Travel safety comparison · Africa
Botswana vs Zambia: safety comparison
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Botswana vs Zambia: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Botswana sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Zambia (24 against 36), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in terrorism, where Botswana scores 1/5 against Zambia's 2/5.
| 🇧🇼Botswana | 🇿🇲Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 24 / 100 | 36 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Normal Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #43 | #64 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Exercise Caution | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | legal | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | BWP | ZMW |
Botswana vs Zambia: common questions
Is Botswana or Zambia safer to visit?
Botswana has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 24/100 vs 36/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Botswana or Zambia safer for solo female travellers?
Botswana is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Zambia is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Botswana and Zambia?
Botswana: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Zambia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).