Do local taxis in Botswana accept card or only cash?

Botswana taxis are definitely cash-oriented. I found them easy to get in cities, but every single ride I took required cash in pula. No drivers had card readers, and none mentioned apps. In smaller towns, you’ll sometimes even have to agree on the fare before the ride, and cash is the only way to settle it. For visitors, I’d say don’t bother trying to use a card with taxis-it just isn’t how things work there right now.

My experience in Botswana was that taxis are very straightforward but only accept cash. I used them in Gaborone and Maun, and all drivers asked for pula. Some said they’d accept U.S. dollars, but the conversion rates weren’t good, so it’s best to pay local currency. I didn’t see anyone offering card readers, and there’s no app alternative. If you’re planning to explore, just make sure you withdraw enough cash, because taxis don’t do digital payments here.

I spent a couple of weeks in Botswana, and taxis were all cash-only. Drivers prefer pula, though a few agreed to take U.S. dollars at poor rates. ATMs worked fine for me in the cities, but in smaller areas you might struggle to find one, so it’s worth carrying more than you think you’ll need. The transport system is simple, but definitely not card-ready. Just plan with enough cash to cover your rides, since digital options don’t exist.

In Botswana, taxis almost always expect cash. Gaborone had plenty of drivers, but none of them offered card payments. They all wanted pula in small notes, and sometimes struggled to give change for bigger bills. There are no ride-hailing apps like Uber here, so you have to negotiate directly with the driver. ATMs are common in cities, but I wouldn’t count on card terminals in taxis. Cash is by far the most reliable option across the country.