🇧🇼 Is Botswana safe to visit?
Daily safety index from official government advisories, plus the consular map of Botswana: 10 diplomatic missions from 10 countries, local emergency numbers and language essentials.
Updated Sep 13, 2026 · Composite index recalculated daily from official government advisories.
What official sources say
Levels are normalized to Telcomia's 1–4 scale. Always read the full official advisory at the source.
What to know before traveling to Botswana
Drawn from the linked official advisories — always check the full text at the source.
Trip essentials
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned departure date from Botswana
- Spanish passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays under 90 days
- Non-tourist activities (work, volunteering, technical assistance) require a visa from the Botswana Embassy in London before travel
- If the border visa granted is shorter than planned, extensions can be requested at Immigration Department offices
Risk areas and situations
- The Namibia border in the Zambeze region, especially the Ngoma crossing, has stricter entry controls — check with authorities first
- Large parts of Botswana, including some tourist areas, have no mobile phone coverage, complicating emergency assistance
Health
- Read the health conditions section carefully before travelling to Botswana
- Medical insurance must include medicalised air transport to the capital or back to Spain
Emergency numbers in Botswana
Embassies and consulates in Botswana
10 diplomatic missions from 10 countries, across 2 cities.
| Nationality | Missions | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇨🇳 China | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 1 | South-East District |
| 🇫🇷 France | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇮🇳 India | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 1 | Gaborone |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 1 | Gaborone |
The full directory — addresses, phone numbers and locations on the map — is available in the Telcomia app.
Local language
The main local language in Botswana is English. The Telcomia app includes 16 emergency phrases in English, with audio, ready to play when you need them.
See the 16 emergency phrases in EnglishTraveling to Botswana?
Stay connected from the moment you land: prepaid eSIM data plans for Botswana, delivered instantly, with the Telcomia safety layer included.
Frequently asked questions
Is Botswana safe to visit right now?
The Telcomia Safety Index for Botswana is 1.5/4 (Increased caution, level 2 of 4) as of Sep 13, 2026. It is a composite of official advisories from Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, recalculated daily.
What is the emergency number in Botswana?
The general emergency number in Botswana is 999. Save it before you travel — with a Telcomia eSIM you can call for help without hunting for Wi-Fi.
How many embassies are there in Botswana?
Telcomia tracks 10 diplomatic missions from 10 countries in Botswana, across 2 cities. The full directory with addresses and phone numbers is in the Telcomia app.
Informational only
This page is general information, not a substitute for official government travel advice. Conditions can change quickly — always check your own government's latest advisory before and during your trip.
Advisory levels summarize official sources: Spain's MAEC, the UK FCDO (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0) and the U.S. Department of State (public domain). Follow the links above for the full official text.