Is Botswana safe in 2026?
Botswana scores 91.4/100 on the live safety index — very safe. The main pressure on the score comes from crime, natural disasters, economy. The score has been stable for 21 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 91.4/100).
91.4 /100very safe
30-day trend
Botswana's score changed by +0.0 over the last 22 days (91.4 → 91.4) — within normal day-to-day noise. No single event moved the index.
Risk factors
Open the interactive country card to inspect current factors. For historical factor data and integrations, see the customer API.
Conflict & War
0.2/34.1 safety points.
Official travel advisory
2 Exercise Increased Caution
The U.S. State Department places Botswana at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing crime. Our live index reads 91.4/100. That advisory was last revised Jun 17, 2026, 121 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Theft of cash and belongings, along with other opportunistic offenses, occurs frequently throughout Botswana. Confrontational incidents are also widespread, ranging from residential intrusions and burglaries to street robberies and smash-and-grab attacks on occupied or parked cars. Risk rises after dark for pedestrians and motorists alike, and banks and cash machines are recurring settings for these incidents. Resistance during a robbery raises the danger of harm, and routine health preparation matters, including vaccination requirements and an adequate supply of prescription medicine for the full trip.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Jun 17, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
- Botswana has so many elephants it approved the killing of 23 this week for independence celebrations
- Botswana condemned for slaughtering elephants for independence celebrations
- Moody's cuts Botswana rating again as diamond slump weighs on economy
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 91.4/100 (generated )
No recent events indicate any near-term deterioration or improvement.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Botswana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botswana | 91.4 | — | |
| Zimbabwe | 71.5 | −19.9 | |
| Namibia | 89.4 | −1.9 | |
| Eswatini | 77.5 | −13.9 | |
| Lesotho | 79.4 | −12.0 | |
| South Africa | 76.5 | −14.8 |