Your complete student travel guide — airports, visas, cities, climate & programs
🏛️ Capital
Gaborone
📍 Region
Africa · Southern Africa
👥 Population
2,359,609
📐 Area
582,000 km²
📞 Calling Code
+267
🕐 Timezone(s)
UTC+02:00
Official Language(s)
Currency
P Botswana pula (BWP)
Botswana has a subtropical climate with hot summers (October–April, 25–35°C) and mild winters (May–September, 15–25°C). The country is semi-arid with most rainfall during the summer months, though conditions vary from the wetter north to the drier Kalahari Desert in the southwest.
Plug type(s) used in Botswana:
Tipping is appreciated and generally expected for good service.
Cash is widely used. Card acceptance is growing but not universal — carry both.
Botswana is one of Africa's safer destinations, but exercise standard precautions in urban areas like Gaborone, avoid walking alone at night, and keep valuables secure. Wildlife safety is important in national parks—always follow guide instructions and maintain safe distances from animals.
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U.S. Department of State
⚠️ Travel Advisory 📄 Visa InformationOpens on travel.state.gov
Register your trip and locate emergency contacts before you depart.
🏛 U.S. Embassy Directory ✅ Register Your Trip (STEP)STEP alerts you during emergencies and helps the embassy locate you.
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