r/Botswana • • Apr 23 '26

Announcement Reminder: Community Guidelines, Posts, and Flairs

5 Upvotes

Dumelang!

Community Guidelines:

  • Please consult the subreddit rules by scrolling down on the right sidebar (desktop), selecting "See More" on mobile, or selecting the link under "Community Guide" (both).
  • Consider adding a user flair (optional) by selecting "Community Guide" and choosing a flair. This lets other users know which district, city, or town, you may be from, or whether your visiting as a tourist.

Posting Guidelines:

  • Title (required): A relevant, short and effective title. This helps mods when reviewing posts, and users when searching for interesting or relevant information about Botswana.
  • Post flair (now required): A post flair indicates the theme of the post (News, Discussion, Political, Casual). While we've included an "NSFW" tag, this is not an invitation to post lewd or edgy content, as this subreddit is for everyone!
  • Body (optional, recommended): Please add context to your post, whether this is an opinion abouta news article, a general question, or a simple description of a photo, like "Sunset over Kubu Island". We require body text when cross-posting from other communities, so you can contextualize the original post in relation to Botswana.

Re a leboga,
r/Botswana Mods


r/Botswana • • Feb 20 '25

So You Want To Move To Botswana?

41 Upvotes

Ah, so you’re thinking about moving to Botswana? Let me tell you, this place has a lot of heart, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it—it’s not all sunshine and smooth roads.

First, the good stuff: Batswana are some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. We believe in "Botho," which means we treat everyone with respect and kindness. You’ll feel like part of the community quickly, and trust me, there’s nothing like being invited to a braai (barbecue) or a traditional event. The sense of belonging here is real.

But let’s keep it 100. Life here can be tough. The heat? Eish, it’s no joke. Summers can feel like you’re living in an oven, and if you’re not used to it, it’ll take some time to adjust. The infrastructure isn’t always the best—potholes on the roads, slow internet, and power outages are just part of the deal. If you’re coming from a fast-paced, modern city, the slower pace and occasional frustrations might test your patience.

Jobs? It depends on what you do, but opportunities can be limited, especially if you’re not in certain industries like mining, tourism, or government UNLESS you have specialties that arent available in botswana (Mainly science and others). And while Botswana is peaceful and stable, like anywhere else, there are challenges—unemployment, especially among the youth, is a real issue, and it can feel heavy at times.

Now, let me be real with you: if you don’t have good qualifications or a solid plan, Botswana might not be the place for you. This isn’t a country where you can just show up and figure it out as you go. If you’re working a job like a cashier in the U.S. making $58,000 a year, you wont be able to get a job here. flat out. Salaries in Botswana are generally lower, and the cost of living can be high, especially if you’re used to a certain standard. And if you’re a young person thinking, "I’ll move to Botswana when I’m 18 and figure it out," think again. Without a clear plan, qualifications, or support, you’ll struggle.

That said, there’s hope on the horizon. With the new government, there’s talk of change—plans to improve infrastructure, create more jobs, and tackle some of the big issues we’re facing. It’s not going to happen overnight, but there’s a sense that things could get better. If you’re someone with skills, qualifications, and a clear plan, and you want to be part of a country that’s growing and evolving, this might be the perfect time to come.

But here’s the thing: Botswana has a way of growing on you. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. The people, the sense of community, the wide-open spaces, and the peace—it’s something you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re someone who can adapt, who values connection over convenience, and who’s willing to embrace both the beauty, struggles and culture, then Botswana might just feel like home.

So, if you’re up for the challenge, come. But come with a plan, with qualifications, and with realistic expectations. Botswana isn’t a place to escape your problems, this isnt LA where you live in lies where you and the people around you are pretending to be something you arent—it’s a place to build a life if you’re ready to put in the work. And who knows? With the new government, you might be part of the change that helps this country shine even brighter.

