Botswana Travel Budget - Visit Botswana on a Budget or Travel in Style


How much does it cost to travel to Botswana?

You should plan to spend around $26 (P360) per day on your vacation in Botswana. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $6.81 (P93) on meals
  • $1.85 (P25) on local transportation
  • $26 (P358) on hotels

A one week trip to Botswana for two people costs, on average, $367 (P5,040). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $26
    P360
  • One Week Per person
    $184
    P2,520
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $367
    P5,040
  • One Month Per person
    $787
    P10,800
  • One Week For a couple
    $367
    P5,040
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $734
    P10,080
  • One Month For a couple
    $1,573
    P21,601
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Botswana cost?

A one week trip to Botswana usually costs around $184 (P2,520) for one person and $367 (P5,040) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Botswana on average costs around $367 (P5,040) for one person and $734 (P10,080) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Botswana will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Botswana on average costs around $787 (P10,800) for one person and $1,573 (P21,601) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




How much do package tours cost in Botswana?

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Botswana is $278 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.



Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Botswana expensive to visit?

Botswana is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Africa, Botswana is reasonably affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in Africa for its affordability. You can find more affordable countries such as Nigeria, but there are also more expensive countries, such as Zambia.

For more details, see Is Botswana Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Botswana?

The average Botswana trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Botswana travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.



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Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) P358 ($26)
Local Transportation 1 P25 ($1.85)
Food 2 P93 ($6.81)
Entertainment 1 P203 ($15)
Alcohol 2 P21 - 62 ($1 - 4)
Accommodation Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Botswana is $13 (P179). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Botswana is $26 (P358). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $13
    P179
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $26
    P358

Hotel Prices in Botswana

Looking for a hotel in Botswana? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Botswana based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $88. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Local Transportation Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Botswana is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $1.85 (P25) per person, per day, on local transportation in Botswana.


  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $1.85
    P25

Recommended Services


Food Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Botswana can vary, the average cost of food in Botswana is $6.81 (P93) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Botswana should cost around $2.72 (P37) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Botswana is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $6.81
    P93


Entertainment Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Botswana typically cost an average of $15 (P203) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $15
    P203

Recommended Activities



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Alcohol Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $2.99 (P41) on alcoholic beverages in Botswana per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $2.99
    P41


Water Budget in Botswana
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.49 (P6.79) on bottled water in Botswana per day. The public water in Botswana is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.49
    P6.79


Botswana On a Budget
Botswana Chobe National Park, Botswana
The land locked country of Botswana is located in Southern Africa. It's bordered by Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The economy is one of the strongest in Africa and is centered around tourism and diamond mining. Botswana is an expensive destination and is therefore less popular than some of the other nearby countries. The country has kept prices high in an effort to conserve the area's wildlife, but still benefit financially from tourism. This country appeals to those who want to enjoy a wildlife safari without the tourist crowds that are so common in many other national parks. In particular, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park are exclusive and expensive destinations. If you'd like a budget option though, there are some available.

Visitors to Botswana come for the wildlife and the national parks. The most famous parks are Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park found in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The country is also home to the San, or bushman, population.

For independent travellers, there is a high level of service and significantly less poverty than the countries found to the north. Botswana offers a great combination of excellent service with an "off the beaten path" atmosphere.

There are three major regions in Botswana. The Kalahari Desert has a very low population and is in the western part of the country. Okavango-Chobe, to the north, is where you find the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Moremi National Park. The southeastern part of the country has the highest population density as well as the capital city of Gaborone.
At A Glance
  • Most people fly into Botswana. The main airport, Sir Seretse Khama, is in Gaborone and most flights come through Johannesburg, but it is possible to get direct flights from Cape Town, Harare, and Nairobi. Maun is a popular tourist destinationa and also has a limited number of international flights. Because Maun is more than 1,000 kilometers away from Gaborone, a direct flight may be beneficial.

  • Most directions in Botswana are given in terms of landmarks. Street names and addresses are not well recognized. Public transportation is inconsistent outside of major cities, but with a combination of coaches and combies, it's possible to get around most of the country. Where public transportation is lacking, hitchhiking is common. Use caution when you hitchhike as this form of transportation can prove dangerous.

  • Botswana's official languages are English and Tswana. English is used when people are conducting business, and it is very common in urban areas. In rural areas English is usually not spoken. Tswana is the primary indigenous language in the country and is most people's first language. Near the Zimbabwe border, Kalanga is frequently spoken.

  • Accommodation is generally found in larger towns and cities, but if you're visiting national parks there are some secluded game lodges that are quite nice. In general, most hotels do not fill up in cities, but if you're hoping to stay at a game lodge, reservations are recommended.

  • Internet cafes are common in most towns and the speed is reasonable, although slower than that found in South Africa. Wireless internet can be found in the more expensive cafes that are geared to the expat population. Game lodges usually don't offer internet access.



Related:

Looking for a hostel in Marrakesh, Cape Town, Nairobi, or Zanzibar?
Top Tourist Attractions
Okavango Delta: This is where the Okavango River widens into the world's largest inland delta. It is also one of the most impressive wildlife spots in southern Africa. It is surrounded by the Kalahari desert so the swamps and water channels attract animals that come from thousands of kilometers away. The delta triples in size during the July and August floods.

Chobe National Park: This national park is popular for its impressive wildlife viewing. It has a large population of elephants, but there are also many other favorites including zebras and lions. This national park is expensive to visit, meaning the crowds are less and the wildlife viewing is incredible.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park: This national park is famous for its bleak salt pans, which attract a large number of birds. Year around, the bird viewing here is incredible.

Popular Foods
The food of Botswana is comparable to that found elsewhere in Southern Africa, although regional variations are common. The people take great pride in their beef, so it is often of very high quality. Other common meats include lamb, mutton and chicken. Common grains include sorghum and maize, with wheat and rice being imported from outside the country.

Seswaa: Also called Chotlho, this is a popular, traditional meat dish in Botswana. It is generally served for special occasions and is traditionally prepared by men. The meat is mashed up and heavily salted and cooked in a three legged iron pot. It simmers in salt and water until it is soft.

Vetkoek: This traditional dish is found throughout Southern Africa. It's a fried dough bread that is usually served with minced ground beef or sweetened with syrup, honey or jam.

Bogobe: This is a form of porridge that is made with either sorghum, maize or millet flour. The flour is mixed with boiling water until it forms a soft paste. It is then cooked slowly and it is sometimes sweetened with milk and sugar. The unsweetened version is often eaten with meat or vegetables.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.