Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Botswana
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: 500-1250 BWP ($38-102) per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Botswana
Accommodation
200-500 BWP ($15-40) per night
Dorm beds in hostels, budget guesthouses, and backpacker campsites
Browse budget/backpacker accommodation →Food & Dining
150-300 BWP ($11-25) per day
Street food, local diners, and grocery shopping for self-catering
Transportation
50-150 BWP ($4-12) per day
Minibus taxis, local buses, and shared combis between towns
Activities
100-300 BWP ($8-25) per day
Self-guided city walks, public parks, and occasional museum visits
Currency: P Botswana Pula
Money-Saving Tips
Forget the hotel restaurant and walk to Choppies or Spar. Groceries there cost 60-70% less than the padded bill you'll face for the so-called convenience of eating in-house.
Jump into the shared minibus taxis that connect every town. They run 80% cheaper than the private transfers most visitors book without a second thought.
Book a room in Gaborone's Main Mall area instead of the tourist lodges. Rates there are routinely 40-50% lower and you're still within easy walking distance of everything you need.
Grab a plastic chair at the braai stands and traditional food stalls; a plate sets you back 30-50 BWP instead of the 150-plus you'll fork over at a sit-down restaurant.
Visit national parks during shoulder season for 25-35% lower park fees
Buy breakfast and lunch supplies, then blow the budget on dinner; self-catering slices about 200-300 BWP off the daily tally.
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Taking private taxis everywhere instead of shared minibus taxis (typically 5-8x more expensive)
Booking safari activities through hotels rather than local operators (usually 30-50% markup)
Eating exclusively at hotel restaurants in safari areas (often 3x city restaurant prices)
Not factoring in 10% service charge and 12% VAT that gets added to most bills
Underestimating domestic flight costs between safari camps (typically 2000-4000 BWP per flight)