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Botswana 🇧🇼

backpacking Africa Botswana 🇧🇼Self-drive wilderness: Okavango channels, Chobe elephants and endless salt pans.

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Backpacking Botswana in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
What a trip here is really like

Backpacking Botswana
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

Distance shapes every trip in Botswana. The country covers roughly 580,000 square kilometers, close to the size of France, with only about 2.5 million people, and most wildlife areas lie hundreds of kilometers from the nearest tarred town. Experienced travelers plan fuel, water and daylight first and the itinerary second.
What draws people here is space and the animals moving through it: the seasonal floodwater of the Okavango Delta, elephant herds along the Chobe River, the salt crust of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The challenges are plain. Government policy favors low-volume, high-cost tourism to protect fragile land, so lodge rates are steep, public transport stops at the park gates and park campsites fill months ahead. The smarter approach is a self-drive 4x4 with reserved campsites, or one deliberate splurge on a single camp rather than several rushed ones.
Compared with Namibia, Botswana has fewer roads and far fewer people on them; Zimbabwe and Zambia cost less but feel busier around Victoria Falls. The country suits patient travelers who value silence over nightlife. Shoestring hitchhikers will find it hard going.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Botswana

Okavango Delta (Maun, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta)

Maun is a working town of supply stores, air charter offices and donkeys on the verge, and nearly everything in Botswana’s delta is arranged from here. Lodges inside the delta are fly-in and priced accordingly, so budget travelers book a mokoro trip from Maun instead: a short transfer, then two or three nights wild camping with a local poler. Buses from Gaborone take 9 to 11 hours, and flights take about 90 minutes. It suits patient travelers comfortable with basic camping.

Chobe (Kasane, Chobe Riverfront, Kazungula)

Kasane is one long street beside the Chobe River, with a supermarket, a string of lodges and warthogs grazing the roadside. The riverfront holds huge elephant herds in the dry season, but the park tracks are deep sand and inexperienced self-drivers get stuck. Most people take an afternoon boat cruise and a morning game drive from town. Buses from Francistown take around 6 hours, and Victoria Falls is roughly 90 minutes away via Kazungula. It is the easiest region for first-timers.

Makgadikgadi Pans (Nata, Gweta, Nxai Pan)

Here the land flattens into salt crust, and the heat makes the horizon shimmer. Nata and Gweta are small crossroads villages with fuel, a shop and a few lodges. Vehicles that leave the tracks can break through the crust and sink, so experienced visitors join a guided trip from a Gweta lodge, or drive to Baines’ Baobabs and Nxai Pan with a ranger’s advice on conditions. Nata is about 2 hours from Francistown by bus. It suits travelers who want silence.

Central Kalahari (Ghanzi, D’Kar, Central Kalahari Game Reserve)

Ghanzi is a cattle town on the Trans-Kalahari Highway, and nearby D’Kar is home to the Kuru Art Project, where San artists sell prints and paintings. The reserve beyond is enormous, with almost no water, fuel or phone signal, so campsites must be booked ahead and vehicles usually travel in pairs. Without your own 4x4, join a Ghanzi-based trip or a San-guided bush walk. Buses from Maun take 4 to 5 hours. It is for self-reliant travelers.

Gaborone and the Southeast (Gaborone, Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Kgale Hill)

The capital is low-rise and car-oriented, with malls, ministries and a large student population, and few travelers stay long. It is still the easiest place to stock up, fix a phone or rent a vehicle before heading north. Climb Kgale Hill early before the heat, visit Mokolodi Nature Reserve about 15 minutes south, and break the drive north at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary near Serowe, roughly 4 hours away. It suits travelers sorting out logistics.
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Geography and where places are located
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Why go?Reasons people choose to visit

Wildlife

Botswana holds roughly 130,000 elephants, the largest population of any country in Africa, and much of its northern wilderness has no fences, so animals … read more 👉
Botswana holds roughly 130,000 elephants, the largest population of any country in Africa, and much of its northern wilderness has no fences, so animals move freely between the Delta, Chobe and the Linyanti. That openness matters: predators hunt across natural ranges, and African wild dogs, scarce across the continent, den here in healthy numbers. Rhinos, once wiped out, have been reintroduced under heavy protection. In the dry season, animals gather near permanent water, so a campsite or hide near a river or waterhole often delivers more sightings than hours of driving.