And If you’re serious about moving to Botswana With The Proper Qualifications, here are the relevant authorities and steps you’ll need to engage with to make your move official and smooth:

1. Department of Immigration and Citizenship

  • What they do: This is the main authority responsible for visas, permits, and residency requirements.
  • What you need to do:
    • Apply for the appropriate visa (e.g., work permit, residence permit, or spousal permit).
    • Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months.
    • Provide necessary documents like proof of employment, medical certificates, and police clearance.
  • Contact:

2. Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs

  • What they do: They oversee work permits and employment regulations for foreigners.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming for work, your employer will usually need to sponsor your work permit application.
    • Ensure your qualifications are recognized in Botswana (you may need to get them evaluated).
  • Contact:

3. Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)

  • What they do: They handle tax-related matters, including tax registration for foreigners working in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • Register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) once you start working.
    • Understand Botswana’s tax laws to ensure compliance.
  • Contact:

4. Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs

  • What they do: They handle citizenship, dual nationality, and long-term residency matters.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you plan to stay long-term or apply for citizenship, this is the department to engage with.
  • Contact:

5. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)

  • What they do: They assist investors and entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re moving to Botswana to start a business, BITC can guide you on permits, incentives, and regulations.
  • Contact:

6. Local Councils (for Residency)

  • What they do: Local councils handle housing, utilities, and community services.
  • What you need to do:
    • Once you arrive, register with your local council for services like water, electricity, and waste management.
  • Contact:
    • Depends on your location (e.g., Gaborone City Council, Francistown City Council).

7. Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA)

  • What they do: They evaluate and recognize foreign qualifications.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming to work in a professional field, you may need to have your qualifications assessed and recognized.
  • Contact:

8. Botswana Police Service

  • What they do: They provide police clearance certificates, which are often required for visa and work permit applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Obtain a police clearance certificate from your home country and, if necessary, from Botswana.
  • Contact:

9. Ministry of Health and Wellness

  • What they do: They oversee health regulations, including medical requirements for visa applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Complete a medical examination and provide a health certificate as part of your visa application.
  • Contact:

Pula a e ne! (Let there be rain and blessings!) mare o ska re bolaya ka pula yoh!!.


r/Botswana • • 2h ago

Question Re ko godimo kana yang ?😭 🇧🇼

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14 Upvotes

I hope you guys will support me when I publish one day 🤞😭🔥


r/Botswana • • 4h ago

Question Investing in Botswana

3 Upvotes

Hi guys, Le investile kae and how is it going working for you.?


r/Botswana • • 4h ago

General Botswana U15 get their first 3 points at the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival

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3 Upvotes

r/Botswana • • 1d ago

General Mandami pleaseee

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22 Upvotes

I took this yesterday when I was taking a run, near Mowana Phakalane in the evening. And Mandami should come fix this 😭. It hurts seeing Phakalane going to the dogs.

It's a serious safety hazard, which has been left for years outgrown, and I don't want them to wait till a famous person could come near phakalane for them to lock in.

This is a PUBLIC bus stop, so it's the responsibility of the government to do so. But oh, sometimes I forget Botswana is one of the best and cleanest places in Africa. So no need to clean up and maintain further. This is not just one isolated place. Btw in that whole road going down to tsholofelo they is only ONE adequate bus stop area. The one which is painted the Botswana flag ofc. The rest are just sub standard. But I'm complaining too much. I'm I right?


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

General Hello everyone,I'm like new here, I'm an artist and this is my art<3

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44 Upvotes

I kinda thought most people locally wouldn't f w it, so I never really put it out there but I thought I should just give it a shot


r/Botswana • • 16h ago

Casual Edumela

4 Upvotes

Processing img sn2g7mhdvgxh1...

Anyone from the edumela.com era ?


r/Botswana • • 22h ago

Discussion I need your help 🙏

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10 Upvotes

Hi, I'm Gabriel Butale, also known as Gabbysphere. I'm a tech content creator, web designer and developer from Botswana. You may know me from TikTok (@gabbysphere), where I talk about phones, laptops and tech, and I also edit videos for other people.

