Common tourist scams in Botswana and how to avoid them

Botswana's tourism is high-value and lightly policed at the edges, so most scams target money rather than your person. The pattern is the same everywhere: someone offers a service you did not ask for, or a price you cannot verify, and pressure builds until you pay.

At Maun and Kasane airports, and at the Kazungula and Tlokweng road borders, men approach arrivals offering 'official' transfers, park permits or currency exchange at a better rate. Legitimate operators meet you with a name board booked in advance. If nobody is there, use the airport taxi rank or call your camp's number from your own booking confirmation, not from a card handed to you.

Safari pricing is the biggest single loss. Fake or unlicensed operators take deposits by bank transfer for camps that do not exist, or quote a low per-night rate and add 'park fees', 'conservation levies' and 'transfer fees' on arrival. Book through operators with a physical office and a Botswana tourism registration, and ask for the total including park fees, transfers and levies in writing before paying.

Card fraud is the most common day-to-day problem. Skimming happens at some ATMs and at small card machines in towns. Use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day, cover the keypad, and keep a second card in a different bag. In restaurants, ask to walk to the machine rather than handing your card to a waiter who takes it out of sight.

Cash short-change is routine in busy markets and taxi ranks: the note you hand over is suddenly a smaller one. Count your change in front of the seller. Taxi drivers in Gaborone and Maun may also quote a flat 'tourist' fare; agree the price before getting in, or use a metered cab or a ride-hailing app.

Guides and trackers in the Delta and Chobe sometimes ask for a cash 'tip' up front or claim a park fee is payable to them personally. Park and conservancy fees are paid at official gates or by your camp. Tipping is expected but discretionary: guides US$15–25 per guest per day and camp staff US$10–15 per guest per day, usually settled at the camp, not in cash on the road.

Rental cars and 4x4s are another soft spot: inflated 'damage' claims on return, or a fuel policy that charges you for a full tank you already paid for. Photograph the vehicle inside and out, note the fuel level, and get the return condition signed.

None of this means Botswana is dangerous. Violent robbery is rare, but it is not zero in Gaborone, Maun and Kasane after dark. Keep to lit streets, do not walk between bars alone at night, and leave valuables in the camp safe.

Carry small pula notes for taxis and markets, and keep larger notes separate. Split cash and cards between bags so one loss does not strand you.

Save your camp, operator and embassy numbers offline before you leave Maun or Kasane; mobile signal is patchy in the parks.

If you are scammed, report it to the police on 999 and to your bank immediately for card fraud. Keep receipts, messages and statements; a written record is what makes a refund or chargeback possible.

For anything that feels off, walk away and rebook through your camp or a registered operator. There is almost always a legitimate alternative within a few minutes.