Scenery

Most of Botswana is flat. The Kalahari is mostly grassland and thorn scrub rather than dunes, and the horizon sits uninterrupted for kilometers in every … read more 👉
Most of Botswana is flat. The Kalahari is mostly grassland and thorn scrub rather than dunes, and the horizon sits uninterrupted for kilometers in every direction. The northwest breaks the pattern with the Okavango, a green fan of channels spreading into dry land, while the pans lie white and almost featureless. Light does most of the work here, especially in the hour before sunset. To understand the Delta’s scale, a 45- to 60-minute scenic flight from Maun shows the channels, islands and game trails in a way no vehicle can.

People

Batswana tend to be reserved at first and warm once a proper greeting has been exchanged. Launching straight into a question without saying hello comes … read more 👉
Batswana tend to be reserved at first and warm once a proper greeting has been exchanged. Launching straight into a question without saying hello comes across as rude, so start with “Dumela Rra” for a man or “Dumela Mma” for a woman, then ask how the person is. That small exchange changes the tone of nearly every interaction. Humor is dry and gently teasing, and conversations rarely hurry. English is widely spoken alongside Setswana. Small-town shops, bus ranks and church gatherings on Sunday mornings are where everyday hospitality shows most clearly.

⭐ HighlightsKey places and experiences

  • Okavango Delta: Sitting low in a mokoro, you hear the Delta before you see it: reed frogs clicking like wet pebbles, the pole sliding into clear water, a hippo grunting somewhere behind the papyrus. The water is so clean that guides drink it from the channel, and lily pads brush your knuckles as you glide past.
  • Chobe Riverfront: Late afternoon here smells of churned mud and crushed grass as elephant herds file down to the river to drink and spray dust over their backs. From a small boat at water level, you can hear them pull reeds from the bank, a dry ripping sound that carries across the water.
  • Makgadikgadi Pans: The salt cracks underfoot like thin ice, and on a still night the silence is total. Kubu Island, a granite outcrop studded with ancient baobabs, rises from the white crust like a ship run aground.
  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Deception Valley at dawn is pale gold grass, the clean resin smell of acacia and the roar of a black-maned lion rolling across the flats. Your campsite has
… read more 👉
  • Okavango Delta: Sitting low in a mokoro, you hear the Delta before you see it: reed frogs clicking like wet pebbles, the pole sliding into clear water, a hippo grunting somewhere behind the papyrus. The water is so clean that guides drink it from the channel, and lily pads brush your knuckles as you glide past.
  • Chobe Riverfront: Late afternoon here smells of churned mud and crushed grass as elephant herds file down to the river to drink and spray dust over their backs. From a small boat at water level, you can hear them pull reeds from the bank, a dry ripping sound that carries across the water.
  • Makgadikgadi Pans: The salt cracks underfoot like thin ice, and on a still night the silence is total. Kubu Island, a granite outcrop studded with ancient baobabs, rises from the white crust like a ship run aground.
  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Deception Valley at dawn is pale gold grass, the clean resin smell of acacia and the roar of a black-maned lion rolling across the flats. Your campsite has no fence and no neighbors, and jackals trot past the fire after dark.
  • Tsodilo Hills: These quartzite hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hold over 4,000 rock paintings, and the San consider them sacred. The rock warms under your palm by mid-morning, and the ochre eland and rhino on the overhangs stay vivid against the stone.
Off the map, look for the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in the far east, the Gcwihaba Caves in the northwest and the quiet pans of Khutse.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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Discover and compare all of its highlights per category

🧭 RoutesPlanning a route that makes sense

The 5-Day Delta and Moremi Route


Five days of dawn game drives and silent water, all launched from one riverside safari town. It trades country-wide coverage for depth in Botswana’s single richest wildlife corner.
  • Canvas-tent mobile camps in unfenced Moremi
  • A night on a Delta island after a mokoro ride
  • Predator-heavy floodplains where woodland meets water

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Northern Overland Route


An east-to-west line across the north by regional bus, linking a river full of elephants, a sea of salt and the Delta. Three unhurried bases give each landscape its own few days.
  • Sunset boat cruises on the Chobe River
  • Meerkats and salt-pan sleep-outs in the Makgadikgadi
  • Baines’ Baobabs in Nxai Pan
  • Two nights by mokoro in the Okavango Delta

