Botswana vs Zimbabwe: safety comparison
Botswana vs Zimbabwe: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇧🇼Botswana | 🇿🇼Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 24 / 100 | 42 / 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 | #114 |
| 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 | ZWL |
Botswana vs Zimbabwe: common questions
Is Botswana or Zimbabwe safer to visit?
Botswana has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 24/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Botswana or Zimbabwe safer for solo female travellers?
Botswana is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Zimbabwe is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Botswana and Zimbabwe?
Botswana: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Zimbabwe: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).
More comparisons
Botswana vs South Africa · Botswana vs Namibia · Namibia vs Zimbabwe · Botswana vs Eswatini · Zambia vs Zimbabwe · Botswana vs Zambia · Mozambique vs Zimbabwe · Malawi vs Zimbabwe
Planning the trip? Check Botswana visa requirements and Zimbabwe visa requirements.