Botswana SIM Cards, eSIM, Wi-Fi and Plugs in 2026

Planning Botswana safari packages and wondering how you will stay online? The short answer is to install a travel eSIM before departure if your phone supports it, then keep offline maps and important booking details on your device. Local prepaid SIM cards are also available, but registration and passport checks may apply.

Mobile service is strongest in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane. Coverage becomes less predictable on roads, in the Okavango Delta and in remote safari areas. Botswana uses 230 V electricity at 50 Hz. Type G is widely reported, although travel-adapter sources also list Types D and M, so a universal adapter is the safest choice.

Last checked September 2026. Always confirm with official sources before travelling. This article is informational, not legal advice. Travel requirements, network conditions and product prices can change.

Quick answer: SIM cards, eSIM, Wi-Fi and plugs in Botswana

A travel eSIM is usually the simplest way to get mobile data immediately after landing, while a local SIM may offer better value for longer stays or heavier usage.

• Local SIM registration: Passport or ID verification may be required when buying and activating a local prepaid SIM. One guide gives an average setup time of 15 to 45 minutes, but this is not an official processing standard.
• Local SIM cost: The research does not provide a dependable current Botswana SIM-card price. Airport tourist packages may cost more than SIMs bought in city shops, so confirm the current price and bundle with Mascom, Orange Botswana or BTC Mobile before paying.
• eSIM: Many travel eSIMs are data-only and can be installed before you fly. Device compatibility and an unlocked phone are required.
• Coverage: Gaborone and Francistown generally have the strongest service. Maun and Kasane have useful connectivity, while remote safari areas can be patchy or have no signal.
• Wi-Fi: Many safari lodges and camps offer Wi-Fi in common areas, and some remote camps use satellite internet. Treat lodge Wi-Fi as a supplement rather than your only connection.
• Plug type: Type G is a common Botswana plug type. Other sources list Types D and M as well, so pack a universal travel adapter.
• Voltage: Botswana's supply is 230 V at 50 Hz. A plug adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage.

Networks and coverage in Botswana

Botswana's main mobile providers include Mascom, Orange Botswana and BTC Mobile. The available research describes usable 4G service in Gaborone and Francistown, with good connectivity reported in Maun and Kasane.

That description fits a town-based trip better than a cross-country safari. Coverage becomes uneven once you leave the main population centres. Roads towards the Okavango Delta, remote camps, nature reserves, the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi salt pans may have limited or unavailable service.

In practical terms, download maps before leaving Maun or Kasane. Save your lodge name, transfer details, emergency contacts and booking confirmations offline. Mobile data may work near a camp one day and disappear a short distance away the next. That is a normal limitation of remote travel, not necessarily a problem with your SIM or eSIM.

Coverage claims made by eSIM companies need a little caution. A travel eSIM normally connects through a local network, so its performance depends on the same towers and backhaul available to local users. An eSIM provider may list Botswana-wide coverage, but that does not mean every game drive route or wilderness camp has a usable signal.

If your itinerary includes Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta or another remote safari area, ask your operator where the vehicle and camps normally regain signal. An operator can also tell you whether your camp has Wi-Fi, satellite internet or no guest internet at all. Build that answer into your planning before you rely on online maps or mobile banking.

Buying a SIM in Botswana

Where can tourists buy a SIM card in Botswana?

Tourists can buy prepaid SIM cards at Botswana airport locations and in city shops, with Mascom, Orange Botswana and BTC Mobile listed as the main providers. Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is reported to have SIM cards available after arrival.

Airport purchase is convenient, particularly if you need data for your first transfer. The trade-off is that airport tourist packages may cost more, and queues can be longer during busy periods. City stores may offer more prepaid bundle choices and better pricing.

For a safari, the best place to buy depends on your route. If you are flying straight to a lodge, an eSIM avoids a search for a shop. If you will spend several days in Gaborone, Maun or Kasane, a local store gives you time to compare bundles and complete registration. Check your route in advance with the advice in this Botswana flights and roads guide.

What documents do I need for a Botswana SIM card?

You may need a passport or other identification for a local SIM, and SIM registration may take place during activation. A passport is specifically cited as a registration document in the available tourist SIM research.