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Capital to Kalahari Route


Two weeks that start in the capital and the community reserves of the east before heading north and then deep into the desert. It shows the country’s history and people alongside its … read more 👉

The 5-Day Delta and Moremi Route


Five days of dawn game drives and silent water, all launched from one riverside safari town. It trades country-wide coverage for depth in Botswana’s single richest wildlife corner.
  • Canvas-tent mobile camps in unfenced Moremi
  • A night on a Delta island after a mokoro ride
  • Predator-heavy floodplains where woodland meets water

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Northern Overland Route


An east-to-west line across the north by regional bus, linking a river full of elephants, a sea of salt and the Delta. Three unhurried bases give each landscape its own few days.
  • Sunset boat cruises on the Chobe River
  • Meerkats and salt-pan sleep-outs in the Makgadikgadi
  • Baines’ Baobabs in Nxai Pan
  • Two nights by mokoro in the Okavango Delta

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Capital to Kalahari Route


Two weeks that start in the capital and the community reserves of the east before heading north and then deep into the desert. It shows the country’s history and people alongside its wildlife, and finishes on the water.
  • Rhino tracking on foot near Serowe
  • A sacred gorge hike in the Tswapong Hills
  • Open desert and black-maned lions in the Central Kalahari
  • A final mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Botswana

June to September is the best time for backpacking Botswana: dry skies, thinning bush and shrinking waterholes push wildlife into plain view, and the Okavango Delta floods peak just as the rain disappears, though prices and demand peak too. The north (Okavango, Moremi, Chobe) follows the water, while the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi flip the logic and come alive after summer rain.
  • Green season (December to March): Hot, humid days of 30 to 35°C with afternoon thunderstorms, few visitors and lodge rates often 30 to 50 percent lower. Best for zebra on Nxai Pan, springbok and oryx herds in the Central Kalahari, and birdlife. Sand tracks in Savuti and Moremi turn to mud, and a few delta camps close.
  • Autumn shoulder (April to May): Rain fades, nights cool, the bush is still green and prices sit between seasons.
  • Peak dry season (June to September): Sunny days around 25°C, full delta channels for mokoro trips, top game viewing along the Chobe River and the busiest, priciest months.
  • Hot build-up (October to November): Temperatures climb past 40°C, game crowds the last water, and the first rains arrive in November.
The risk most visitors underestimate is the cold: winter nights in the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi drop to around freezing, which is brutal in a rooftop tent or a cheap sleeping bag. Book Moremi and Chobe campsites six to twelve months ahead for July to October, and pack a fleece, a beanie and a bag rated to 0°C.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
botswana-pixabay-1653100