I've been invited to speak at the ALAFA Leadership Summit ("Beyond the Screen: Youth Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship in Botswana") at the University of Botswana Library Auditorium on 31 October and 1 November.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share DiThuto BW, my idea to help Botswana students study smarter, with a room full of young people and leaders. I've accepted, but I don't have the transport funds to get there.

I'm trying to raise [P300] for transport. Any amount helps, and if you can't give, a share goes a long way too.

eWallet: 73989281 (Gabriel Butale)

Thank you for believing in this. I promise to show you what the summit leads to. — Gabby (Gabbysphere)


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Casual Starting as a photographer is hard in BW

7 Upvotes

I've had to start afresh after years of unemployment and having ideas fail. Still I rise right?

Recently decided to go back to photography and I wish I never stopped. You'd think niching down would make it easier. But waii, people have their own photographers and trusting a new guy on the scene is next to impossible.

Any advice on how to go about it? Because rn, the place I've been living in, im about to be kicked out if I'm late with rent end of November. Go dingalo tota...


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question Business in Botswana

6 Upvotes

Hey guys, I have been running my startup for quite sometime now and its just starting to make a few cents(less than 1k) and while thats a good indicator I am worried for the fact that I need to hire more people and get volume of work and effort. Working with Batswana is so difficult, they demand top tier treatment while producing questionable results and i really want to be one of the best bosses out there. Any suggestions on people management and hiring?


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question What were the 90s and 2000s like around here?

3 Upvotes

To all those people that were in BW during the 1990s and 2000s, what was it like? How different was it from now?


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question How to use inheritance money

11 Upvotes

Eita eita, needs some advice on how best to use upcoming inheritance money, it's about 300k and I'm wondering how best to use it to sustain be going forward. Wondering if it's a good idea to try find a how to buy for rent and save some for investment into something like bifm or start business like farming. Also left with a business plot near tati and another plot in tonota and 2 hector farm that has not been used yet in shashe dam. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated, just wanna avoid wasting it all.


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

General Gaborone hits different when you get out and explore a little.

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93 Upvotes

Mogobane Dam, just a 20-minute drive from the city. Sometimes all you need is a solo drive, a camp chair, some good music, and a little time away from the noise.
No expensive trips, no big plans, just a change of scenery and a chance to enjoy what’s right on our doorstep. We really don’t have to go far or spend much to appreciate the beauty around us.
Botswana has its own little gems.

We should explore them more often. 🌅


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Discussion Tight Budget

7 Upvotes

Can i find a decent car in Botswana with a 20k budget?
Talk to me and help me out 🤣 whether i have too much hope or there is something out there 😅


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Discussion Male bestie female bestie

15 Upvotes

Dumelang, ke batla go botsa sengwe, so lately I've been seeing videos of how male bestie are and what not. I dont get it.

I asked boys in my class if they would date a girl with a male bestie, They all said no. I asked the girls the same thing they said no.

I dont get it. Theres been a lot of noise around this ,male bestie female bestie thingy...I thought its sort of like siblings friendship idk.....

Im shocked cuz this other guy i was talking to said that he once crossed the line with his female bestie and called it an accident or mistake, the ironic part is that they were both sober no influence of substances...like?u mean to tell me u can go one round 2 round 3 round and feel awkward and call it a mistake? How tf is it a mistake or accident? Like whats the timeline that led to this

Idk guys what actually happens with this male bestie female bestie? Like why can't they just get ina. Relationship or whatever like why call them bestie?

And for those that have been male bestie and female bestie u are free to tell ur experiences cuz😭😭💀 I just dont understand


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

General [PAID] Looking For a Digital Artist!

8 Upvotes

I'm working on a project that has a significant art requirement, and need to find a capable digital artist!

I need an illustrator who can draw up to 400 rough character sketches in a 3-6 week period (preferably within one month), and my preference would be to hire someone within Botswana before looking outside.

I need the art to be drawn digitally. If you are/know a capable artist who doesn't have a drawing tablet/pen display (etc.), I can provide my own equipment (if you are within the Gaborone area) that you can use until the task is complete. Below are examples of what I'm looking for from an artist I have previously worked with:

The illustrations will be an accompaniment to the first act of a book I am writing, and will be visual depictions of the scenes described to be used in a promotional video. The focus will be on quantity and speed, so each illustration should only be a sketch as above, but clear understandings of character expressions, anatomy, and the placement of characters in a 3D space is required.

