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: 2026-10-05
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.693817
AAVE 0.000401
ADA 0.271471
AED 0.265904
AFN 4.669499
AKT 0.091395
ALGO 0.552896
ALL 5.919509
AMD 26.228820
AMP 114.434112
ANG 0.130365
AOA 66.436973
APE 0.431587
APT 0.091602
AR 0.016181
ARB 0.360143
ARS 110.938771
ATOM 0.041574
ATS 0.890866
AUD 0.104366
AVAX 0.006647
AWG 0.129603
AXS 0.055276
AZM 615.444487
AZN 0.123089
BAKE 301.503033
BAM 0.126624
BAT 0.704930
BBD 0.144808
BCH 0.000227
BDT 8.903573
BEF 2.611676
BGN 0.126624
BHD 0.027224
BIF 218.218327
BMD 0.072404
BNB 0.000092
BND 0.092813
BOB 0.867175
BRL 0.378018
BSD 0.072404
BSV 0.003622
BSW 174.297569
BTC 0.000001
BTCB 1.021624
BTG 0.109444
BTN 6.982896
BTT 193,347.279086
BUSD 0.072235
BYN 0.217614
BYR 1,417.096720
BZD 0.145727
CAD 0.103427
CAKE 0.028989
CDF 167.361680
CELO 0.688514
CFX 1.342721
CHF 0.060098
CHZ 4.332089
CLP 70.944387
CNH 0.485884
CNY 0.485478
COMP 0.002888
COP 237.513802
CRC 33.168067
CRO 1.060484
CRV 0.189066
CSPR 28.087048
CUC 0.072301
CUP 1.733867
CVE 7.139074
CVX 0.031085
CYP 0.037892
CZK 1.581474
DAI 0.072314
DASH 0.001216
DCR 0.003929
DEM 0.126624
DFI 109.441871
DJF 12.911689
DKK 0.483883
DOGE 0.759869
DOP 4.333984
DOT 0.059669
DYDX 0.500195
DZD 9.679793
EEK 1.012991
EGLD 0.016211
EGP 3.811721
ENJ 2.165981
EOS 0.750874
ERN 1.086060
ESP 10.772123
ETB 11.820849
ETC 0.008078
ETH 0.000027
EUR 0.064742
EURC 0.064622
FEI 0.072303
FIL 0.069025
FIM 0.384937
FJD 0.163190
FKP 0.054813
FLOW 2.289662
FLR 10.022982
FRAX 0.072948
FRF 0.424678
FTT 0.283183
GALA 29.196215
GBP 0.054813
GEL 0.187917
GGP 0.054813
GHC 8,488.830064
GHS 0.848883
GIP 0.054813
GMD 5.363064
GMX 0.008634
GNF 637.265816
GNO 0.000599
GRD 22.060756
GRT 2.419051
GT 0.006523
GTQ 0.553270
GUSD 0.072438
GYD 15.134482
HBAR 0.701856
HKD 0.568131
HNL 1.948442
HNT 0.126032
HOT 161.710100
HRK 0.487797
HT 2.004990
HTG 9.474410
HUF 23.871743
ICP 0.022246
IDR 1,299.029808
IEP 0.050988
ILS 0.220965
IMP 0.054813
IMX 0.398487
INJ 0.009574
INR 6.982896
IQD 94.794192
IRR 126,276.295651
ISK 8.881718
ITL 125.357533
JEP 0.054813
JMD 11.453133
JOD 0.051334
JPY 11.445293
KAS 1.695471
KAVA 1.051181
KCS 0.009662
KDA 7.791796
KES 9.325007
KGS 6.332108
KHR 293.549462
KLAY 1.920063
KMF 31.850859
KNC 0.514461
KPW 65.070791
KRW 97.497676
KSM 0.014047
KWD 0.022366
KYD 0.060080
KZT 32.473248
LAK 1,631.893386
LBP 6,490.749261
LDO 0.155284
LEO 0.008105
