Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Botswana take card payments at check-in
Botswana is a mixed bag - in Gaborone some hostels swipe cards, but in safari towns like Maun or Kasane, it’s cash only. I learned the hard way when the machine in Maun didn’t process my card and I had to borrow cash from another traveler. If you want to avoid last-minute ATM runs, make sure to have enough pula for your hostel nights, especially outside the capital.
I traveled through Gaborone and Kasane. In the city, the backpackers hostel near the bus rank did take cards. But up north, especially near Chobe National Park, everything was cash-based. ATMs worked in Gaborone, but I had trouble with one machine in Kasane not accepting my foreign card. If you want to avoid stress, bring cash before leaving the capital.
Botswana hostels lean heavily on cash. Even if they have a card machine, connectivity issues mean it may not work. In Maun, the lodge I stayed at was card-only for tours but cash-only for accommodation, which made no sense. Bring pula before heading into safari areas, since ATMs can be few and far between. Don’t assume you can withdraw last minute.
In Gaborone, the hostel I stayed at accepted card at check-in, but the machine was sometimes offline. Outside the capital, especially near the Okavango Delta, it was strictly cash. Most guesthouses and hostels prefer pula in hand. ATMs from Barclays Botswana (now Absa) worked fine for me, but I wouldn’t rely on finding one everywhere. Always safer to bring cash.