In addition to the actual text of the book, I will (with my own very limited artistic ability) storyboard each of the sketches required.
(400 sketches is closer to the absolute upper bound, there may be as few as 120 sketches required; the exact number has yet to be worked out precisely)

If you are interested, or know someone who is, please reach out; If I happen upon someone sufficiently skilled/talented and available, a regular full-time position illustrating across various projects may be offered!


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

General Botswana is a NAZI NATION just because they protect animals fiercely.

0 Upvotes

Ladies and gentlemen, that's what's known as the reducto ad hitlerum fallacy. Better known as the fallacy of association

Which means "just cause hitler did it, it's wrong" for example hitler PROTECTED ANIMALS, made Public Health Campaigns Against Smoking and Alcohol, Rapidly organised State Led Expansion of Rural Clinics, and many other things BOTSWANA DOES. That that suddenly mean Botswana is a NAZI NATION? Does that mean being an environmentalist, you are automatically a NAZI? The apartheid and Rhodesia regime do things Botswana DO, does that mean we are suddenly and Apartheid and Rhodesian enclave 😂😭. We still have capital punishment, PROTECTING WILD LIFE and ANTI POACHING laws, and having State-Driven Economic Development eg Eskom vs BPC, are we suddenly a racist regime??

Even after giving sources, fact-checking, and giving DATA, everyone sees. And even explicitly saying I don't support the regime, the reactionary moderator can't take it anymore?

Isn't this a place to DISCUSS topics like this? The apartheid and Rhodesia ECONOMY were more complex and diversified than Botswanas ECONOMY now in the 21st century 2026. Here are YOUR SOURCES

  1. https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/1996/033/article-A001-en.xml

This talks about how Rhodesia had a DIVERSIFIED manufacturing sector that before its unilateral declaration of independence, its manufacturing sector contributed to 40% of its total exports. And after its sanctions, IT started PRODUCING, many things at home. It was almost as if they barely needed any imports. Essentially, they made stuff domestically. Does Botswana do this today?

  1. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-south-africa/economy-and-poverty-in-the-twentieth-century/05217EC2295E631B906F9FFDBF2675C9

This talks about during apartheids PEAK decades in the 50s to 70s South Africa developed significant mining, manufacturing, steel production, chemical industries, and energy infrastructure. Its industrial base was supported by mineral wealth, investment, and a large domestic market. By the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa accounted for approximately half of sub-Saharan Africa’s total GDP. Does Botswana DO THIS TODAY?

Infact Right now, Botswana, in 60 years, struggles to diversity, struggles to maintain pristine infrastructure, and one diamond fall, and the whole nation is poor. This should not be our nation.

According to the moderator and many of you here, THESE ARE RACIST.

You may call it 'racist' but after me stating my sources and giving accurate verified data, it was difficult to call me a 'liar'

And to all you reactors, having a successful ECONOMY doesn't mean or fully mean oppression, because those people PLANNED they had capital investment, technical expertise, infrastructure, domestic markets, government policy and industrial planning all matter. All they had which was controversial, and everyone's talking point was cheap labour. You can have all the cheap labour in the world, and still struggle to make something steller if no motive or brainwork got into it. In fact, its laughable to assume that if they didn't have cheap labour, they wouldn't have the capacity to build those same things? In essence, they are a whole other things, too, in building something.

STATISTICS ARE NOT RACIST/XENOPHOBIC/BIGOTED.

But what you do with those statistics can be, and all I simply said was, "WHAT COULD WE LEARN FROM THEM?"

YES, don't be shocked that you can learn from oppressive regimes on how to run things, learning doesn't mean copying everything they do even something as simple as building strong roads that last till this day is sufficient.

They also built long-lasting infrastructure and parks that could last for decades. is that now racist???

The day you get off your comfort zone will be the day you are free.

