte Gudingwa Gumare Habu Hatsalatladi Hebron Ikoga Itholoke Jao Jwaneng Jwaneng Kacgae Kachikau Kajaja Kamenakwe Kanaku Kangwe Kanye Kanye Kapotora Lands Karakobis Kareng Kasane Katamaga Kaudwane Kauxwhi Kavimba Kazungula Keng Kgakge Kgaphamadi Kgomodiatshaba Kgomokasitwa Kgope Kgoro Khakhea Khekhenya-Chepetese Khonkhwa Khudumelapye Khurutshe Khwai Camp Kokong Komana Kopong Kotolaname Kubung Kuke Quarantine Camp Kule Kumakwane Kweneng Legotlhwana Lehoko Lejwana Lekgolobotlo Lentsweletau Lephepe Leporung Leshibitse Lesirane Lesoma Letlhakeng Lobatse Logagane Lorolwana Lorwana Losilakgokong Lotlhakane Lotlhakane West Mababe Mabalane Maboane Mabule Mabutsane Madingwana Magoriapitse Magotlhawane Mahalapye Mahetlwe Mahotshwane Maisane Makabanyane-Dikgokong Makalamabedi Makokwe Makunda Malokaganyane Malolwane Malotwana Siding Malwelwe Mamhiko Manaledi Mantshwabisi Manyana Maokane Marejwane Marojane Maruswa Masebele Masunga Matebeleng Matlapana Matsaudi Matswee Maun Maun Mawana Medie Metlobo Metlojane Metsibotlhoko Metsimotlhaba Mmadinare Mmakanke Mmakgori Mmamashia Mmankgodi Mmanoko Mmathethe Mmathubudukwane Mmokolodi Mmopane Mmopane Lands Moaha Mochudi Mochudi Modipane Mogoditshane Mogoditshane Botswana Defence Mogoditshane Lands Mogojogojo Mogonono Mogonye Mogwalale Mohembo East Mohembo West Mokatako Mokgacha Mokgalo-Haka Mokgomane Mokhomba Molapowabojang Molepolole Molete Mononyane Monwane Morabane Morope Morutsha Morwa Morwamosu Moshaneng Moshaweng Moshupa Moshupa Mosokotswe Motlhwatse Motokwe Motsentshe Muchinje-Mabale Musi Nata Ncojane New Xade New Xanagas Ngarange Ngware Ngwatsau Nkoyaphiri Nokaneng Ntlhantlhe Nxamasere Nxaunxau Nxharaga Nxwee Oliphants Drift Oodi Orapa Orapa Palapye Pandamatenga Pandamatenga Botswana Defence Papatlo Parakarungu Phihitshwane Phuduhudu Pilane Pitsana-Potokwe Pitsane Pitseng-Ralekgetho Pitshane Molopo Qabo Qangwa Rakhuna Ralekgetho Ramaphatlhe Ramatlabama Ramonaka Ramotlabaki Ramotswa Ranaka Rasesa Roye Salajwe Samochema Samodupi Sankuyo Satau Sedibeng Segakwana Segwagwa Seherelela Sehithwa Sekhutlane Sekoma Sekondomboro Selokolela Semane Semboyo Sepopa Serinane Seronga Serowe Sese Sesung Sesung Sexaxa Shadishadi Shakawe Shakawe Shaowe Sheep Farm Shorobe Sikwane Sojwe Somela Sorilatholo Sowa Suping Takatokwane Thamaga Thebephatshwa Tlhankane Tlhareseleele Tlokweng Tlowaneng Tobere Lands Tonota Toteng Tsabong Tsanekona Tsao Tsetseng Tshidilamolomo Tshwaane Tsonyane Tsootsha Tswaane Tswaaneng Tswagare-Lothoje-Lokalana Tswanyaneng Tubu Tubu Lands Tutume West Hanahai Xadau Xakao Xaxa Xaxaba Xhauga Xhobe Xurube

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Botswana needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Botswana?
The capital of Botswana is Gaborone.
What currency does Botswana use?
Botswana uses the Botswana pula (P) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Botswana?
The official language(s) of Botswana include English, Tswana.
What is the population of Botswana?
Botswana has a population of approximately 2,359,609 people.
What region is Botswana in?
Botswana is located in Africa, specifically in the Southern Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Botswana?
The international dialing code for Botswana is +267.
What time zones does Botswana observe?
Botswana observes the following time zone(s): UTC+02:00.
What is the current time in Botswana?
The local time in Botswana is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Botswana?
Botswana covers a total area of 582,000 km².
How many states or provinces does Botswana have?
Botswana is divided into 30 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Botswana in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Botswana in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Botswana?
Visa requirements for citizens of Botswana vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.