Travel safety comparison · Africa

Botswana vs South Africa: safety comparison

vs

Botswana vs South Africa: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Botswana carries a materially lower safety risk than South Africa on the composite Warnely score: 24/100 against 44/100, a gap of 20 points. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Botswana scores 2/5 against South Africa's 5/5. Drug law diverges sharply: Botswana carries a tier-severe regime against South Africa's more permissive framework.
🇧🇼Botswana 🇿🇦South Africa
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 24 / 100 44 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Normal Caution Exercise Increased Caution
UK FCDO advisory No active advisory No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
Global Peace Index rank #43 #124
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Moderate
Women's safety rating Exercise Caution Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal marriage
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency BWP ZAR
Full guide

Is Botswana safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is South Africa safe to visit in 2026?

Botswana vs South Africa: common questions

Is Botswana or South Africa safer to visit?

Botswana has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 24/100 vs 44/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Botswana or South Africa safer for solo female travellers?

Botswana is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; South Africa is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Botswana and South Africa?

Botswana: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). South Africa: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).

More comparisons

Lesotho vs South Africa · Eswatini vs South Africa · Namibia vs South Africa · Botswana vs Namibia · Botswana vs Zimbabwe · Botswana vs Eswatini · Botswana vs Zambia · Botswana vs Lesotho

Planning the trip? Check Botswana visa requirements and South Africa visa requirements.

← All country comparisons