Botswana is safari country. Most trips start in Maun, for the Okavango Delta and Moremi, or in Kasane, for Chobe National Park, often adding the Makgadikgadi salt pans or the Central Kalahari, and many are combined with Victoria Falls, a short drive from Kasane. Gaborone, the capital, lies in the south-east, far from the main parks. Botswana sits outside the EU's Roam Like at Home rules, which means European SIMs pay for roaming at their operator's rates.
Key facts for Botswana
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: beMobile, Orange (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 999; ambulance 997; fire 998
- Embassies: in Gaborone
Maun, the Okavango Delta and Moremi
Maun has good coverage, but once you fly or drive into the Delta the signal fades away, and most camps rely on Wi-Fi of varying speed. Mokoro trips and walking safaris bring you close to hippos, elephants and crocodiles, so follow your guide's instructions, keep the legal distance from wildlife and never swim in rivers or lakes. Malaria is present in the north, especially in the rainy season from November to March, so ask your doctor about prevention before you travel.
Kasane and Chobe
Kasane has decent coverage, and the Chobe riverfront is busy with boat cruises and game drives. Lodges along the river have had break-ins and thefts from rooms, so lock the door and use the safe. From Kasane, the Kazungula border crossings lead to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Victoria Falls is only a short drive away.
Gaborone, Francistown and the roads
Coverage is strong in Gaborone and Francistown. Violent crime is increasing in both cities and in Maun, including hold-ups at restaurants at busy times, and criminals target cars waiting at traffic lights, so keep doors locked, windows closed and bags out of sight. Women should avoid walking alone at night, and licensed taxis have blue number plates.
Outside the towns, livestock and wild animals stray onto the roads, which makes driving after dark especially risky, and speeding and drink-driving cause frequent fatal accidents. In remote areas, travel in convoy or carry a satellite phone, and from November to March floods can make roads unsafe and close border crossings at short notice.
Laws to know
Drug offences can bring prison sentences of up to 25 years. It is illegal to photograph or film near military and government installations, and you should ask before photographing people. Buying or selling parts of protected wild animals is illegal. Same-sex relations were decriminalised in 2019, but attitudes remain conservative, so avoid public displays of affection.
Paying
The currency is the pula. Cards are accepted at many hotels, lodges and shops in the towns, and the main towns have cash machines, but they are scarce in rural areas, so withdraw what you need before setting off.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM bought and installed before you fly is ready when you land in Maun, Kasane or Gaborone, and you keep your home number for verification texts from your bank. An Africa plan also covers Zambia and South Africa, but not Zimbabwe, which needs its own plan if you visit the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls.
Botswana SIM cards from Mascom, Orange or beMobile are sold at airports and in phone shops, and registration requires your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Botswana
- Call 999 for the police, 997 for an ambulance and 998 for the fire service.
- Embassies are in Gaborone. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If your EU country is not represented in Botswana, any other EU member state's embassy is obliged to assist you as it would its own citizens (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Medical facilities are limited outside the towns, and getting out of a remote camp often means a flight, so check that your insurance covers evacuation.
Questions travellers ask about Botswana
Is Botswana covered by EU roaming?
No. Your operator will charge its own roaming rates, as Botswana is outside Roam Like at Home.
Will I have signal in the Okavango Delta?
Rarely once you leave Maun. Most camps have Wi-Fi, so download maps and documents beforehand.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Botswana?
beMobile or Orange, depending on the plan, with 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
999 for the police, 997 for an ambulance and 998 for the fire service.
The short version
Have the eSIM ready before you travel, expect Wi-Fi rather than signal in the Delta, keep your distance from wildlife and out of the water, avoid driving after dark, and save 999 and 997.
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