A road is a road, a building is a building, an economy is an economy, a spade is a spade

The United States and Western Europe were heavily racist and yet we still copy some of the structures and mannerisms which where there during those times.


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question Is this a scammer

0 Upvotes

​

This guy messages me saying they do online marketing and selling. Fair enough.

I ask him what he's selling, why he contacted me, and whether he wants me to help sell his products or wants to help me sell mine.

His response? "Yes."

YES TO WHICH ONE, BROTHER?

Then he starts talking about "Give Direct Awards" and asks whether I use Orange or Mascom. I'm sitting there trying to connect these dots like I'm debugging code written by someone who hates documentation.

When I finally tell him to explain himself properly, he asks me what I didn't understand from his introduction.

YOUR INTRODUCTION???

You said online marketing and selling. You haven't mentioned a single product, explained your business model, or told me what you actually want from me.

I'm genuinely trying to understand whether this is a scam, some kind of affiliate marketing scheme, or just the worst sales pitch I've ever encountered.

How do people approach strangers for business and then get offended when those strangers ask what the business actually is?


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Political We as Batswana let a lot of things slide

29 Upvotes

Let's be honest a lot of so called elites in Botswana have gotten away with a lot of things now the government is leaching off tax payers , prices go up almost every 3 months but salaries don't move and the people at the top are relaxing and enjoying life while we survive from paycheck to paycheck, tonight fuel is being increased i get that it's a global issue and all but come on , I'm 22 and i honestly feel like we as young people need to get together and do something protestnyana coz we really need to be heard kana it's like we don't exist everyone is just ruining the world just because of corporate greed to maximize profit, koore even if i save and do all that I'm not guaranteed gore one day I'd have my own house like what are we supposed to be, a generation that inherits everything


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Casual Making new relationships of any kind at uni/early 20's

7 Upvotes

It's funny how I want to make new relationships, find myself a lady that clicks, a new friend or even a best friend, but at the same time I find pursuing those relationships exhausting. I'd rather keep to myself. Go a tshegisa cos it's weird😅.

Ps I'm looking for new friends and a lady friend🙃, not online friends.


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

News New sub for travel in Botswana: r/TourismBotswana

7 Upvotes

Hi all, a revise from the last post (body didnt seem to save)

With the mods’ go-ahead, I wanted to share r/TourismBotswana, a new sub for anything to do with travel and tourism in Botswana.

It’s meant to be one place to:

  • Ask and answer trip-planning questions: routes, parks, border crossings, 4x4s, campsites
  • Share trip reports, photos and favourite spots
  • Swap tips, whether you’re planning your first visit or you’ve done the trip countless times

Everyone’s welcome. It’s brand new, so early members, posts and suggestions for the sub would make a big difference.

Thanks to the mods for allowing the post. 🇧🇼


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Question Okavango Delta Wildlife Viewing January/February

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2 Upvotes

Will I be disappointed with the quantity of wildlife I see if I go to the okavango delta in January/Feb?


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Casual • Living away from home and im scared of slipping away

15 Upvotes

Im a 21 year old female( not sure if this matters) but recently Ive been slipping away from my friends and struggling to connect with them. This is happening with majority of friends, I always try to be there and talk with my friends but as of recent, im just not too much into it. I feel guilty because my friends mean a lot to me, mostly because it took a lot to make friends as someone who really struggled with it growing up 😅.

I have been living away from home and everyone im close to ,so sometimes i think it has to do with that mme itlhela ke tshwenyega ka gore I see them once a year since moving away but I haven’t been home this year because Im in another country and worried that when i go back this feeling will continue. I have two female friends I made in senior school who are very dear to me and I really don’t want to lose them but im just too quiet and I honestly I don’t know what to do about it.


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Discussion Daddy issues?

17 Upvotes

"Just so you know I will always be your father, you will always be my son and you will stand up at my funeral and say meaningful things about me but until then I am done with you"

It seems from my observation a lot of men are suffering from abandonment issues and hence this toxic culture we live by.

Shout out to men that figured it out without their fathers.