Botswana

Be alert, particularly if you're out after dark.

Violent crime, residential break-ins and carjackings, particularly of 4WD vehicles, occur.

Street crime is more common in urban centres.

Police resources are varied throughout Botswana.

Criminals have robbed travellers in the areas of Gaborone Dam and Kgale Hill in the capital, Gaborone. Exercise caution in these areas.

If you're sexually or otherwise assaulted, seek medical help straight away. See (Health). 

Drink spiking can happen anywhere. Be alert to the potential risks, and don't leave food or drinks unattended. Pay attention when your drinks are being mixed. Stick to reputable venues and avoid homemade alcoholic drinks due to the risk of methanol poisoning. Get urgent medical help if you suspect you’ve been a victim.

More information:

• Partying safely while overseas

Kidnapping

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including in destinations that are typically at lower risk. The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers.

More information:

• Kidnapping

Cyber security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media.

More information: 

• Cyber security when travelling overseas

Demonstrations and protests

Public protests and demonstrations can turn violent.

• monitor the news for planned or possible unrest
• avoid affected areas
• follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide. An attack could happen anywhere and at any time.

To reduce your risks:

• consider likely terrorist targets and the level of security provided, including in places visited by foreigners, such as shopping centres.
• always be alert to possible threats, especially in public places.
• report any suspicious items or activities to the police
• take official warnings seriously
• monitor the media for threats
• follow the instructions of local authorities.

If there's a terrorist attack:

• leave the affected area immediately if it's safe to do so
• avoid the area afterwards in case of more attacks.

More information:

• Terrorism

Wildlife safety

Respect wildlife laws. Keep a safe and legal distance when watching wildlife.

Only use reputable guides or tour operators. 

Follow Park regulations and wardens' advice.

Swimming safety

Don't swim in lakes and rivers due to the risk of wildlife attacks or waterborne diseases.

Severe weather

The rainy season is from September to April and can result in heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. 

Flooding occurs on low ground around rivers. Flash floods can occur across the country and can affect the following essential services:

• transport and infrastructure
• electricity distribution
• water and food supply
• emergency services

Seek local advice and monitor local media before travelling. Check the Botswana Meteorological Services and Botswana Unified Revenue Service social media pages for up-to-date information on weather conditions and border crossing status.

Severe weather can affect your travel plans. Monitor local media for updates.

If a natural disaster happens:

• follow the advice of local authorities
• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof place
• keep in touch with your friends and family
• ask your tour operator if tourist services at your destination have been affected.

If you're visiting an area that has recently suffered severe weather:

• confirm your plans with your tour operator or travel provider
• check the condition of infrastructure and facilities with local tour operators and hotels

More information:

• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

Confirm:

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare, or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

More information:

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips (Australian Government)

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some medication may be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Botswana. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Keep medications in their original packaging with a clear label.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

More information:

• Medication

Yellow fever

If you're travelling from a country where yellow fever is widespread, you'll need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Botswana. This does not apply if you're under one year old.

If you can't show proof of vaccination, authorities may not let you enter.

You can't get vaccinated when you arrive.

More information:

• Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 252kb)

HIV/AIDS 

Botswana's rate of HIV/AIDS infection is very high. Take precautions before you do anything that puts you at risk of infection.

If you're assaulted, sexually or otherwise, seek medical help straight away. 

Swimming risks

Don't swim in lakes and rivers because of the possibility of:

• wildlife attacks
• catching waterborne diseases

Insect-borne diseases

Malaria occurs throughout Botswana. It's widespread in the country's north, especially in the rainy season from November to March.

Other insect-borne diseases also occur, including filariasis.

To protect yourself from insect-borne diseases:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

Consider taking medicine to prevent malaria if you travel north of Gaborone.

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are widespread. This includes:

• cholera
• typhoid
• hepatitis
• rabies
• tuberculosis

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur. Some drug-resistant tuberculosis cases are reported in Botswana.

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid uncooked and undercooked food, such as salads

Don't swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain waterborne diseases, such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis).

Get urgent medical advice if you suspect food poisoning or have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical facilities outside urban areas are limited and are not of a high standard in some places.

Public and private medical facilities ask you to confirm insurance cover or guarantee payment before treatment.

If you're seriously ill or injured, you could need treatment at a more suitable place. This is usually Namibia or South Africa. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

If you're detained or arrested, the Botswana authorities may not automatically notify the Australian Government. Ask police or prison officials to contact the Australian High Commission in South Africa if you're arrested or detained.

