Practical info for Botswana
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
- Policeaccording to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026997
- Policeaccording to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026999
- Medical emergenciesaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026911
- Medical emergenciesaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026; according to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026997
- Medical emergenciesaccording to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026999
- Fire brigadeaccording to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026998
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British High Commission GaboroneEmbassy
- Address
- Plot 1079-1084 Main Malloff Queens Road, Gaborone, Gaborone, Botswana
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/botswana/british-high-commission-gaborone
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 01/06/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Pula (BWP).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for BWP.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Traffic drives on the left.
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Botswana. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. You can drive with a UK driving licence for up to 90 days.”
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: MASCOM (Airalo).
Source: Airalo · verified on 26/10/2026
eSIM prices for Botswana
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Botswana?
Police: 997 (according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Police: 999 (according to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 911 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 997 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026; according to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 999 (according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Fire brigade: 998 (according to GOV.UK, 01/06/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 09/03/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026). Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Botswana?
British High Commission Gaborone, Plot 1079-1084 Main Malloff Queens Road, Gaborone, Gaborone, Botswana. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Botswana?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 01/06/2026.
What is the travel advice for Botswana?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Botswana?
Currency: Pula (BWP). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for BWP.
What is the time difference in Botswana?
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Botswana?
Traffic drives on the left. Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Botswana. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. You can drive with a UK driving licence for up to 90 days.”
Which mobile networks operate in Botswana?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: MASCOM (Airalo).