Go, but pay attention.
Botswana's risk score sits at 73 today, up one point, while US and Canadian advisories remain at level 2 due to a global measles notice.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Botswana
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Drug trafficking penalties
Drug trafficking carries a mandatory prison sentence. Any type of drug smuggling is strictly prohibited.
Prescription medication requirements
Travelers must carry a prescription for all medications brought into the country. Failure to declare these drugs results in fines or imprisonment.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •People in Botswana are very friendly and the crime rate is low.
- •Drugs: Drug trafficking is punished by a mandatory prison sentence.
Staying healthy
- •Generally speaking, medical care in Botswana is quite good compared to other African countries.
- •In case of an emergency and you want to be assisted quickly, it is best to find a private hospital rather than a government hospital, though this might cost you.
- •If you run out of your prescription pills/medicines and you have a form of proof that you need them, be it a letter from your doctor or your prescription bill, you can go to the nearest phar…
- •Perhaps the biggest health danger is HIV/AIDS.
- •The northern part of Botswana, including Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta is in a malaria zone, so it is advisable to take the relevant precautions.
- •Water in urban and semi-urban areas is chlorinated, and is drunk from the tap by the local population.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers consistently identify Botswana as a reasonably safe destination, especially when compared to other regional countries. While discussions often focus on the higher costs of safari tours and the logistics of purchasing vehicles in Gaborone, the consensus among visitors is that the country lacks the high levels of violent crime reported elsewhere. There are no specific warnings regarding street crime, carjackings, or dangerous areas provided in the available discussions. Travelers generally approach the region with a standard level of caution, but Botswana is widely regarded as a stable and secure option for those planning independent or organized travel through Southern Africa.
“I get it that Namibia and Botswana are reasonably safe.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
D / G / M · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 999 / ambulance: 997 / fire: 998
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12