💰 Costs (as of 2026)Typical budget expectations

Backpacking Botswana on a tight budget costs about US$45 to 70 a day if you camp or use dorms, cook your own food and ride public buses, and any trip into the Okavango Delta or a national park pushes that figure up fast.
The country keeps tourism low-volume and high-cost on purpose, so the same backpacker routine costs more here than in Namibia, South Africa or Zambia. Dorm beds are fewer and pricier than at Livingstone hostels across the border. Food and buses stay reasonable, though, and you pay for those in pula.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$15 to 35 per nightA camping pitch at Old Bridge Backpackers in Maun runs about US$12 to 15, and dorm or basic tented beds there cost US$25 to 35. Planet Baobab near Gweta has pitches at a similar price. The easiest way to pay less is to carry a tent, because campsites cost roughly half the dorm price, and the country has far more campsites than hostels. In Zambia a dorm in Livingstone often costs US$12 to 18.
MealsUS$8 to 15 per dayChoppies and Spar supermarkets sell bread, pap meal, tinned beans and braai meat at prices close to South Africa’s. A plate of seswaa (pounded beef) with pap from a takeaway or market stall costs
… read more 👉
Backpacking Botswana on a tight budget costs about US$45 to 70 a day if you camp or use dorms, cook your own food and ride public buses, and any trip into the Okavango Delta or a national park pushes that figure up fast.
The country keeps tourism low-volume and high-cost on purpose, so the same backpacker routine costs more here than in Namibia, South Africa or Zambia. Dorm beds are fewer and pricier than at Livingstone hostels across the border. Food and buses stay reasonable, though, and you pay for those in pula.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$15 to 35 per nightA camping pitch at Old Bridge Backpackers in Maun runs about US$12 to 15, and dorm or basic tented beds there cost US$25 to 35. Planet Baobab near Gweta has pitches at a similar price. The easiest way to pay less is to carry a tent, because campsites cost roughly half the dorm price, and the country has far more campsites than hostels. In Zambia a dorm in Livingstone often costs US$12 to 18.
MealsUS$8 to 15 per dayChoppies and Spar supermarkets sell bread, pap meal, tinned beans and braai meat at prices close to South Africa’s. A plate of seswaa (pounded beef) with pap from a takeaway or market stall costs about US$3 to 5, and magwinya (fat cakes) are around US$0.20 each. A sit-down meal at a lodge bar in Maun or Kasane costs US$10 to 18.
Local transportUS$5 to 20 per dayLong-distance buses are the cheapest way to cover the country’s distances. Gaborone to Maun costs about US$15 to 20, and Francistown to Maun about US$7 to 10. A combi ride within a town costs about US$0.55 to 0.70, and short shared taxi hops cost about US$1 to 2.
ActivitiesUS$40 to 150 per activityPark fees and guiding are what drive costs up. A day mokoro trip into the Delta from Maun runs US$100 to 150 with transfers and fees included. A Chobe River sunset cruise from Kasane costs about US$40 to 55 plus the park fee. Joining a shared trip from your hostel is cheaper than hiring a vehicle.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 10 per dayA Mascom or Orange SIM plus a small data bundle costs about US$3 to 8. Cold drinks are about US$1 each, and ATM fees at local banks add US$2 to 4 per withdrawal. Laundry at a backpacker lodge is around US$3 to 5 a load.
Total Daily BudgetUS$45 to 70That covers a campsite or dorm, home-cooked meals with one takeaway plate, and a bus leg every few days. Add US$100 or more on every day you spend in a park or the Delta. A similar routine in Namibia or South Africa usually costs US$35 to 55.
I would plan the trip around one or two paid wildlife days and spend the cheaper days around them, such as the free hippo pools near Maun, the riverfront in Kasane, and long bus rides through cattle country. Bring a tent. In Botswana it saves you more than anything else.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutBotswana Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (172 pages) contains:
✅ 38 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base for your trip

True hostels are rare in Botswana, so budget travelers mostly stay at backpacker lodges and campsites, with camping or a dorm bed running about BWP 150 to 400 (US$11 to 30) a night. Maun has the widest choice, especially riverside lodges in Matlapaneng along the Thamalakane River, which are close to Okavango Delta mokoro and flight operators and have a social bar scene but sit 10 to 15 minutes by road from town shops. Kasane lines its budget lodges along the Chobe riverfront, a short ride from the national park gate and quiet after dark, while Gaborone offers few backpacker beds and mostly suburban … read more 👉
True hostels are rare in Botswana, so budget travelers mostly stay at backpacker lodges and campsites, with camping or a dorm bed running about BWP 150 to 400 (US$11 to 30) a night. Maun has the widest choice, especially riverside lodges in Matlapaneng along the Thamalakane River, which are close to Okavango Delta mokoro and flight operators and have a social bar scene but sit 10 to 15 minutes by road from town shops. Kasane lines its budget lodges along the Chobe riverfront, a short ride from the national park gate and quiet after dark, while Gaborone offers few backpacker beds and mostly suburban guesthouses in leafy areas like The Village, which are safe and calm but rely on taxis for nightlife.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Botswana


