Cash per day in Botswana?

On safari, my daily spend was $300-$500 removed link Lodges in Chobe and Okavango Delta cost $250+ per night, meals included. Extras like sundowner drinks or cultural village tours added $40-$60. Tipping is expected at this level - usually $10-$20/day for guides and a pooled tip for staff. Transport was included in packages. For someone not sticking to budget but wanting the comfort of organized tours, budgeting closer to $400/day is realistic.

I lived off about $65/day for a month crossing Botswana by bus and hitchhiking. Buses from Francistown to Gaborone were $10, hostel dorms around $18-$22, and meals like seswaa with rice $5-$7. Local beer $1.50-$2.50. I saved by joining shared mokoro trips in the Okavango Delta $50-$60 per day instead of luxury lodges. Tips averaged $3-$5 daily. Botswana is affordable outside safaris, but plan for at least one splurge safari.

I budgeted $100-$120/day while moving between Gaborone, Maun, and Kasane. Mid-range hotels were $45-$60, meals at restaurants like Bull & Bush $15-$20, and taxis across Gaborone $4-$6. In Maun, dinner at a riverside lodge with drinks ran me about $25-$30. Guided day trips to Moremi Game Reserve were $120-$150 including transport and lunch. Tips at nicer restaurants were around 10%, and for safari guides I gave $10-$15 removed link This level made me comfortable without going overboard.

When I stayed in Maun and Kasane, I got by on $45-$55/day. Hostel dorms or simple guesthouses were around $15-$20, meals in local cafes like beef stew with pap and veggies $4-$6, and shared minibus taxis rarely more than $1-$2 per ride. Groceries are inexpensive, so I sometimes cooked. Safari day trips, though, are pricey - even budget group ones from Maun start at $90-$120. Tips at cafes are not expected, but safari drivers or guides often appreciate $5-$10/day. If you’re on a long trip, keep safaris as add-ons and your average will balance out.