Botswana Traveler Essentials
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Currency
- Botswana Pula (BWP P)
- Best time to visit
- The dry season from May to October offers prime game viewing as animals gather at water, with the Delta flooding peaking around June to August.
Visa requirements
Many nationalities including the US, EU and UK enter visa-free for up to 90 days; check the latest entry-fee rules for tourists.
Getting around
Light aircraft transfers link remote Delta camps, while sealed highways and 4x4 tracks connect towns; combis and taxis serve urban areas.
Safety
Botswana is one of Africa's safest and most stable countries, with low crime in tourist areas. The main hazards are wildlife encounters on self-drives and remote roads, so respect park rules and carry plenty of water.
Tipping customs
Tipping guides and lodge staff is expected; budget roughly 10% in restaurants and per-day gratuities on safari.
Travel tips
Safaris are premium-priced, so book lodges and mokoro trips well ahead. Cards are widely accepted in towns but carry pula cash for rural areas, and buy an Orange or Mascom SIM for data. Self-drivers need a sturdy 4x4 and offline maps for the parks.