Best quality hotels in Botswana

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Botswana

Long-distance buses carry most budget travelers around Botswana, because they run daily along the paved highways linking Gaborone, Francistown, Nata, Maun and Kasane, and they cost a fraction of a rental. Public transport ends at the national park gates, so most people combine buses with a guided trip or a few days of self-drive.
  • Intercity buses: Gaborone to Francistown takes 5 to 6 hours for roughly P100 to 150 (US$7 to 11). Francistown to Maun takes 6 to 7 hours, and Nata to Kasane about 4 hours,
… read more 👉
Long-distance buses carry most budget travelers around Botswana, because they run daily along the paved highways linking Gaborone, Francistown, Nata, Maun and Kasane, and they cost a fraction of a rental. Public transport ends at the national park gates, so most people combine buses with a guided trip or a few days of self-drive.
  • Intercity buses: Gaborone to Francistown takes 5 to 6 hours for roughly P100 to 150 (US$7 to 11). Francistown to Maun takes 6 to 7 hours, and Nata to Kasane about 4 hours, each for similar money. Seats are upright and buses fill up, with no advance booking on most routes. You pay the conductor in cash on board. Timetables are loose because many buses leave when full, so experienced travelers reach the bus rank by 6 or 7 a.m., when departures are most frequent.
  • Combis: These minibuses cover town routes and short hops between villages. A ride in Gaborone costs about P6 to 8 (around US$0.50). They are cramped and stop anywhere, and service thins out after dark. Have small notes or coins ready, because drivers rarely have change for a P100 note.
  • Shared taxis: In Gaborone, Francistown and Maun they run fixed routes for roughly P7 to 15 per seat. Public transport vehicles in Botswana carry blue number plates, which makes a licensed taxi easy to spot. Asking for a private “special” hire costs several times more, so agree on the fare before you get in.
  • Hitchhiking: It is common and socially accepted here, partly because buses skip many smaller places. Drivers usually expect a contribution close to the bus fare. Wait at a town exit or a fuel station rather than on the open highway, where traffic moves fast.
  • 4x4 rental: A fully equipped vehicle with a rooftop tent costs about P1,400 to 2,800 (US$100 to 200) a day. It is the only practical way to reach most parks independently. Book months ahead for June to October. Avoid driving after dark, because cattle, donkeys and elephants stand on unfenced roads, especially between Nata and Kasane.
To cover the length of the country efficiently, fly one long leg (Gaborone to Maun takes about 1.5 hours on Air Botswana) and use buses for the shorter northern links. That saves a full day on the road.
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) sits about 15 km (9 miles) north of central Gaborone, and with no dependable public bus to the terminal, the cheapest reliable option in Botswana is a pre-arranged lodge or guesthouse pickup or an airport taxi.
  • Lodge or guesthouse pickup (20 to 30 minutes, about BWP 150 to 250 / US$11 to 18) is arranged by message before you fly, and the driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign.
  • Airport taxi (20 to 30 minutes, about BWP 150 to 250 / US$11 to 18 to the center) waits at the rank outside arrivals for scheduled flights, and you should agree the fare in pula before loading your bags, since cash is expected.
  • Private transfer (20 to 30 minutes, about BWP 250 to 400 / US$18 to 30) is booked in advance with a local operator and is the easiest choice if you carry gear or travel in a group.
For a late-night arrival, book your pickup ahead and keep some pula cash on you, because taxis thin out after the last flights and the airport ATMs are not always working.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: low)Staying safe while traveling

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Botswana is one of the safest countries in southern Africa for solo travelers, with stable politics and a relaxed atmosphere, though petty theft and occasional break-ins happen in Gaborone and Francistown, especially after dark. Women traveling alone generally report few problems beyond occasional unwanted attention, and using licensed transport at night plus normal caution keeps risk low. Same-sex relations were decriminalized by the High Court in 2019, a ruling upheld on appeal, but society remains conservative, so LGBTQ+ travelers usually keep displays of affection discreet. In the wild, the bigger danger comes from animals: stay inside your tent at night in unfenced camps and never walk around after dark.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
View details 👉

✈️ VisaVisa requirements for Botswana

Citizens of the US, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most Southern African countries can visit Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days in a 12-month period. Nationals of countries that require a visa must apply in advance through the official Botswana e-Visa system or at a Botswana embassy or high commission. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages for entry stamps.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What you'll need while traveling

Botswana swings between extremes, so pack for both heat and cold: summer days from October to March can top 40°C (104°F), while winter nights in the Kalahari and on open game drives in June and July drop close to freezing. Neutral, earthy colors work best on safari because bright white shows dust and dark blue attracts tsetse flies in parts of the north. Fine Kalahari sand gets into everything, so think about dust-proof bags for your phone and camera. In towns and villages, people dress neatly and fairly modestly, so bring at least one outfit that covers your shoulders and knees. Plugs are mostly the three-pin types D and G, and an adapter that handles both saves hassle at campsites with charging points.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQTravel questions about Botswana