LINK 0.005137
LKR 23.928314
LRC 6.880913
LRD 12.433537
LSL 1.211641
LTC 0.001034
LTL 0.223540
LUF 2.611676
LUNA 1.426821
LUNC 1,376.651101
LVL 0.045501
LYD 0.463355
MAD 0.713824
MANA 0.712733
MBX 2.432926
MDL 1.292688
MGA 322.655537
MGF 1,613.277685
MINA 0.452255
MKD 3.965111
MKR 0.000033
MMK 151.993198
MNT 260.596860
MOP 0.585175
MRO 29.077748
MRU 2.907775
MTL 0.027794
MUR 3.507777
MVR 1.119333
MWK 125.458021
MXN 1.319807
MXV 0.149774
MYR 0.295989
MZM 4,621.738473
MZN 4.621738
NAD 1.211641
NEAR 0.014847
NEO 0.028437
NEXO 0.084191
NFT 301,222.763818
NGN 96.088859
NIO 2.660204
NLG 0.142672
NOK 0.699724
NPR 11.177870
NZD 0.129512
OKB 0.000581
OMR 0.027860
ONE 0.495268
OP 0.552801
ORDI 0.016042
PAB 0.072404
PAXG 0.000017
PEN 0.250554
PEPE 16,489.162344
PGK 0.325230
PHP 4.542758
PI 0.833533
PKR 20.048201
PLN 0.284074
POL 0.666886
PTE 12.979558
PYG 422.732070
QAR 0.263551
QNT 0.000290
QTUM 0.073721
ROL 3,459.951346
RON 0.345995
RPL 0.037941
RSD 7.564811
RUB 6.071813
RUNE 0.092659
RVN 30.359064
RWF 106.952459
SAND 0.991825
SAR 0.271515
SBD 0.584208
SCR 1.032335
SDD 4,346.048482
SDG 43.460485
SEK 0.730206
SGD 0.092813
SHIB 12,267.511651
SHP 0.054813
SIT 15.514716
SKK 1.950410
SLE 1.668558
SLL 1,668.557572
SNX 0.287929
SOL 0.000600
SOS 41.261487
SPL 0.012067
SRD 2.738021
SRG 2,738.020998
SSP 413.614572
STD 1,599.774964
STN 1.599775
STX 0.183474
SUI 0.059453
SVC 0.633535
SYP 940.055710
SZL 1.211641
THB 2.439171
THETA 0.319736
TJS 0.666676
TMM 1,267.065646
TMT 0.253413
TND 0.216508
TOP 0.173994
TRL 3,559,352.734241
TRX 0.215803
TRY 3.559353
TTD 0.490636
TUSD 0.072330
TVD 0.104366
TWD 2.302676
TWT 0.127454
TZS 190.557072
UAH 3.256173
UGX 288.784429
UNI 0.008038
USD 0.072404
USDC 0.072306
USDD 0.072337
USDP 0.072441
USDT 0.072324
UYU 2.916050
UZS 852.707238
VAL 125.357533
VEB 6,278,138,471.3320
VED 62.781385
VEF 6,278,138.471332
VES 62.781385
VET 8.329679
VND 1,883.511761
VUV 8.720226
WAVES 0.240651
WEMIX 0.370628
WOO 5.368434
WST 0.200862
XAF 42.467812
XAG 0.001189
XAU 0.000018
XAUT 0.000017
XBT 0.000001
XCD 0.195954
XCG 0.130365
XCH 0.045974
XDC 2.200753
XDR 0.053473
XEC 8,912.482268
XEM 126.633970
XLM 0.324964
XMR 0.000134
XOF 42.467812
XPD 0.000062
XPF 7.725747
XPT 0.000042
XRP 0.048081
XTZ 0.220436
YER 17.115772
ZAR 1.211641
ZEC 0.000055
ZIL 20.205060
ZMK 1,421.965765
ZMW 1.421966
ZWD 26.203014
ZWG 1.937992
ZWL 4,842.508255

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.