Home › Travel Guides › Africa Travel Guide › Botswana › Money & duty free for Botswana

Money & duty free for Botswana

Currency information: 

Pula (BWP; symbol P) = 100 thebe. Notes are in denominations of P100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of P5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 thebe.

Credit cards: 

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are available in most larger cities and towns.

ATM: 

ATMs are available in most larger cities and towns.

Travellers cheques: 

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Traveller's cheques are accepted in large cities but with a high surcharge.

Banking hours: 

Banks open 0800 and 0900, Mon-Sat, closing between 1615 and 1715 on weekdays and 1045 and 1200 on Saturdays.

Currency restriction: 

There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currencies, provided declared on arrival. Export of local currency is limited to P50 and foreign currencies up to the amount declared on arrival.

Currency exchange: 

Money should be exchanged in banks at market rates. The main commercial banks include Bank of Baroda, Barclays Bank of Botswana, First National Bank, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Standard Chartered Bank with branches in major towns and villages. Owing to limited facilities in small villages, it is advisable to change money at the airport or in major towns, where credit card cash advances may also be available. There are also bureaux de changes at major border posts. Safari lodges accept payment in US dollars.

Botswana duty free

The following goods may be imported into Botswana without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 2L of wine and 1L of spirits.
• 50mL of perfume and 250mL of eau de toilette.
• Goods up to the value of ZAR500 from within the SACU zone (Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland) and to the value of ZAR3000 from outside the zone.

The import of narcotics, and pornography is prohibited, and there are restrictions on the import of firearms, ammunition, food, plants, animals, boats and vehicles.

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.