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Botswana can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Botswana itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are mandatory for most visitors to Botswana, but a yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk. Make sure routine vaccines are up to date, and doctors commonly recommend hepatitis A and typhoid, plus hepatitis B and rabies for longer stays or remote travel. Malaria is present in the north, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe and Maun, especially from November to June, so ask a travel clinic about antimalarial tablets.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Botswana, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Respect for elders runs deep in Botswana, so let older people speak first, and offer or receive items with your right hand or both hands. Ask before photographing people, and never point a camera at military sites, police or government buildings such as State House. Dress modestly in villages and towns, and keep public displays of affection low-key, which applies to everyone and especially same-sex couples. Avoid showing impatience in shops or offices, since rushing someone or raising your voice comes across as rude. If you visit a village, ask permission before wandering around, and remember that the kgotla (traditional meeting place) is a formal space you should not enter uninvited. Women may get more attention when alone in bars, and modest clothing reduces it.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Botswana.
  1. Seswaa: Beef (sometimes goat) boiled for hours with salt, then pounded until it falls into soft shreds. It is regarded as the national dish and is cooked by men in three-legged iron pots at weddings, funerals and Independence celebrations.
  2. Bogobe (pap): A stiff porridge of sorghum or maize meal that comes with almost every meal. Sorghum bogobe has a sour, slightly nutty flavor, and a fermented version called ting is a regional favorite.
  3. Morogo: Wild spinach or similar leafy greens cooked down, often with tomato and onion. It is the standard side next to seswaa and bogobe, and it is still gathered seasonally in rural areas.
  4. Phane (mopane worms): Caterpillars of the emperor moth, harvested from mopane trees, then dried and eaten crunchy or stewed in tomato sauce. They are a valuable protein source and a seasonal income for many rural families.
  5. Dikgobe: A hearty mix of samp (crushed maize) or sorghum with beans, simmered until creamy. It is everyday comfort food and a common dish at family gatherings.
  6. Magwinya: Deep-fried dough balls sold from roadside stalls and bus ranks, often for breakfast. They are the cheapest filling snack in the country.
Tap water in Botswana’s towns, such as Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane, is treated and generally safe, and most locals drink it without issue. Travelers with sensitive stomachs often stick to bottled or filtered water at first, and in rural villages or remote camps that rely on boreholes the water can be salty or untreated. A filter bottle is the most practical option, cutting plastic waste and covering you wherever you camp.
The main language in Botswana is Setswana. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Setswana skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Botswana includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

Get your local basic phrases 👉

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English is an official language of Botswana and is widely spoken in Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and at lodges and campsites, so travelers rarely struggle. Younger people and anyone working in tourism usually speak it fluently, since schooling is largely in English. In rural villages, older residents may speak mainly Setswana, the national language. Greeting people with “Dumela rra” (to a man) or “Dumela mma” (to a woman) goes a long way, and an offline translation app covers the rest.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Botswana is BWP (P).
ATMs are easy to find in Botswana’s towns, including Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Kasane and Nata, run by banks such as FNB, Absa, Stanbic and Access Bank, and they usually charge about P10 to 30 per withdrawal on top of your home bank’s fees. Machines in Maun and Kasane sometimes run dry over weekends and holidays, so withdraw on weekdays before heading into the bush. Visa and Mastercard work at supermarkets, fuel stations in larger towns, lodges and most tour operators, but buses, combis, taxis, village shops and many campsites take cash only. Carrying some US dollars is useful as a backup and for tipping safari staff, while South African rand is accepted in a few border areas, though at poor rates. Exchange money at banks, licensed bureaux de change in malls or the airport, and never with street changers. Keep small pula notes on hand, as change for P200 notes can be hard to find.
Tipping in Botswana is appreciated but not compulsory: around 10 percent in sit-down restaurants is standard if service is not already included, and rounding up taxi fares is common. On safaris, guides typically get about P130 to 270 (US$10 to 20) per guest per day, with smaller amounts for camp staff, often through a shared tip box. Mokoro polers in the Okavango Delta usually receive roughly P70 to 140 (US$5 to 10) per day.

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We 💚 feedbackThe bottom line on traveling here

Botswana suits travelers who slow down and let the land set the pace. The best surprise is how quiet the wild places are, with whole afternoons passing without another vehicle in sight. I would bring a good headlamp and a paper map, and I would never drive after dark. The lingering fear about safety is mostly misplaced: Botswana is one of the most stable countries in Africa, and the realistic hazards are cattle, donkeys and elephants on unlit roads.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Botswana. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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