2open jobs
1organisations hiring
0violent events in 3 months
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
parliamentary republic
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
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.)
Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges
2.6 MPopulation2025
68 %Urban population2025
$7,778GDP per capita2025
-0.7 %GDP growth2025
2.7 %Inflation2025
21.4 %Extreme poverty (international line)2015
24.5 %Unemployment2025
81.2 %Adult literacy2003
57.5 %Internet users2024
80.2 %Access to electricity2024
847refugees hosted2025
21asylum seekers2025
1,173refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025)
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
No organised violence event recorded in the country over this period.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Botswana, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Attacks on tourists are rare, but violent crime is increasing particularly in the major towns of Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Criminals have also carried out hold-ups and robberies of restaurants during peak hours.
Criminals may target cars waiting at traffic lights. To reduce the risk of attack:
House burglaries, often by armed gangs, are common. They do not often target tourists, but there have been isolated room break-ins and theft from lodges in the Chobe area, particularly river-fronting lodges. To reduce the risk of burglary or home invasion:
Botswana has a high number of sexual assaults. While foreign visitors are unlikely to be targeted, women should take care when walking and avoid walking alone at night.
Always carry some identification. A copy of the photo page in your passport is usually enough as long as you can produce the original if required.
If you send your passport for renewal, make sure you have a certified copy that you can present in its place.
Drug taking and trafficking are illegal. If you’re convicted of a drug-related offence, you can get a fine of up to 500,000 pulas (about £30,000) or a prison sentence of up to 25 years, or both. Prison conditions are generally poor.
It is illegal to take photographs or use video equipment near military and government installations. Always ask permission before photographing people in Botswana.
Although same-sex sexual activity is no longer prohibited by law, public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and displaying affection in public may attract negative attention.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
It’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts. If you’re caught hunting, buying or trafficking these goods you will be prosecuted. If you’re convicted, sentences can be severe.
If you travel to remote areas, make transport and accommodation arrangements in advance and seek local security advice. Take emergency supplies, including water and fuel, and be prepared for off-road driving conditions. In very remote areas, travel in convoy or with a satellite phone in case of breakdown.
On open highways, inside or outside wildlife reserves, there could be dangerous animals roaming that may behave unpredictably. Always follow park regulations and advice from park wardens.
Do not bathe in rivers and lakes. You could be attacked by wild animals and you risk catching water-borne diseases.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Botswana. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
You can drive with a UK driving licence for up to 90 days. If you intend to stay longer than 90 days, apply for a Botswana driving licence.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
Botswana has good tarmac roads covering most of the country, but driving outside the major urban areas can be dangerous due to stray wildlife and livestock. This is a particular risk at night, so take extra care if you’re driving after dark.
The standard of driving is lower than in the UK. Many drivers ignore rules of the road. Speeding and drink-driving, or driving on drugs, cause frequent and often fatal accidents.
To reduce risk of crime when using taxis, look for licensed taxis with blue plate numbers. Cabs run by a recognised taxi company will usually have branding and can be pre-booked.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Botswana’s rainy season, runs from November to March, bringing heavy rainfalls and risk of flash flooding. Road conditions throughout the country may be unsafe. Follow the advice of Botswana’s Meteorological Services and from the local authorities at Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
Floodings may also impact border crossings with closure at short notice. Follow the advice of Botswana’s Unified Revenue Services for latest updates on road accessibility and border opening and closure status.
69.3yearsLife expectancy2024
33.3per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
155per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
0.2per 1,000 people at riskMalaria (new cases)2024
0.38per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2023
91.8 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 997 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in Botswana including:
There are occasional outbreaks of anthrax among wild animals. Do not touch dead animals or carcases. If you suspect that you have come into contact with anthrax, seek urgent medical advice.
If you intend to camp or walk in the bush, take precautions to avoid tick bites, as they can cause several dangerous diseases.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
The State of Public Health Emergency is now over. Despite this, medicine and medical supply shortages remain widespread across public health facilities nationwide. Private healthcare remains largely unaffected.
Healthcare in Botswana is usually good in major towns, but medical facilities and communications are limited in rural areas. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation to the UK or South Africa may be necessary.
Private hospitals will not treat you unless you can pay, and the cost may be high. Public hospitals will only take you as an emergency patient if you have full insurance. For outpatient treatment, you will need to pay up front.
Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Botswana.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Botswana’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Botswana set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Botswana High Commission in the UK.
Telephone: 0207 499 0031
Email: [email protected]
To enter Botswana, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least 3 blank pages.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
This will record your date and port of entry. Unstamped passports will raise suspicions of illegal entry.
Dual nationals must enter Botswana on the same passport they used to exit the previous country.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
You can visit Botswana for up to 90 days without a visa.
If you want to work, study or volunteer in Botswana, see the requirements for business, study and employment visas.
Overstaying a visa or a permitted visit can cause a delay to your departure. If you want to extend your stay, contact Botswana’s Department of Immigration.
You must carry the original or a certified copy of the full birth certificate for any child aged 17 or under entering or leaving Botswana.
If a child is travelling with only one parent, with a guardian or another adult, or alone, carry the required parental consent or documents showing authority to travel. If parental consent is required, also carry a certified copy of the consenting parent’s passport or identity document.
You can use GOV.UK guidance to find a notary in the UK. In Botswana, police stations can help with affidavits of consent. You can also use Find a professional service abroad to find an English-speaking lawyer.
For more information, contact the Botswana High Commission in the UK.
To enter Botswana, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For more details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Botswana guide.
As a public health measure, Botswana has introduced entry restrictions including health screening for travellers arriving from affected regions. Check entry requirements for the country you’re travelling to or transiting.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) have declared Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Botswana. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Declare foreign or local cash currency if the value is 10,000 Botswana pula or more. If you do not, you could be liable to prosecution.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
See jobs in BotswanaFunding ↗Tenders ↗Train in field security
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Attacks on tourists are rare, but violent crime is increasing particularly in the major towns of Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Criminals have also carried out hold-ups and robberies of restaurants during peak hours.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Attacks on tourists are rare, but violent crime is increasing particularly in the major towns of Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Criminals have also carried out hold-ups and robberies of restaurants during peak hours.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.