Police resources are varied throughout Botswana.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include mandatory jail sentences. This includes offences involving marijuana (cannabis).

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Death penalty

Serious offences, including murder and treason, carry the death penalty.

Wildlife laws

Exporting elephant hair, ivory, and rhinoceros horn products is illegal.

If you want to export animal souvenirs or 'trophies', you need either:

• a government permit
• a receipt from a licensed store

You must not observe wildlife closer than the minimum legal distance.

Other crimes

Some crimes, such as serious assaults, attract physical punishment.

In Botswana, it's illegal to:

• possess pornography
• take photos of military or government installations

Same-sex relationships were legalised in June 2019 but aren't widely accepted. Public displays of affection may receive negative attention. 

More information:

• Advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law

Botswana only recognises dual nationality in certain circumstances. Otherwise, Botswana does not recognise dual nationality.

This limits the consular services we can give you if you're arrested or detained.

More information:

• Dual nationals

Visas

You don't need a visa if you're a tourist visiting for up to 90 days. If you're travelling with children, you may need extra documents. 

Botswana accepts Australian emergency passports. But, if you need to enter Botswana on an emergency passport, you'll need to apply for a visa before you go. You can't get one on arrival.

Apply at the nearest embassy or consulate of Botswana.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for visa details, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Yellow fever vaccination

You'll need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Botswana if you arrive from a country where yellow fever is widespread.

More information:

• Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 252kb)

Travel with children

Immigration regulations apply to children younger than 18 years.

All children travelling to Botswana must have a passport and full birth certificate. The birth certificate must identify the child and parents.

You must show these documents on request.

Any parents who aren't travelling need to provide a legal document giving their consent for the child to travel.

The legal document must be less than 3 months old and include:

• full names, addresses, phone numbers, and passport details of the child and both parents, as listed on the birth certificate
• travel destinations of child and parent
• a certified copy of the passport of any non-travelling parent
• signatures of both parents

If you don't comply with these rules, you might be:

• stopped from boarding your plane
• deported on arrival

The nearest embassy or consulate of Botswana can tell you what you need to have on the document.

Travel via South Africa

Refer to the travel advice for South Africa on entry requirements.

South Africa has specific documentation rules for children and doesn't accept provisional travel documents. It also requires travellers to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

More information:

• South Africa travel advice

Validity

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.

Make sure your passport has 2 blank pages. If it doesn't, authorities may stop you when you try to leave.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.

More information: 

• LGBTQIA+ travellers

The official currency of Botswana is the Pula (BWP).

You must declare any foreign currency that's over the equivalent value of Pula 10,000 when you enter and leave Botswana.

Road travel

Road travel in Botswana can be dangerous. Wild animals and livestock often stray onto roads and have the right of way.

To drive in Botswana, you need both:

• a valid Australian driver's licence (digital driver's licences may not be accepted) and
• an International Driving Permit (IDP)

You must get your IDP before leaving Australia.

Be careful when driving from the airport into Gaborone at night.

Driving outside major urban areas in Botswana can be hazardous. This is mainly due to the following:

• poor road conditions
• local driving practices
• inadequate lighting

Batswana, the people of Botswana, take injuries or deaths of their cattle by motorists very seriously.

If you're driving long distances, carefully plan your trip because of the harsh environment and sparse population.

If you travel to remote desert areas, use a reputable guide. Take a 4WD vehicle with emergency provisions.

The condition of urban roads is mostly good.

More information:

• Driving or riding

Taxis

Only use authorised taxis. Negotiate the fare before you leave.

Air travel

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Botswana's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 998.

Medical emergencies

Call 997.

Police

Call 999 or the nearest police station.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can’t do to help you overseas.

There is an Australian Consulate in Botswana, which provides limited consular and passport assistance.

The Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, can also provide consular assistance to Australians in Botswana.

Australian Consulate, Gaborone

Plot 16C1, Mmokolodi 1
Gaborone, Botswana

Mobile: +267 776 00002
WhatsApp: +267 76909454
Email: australia.consulate.botswana@gmail.com

Australian High Commission, Pretoria

292 Orient Street
Arcadia
Pretoria, South Africa

Phone: +27 12 423 6000
Email pretoria.info@dfat.gov.au
Website: southafrica.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australian High Commission in South Africa
X: @AuHCSouthAfrica

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia