Travel with confidence
The short answer
Botswana is one of Africa's most stable, peaceful, and traveller-friendly countries. Most guests arrive feeling a little nervous and leave wondering why they waited so long. Below is our honest, plain-language guide to the questions we hear most often.
Botswana's overall crime rates are comparable to the United States. In tourist areas and the Okavango region, crime rates are very low — tourists are welcomed and respected. Most criminal activity in Botswana is concentrated in larger cities like Gaborone, far from our safari areas. The communities we work in and travel through are safe, warm, and genuinely hospitable.
Botswana is wild — and that is precisely the point. Our guides are Batswana (citizens of Botswana) with decades of experience reading animal behaviour in real time. You will learn simple but critical protocols: staying seated in the vehicle, moving calmly, reading the animals. En-suite camp facilities mean you never need to walk through camp in the dark. We have an exceptional safety record built over many years.
Botswana has one of Africa's strongest records of democratic governance, with regular peaceful elections and stable institutions. The country actively invests in conservation, infrastructure, and the communities that border its national reserves. It is consistently ranked among the most stable and well-governed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Botswana is one of the more progressive countries in Africa on human rights. Our team is trained to ensure all guests feel completely respected and welcome, regardless of who they are or who they travel with. We are proud to run a fully inclusive operation, and we have hosted many LGBTQ+ guests who have had entirely comfortable, joyful experiences.
Malaria is present in northern Botswana, including the Okavango Delta. We recommend consulting a travel medicine specialist and discussing antimalarial prophylactics before your trip. The safari areas we operate in are remote — the nearest hospital is in Maun, which is accessible by road. Our guides carry emergency communication equipment at all times.
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Bush planes are available for emergency transfers when needed, but insurance ensures you're never in a difficult position. This is the one non-negotiable we advise for every guest before any trip to a remote wilderness area.
Still have concerns?
The best people to ask about safety in Botswana are the people who live and work there. KT has spent his entire life in the Okavango — he can answer any question you have with first-hand knowledge, not a website.
The bush is wild. The welcome is warm.
Botswana is ready for you. Let's start planning your trip.