The exact process can depend on the provider and sales channel. Take your passport, keep the SIM packaging until the number works, and ask the seller to complete activation before you leave. The research does not identify a single government processing time or one universal registration process for every provider.

One source reports average setup time of 15 to 45 minutes. Treat that as a practical estimate from a travel guide, not a guaranteed service level.

How much is a SIM card in Botswana?

The research does not support a reliable current price for a Botswana SIM card or a standard tourist bundle, so confirm the current fee and data allowance with the provider or retailer before purchase. Airport tourist packages may cost more than SIMs bought in city stores.

That means you should compare the total package, not just the cost of the plastic SIM. Ask how much data is included, how long it remains valid, whether local calls and SMS are included, and how to top up. Some local shops may prefer cash or local payment methods for top-ups, and foreign cards may not always work smoothly.

What to check	What the research supports
SIM price	No dependable current figure is provided. Confirm before buying.
Airport pricing	Airport options may cost more than city-store SIMs.
Data bundles	Prepaid data bundles are available, with optional local calls and SMS packages.
Registration	Passport or ID verification may be required.
Top-ups	Local payment methods may be preferred at some shops.

Botswana eSIM options

A Botswana travel eSIM lets you install a data plan before departure and connect through a local network after landing, provided your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.

The main advantage is timing. You can install the plan while connected to Wi-Fi at home and have data ready for airport transfers, maps and messages. You do not need to find a shop immediately, and you can keep your home SIM active in a dual-SIM phone for calls, texts or banking codes.

Plans vary sharply by provider. The research includes examples of fixed-data and unlimited-data products, but it does not establish one best plan or a universal current price. One comparison reports a 25 GB, 30-day Ubigi plan at US$49 as of September 2026, while another provider advertises unlimited plans with prices that vary by duration. Check the provider's current terms, network partners, validity period and hotspot rules before buying.

Most travel eSIMs discussed in the research are intended for data. They may not provide a Botswana telephone number, ordinary voice calls or outgoing SMS. If you need local calling, ask whether the plan includes it. Otherwise, use WhatsApp or another internet calling service when data is available.

Install the eSIM while you still have a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Keep your home line selected for calls and texts if you need it, then select the travel eSIM for mobile data. Enable data roaming only on the travel line if the provider's instructions require it. Settings differ by phone, so follow the provider's setup guide rather than copying a generic configuration.

A dual-SIM setup is sensible for a longer safari. Use the eSIM for arrival and backup data, then buy a local SIM later if you need more data or expect to stay for several weeks.

Wi-Fi at Botswana lodges and camps

Many safari camps offer Wi-Fi in common areas, while some remote lodges use satellite internet. Availability and performance can differ between camps, so ask your operator what is provided at each property instead of assuming that every room has a strong connection.

Wi-Fi is often most useful for downloading messages, sending a few photos and checking transfer information. It may not be suitable for large backups, video calls or streaming, particularly at a remote camp using satellite connectivity. Those limits are worth accepting before you plan to work remotely during a safari.

Keep mobile data as a backup where the network reaches the camp. At the same time, do not assume that a local SIM or eSIM will solve every connectivity problem. The signal can fade quickly beyond towns and established tourist areas, including parts of the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

What plug type does Botswana use?

Botswana commonly uses Type G plugs, and travel-adapter sources also report Types D and M. Pack a universal adapter rather than relying on a single plug shape.

Type G has three rectangular pins. Type D and Type M use three round pins, with Type M generally larger and spaced farther apart. The sources do not agree on one complete national list, which is why a universal adapter is the practical choice for a trip that combines hotels, lodges and camps.

Check the adapter before you travel. A plug adapter only changes the physical shape so your charger can fit the socket. It does not convert Botswana's electricity to another voltage.

What adapter do I need for Botswana?

You need a Type G adapter at minimum, but a universal travel adapter is safer because research sources also list Type D and Type M outlets in Botswana.

Most phone and laptop chargers show their input range on the plug or power brick. If the label says 100 to 240 V and 50/60 Hz, the charger is designed for a broad voltage range and normally needs only a physical plug adapter. If a device is rated only for a lower voltage, do not connect it directly to Botswana's 230 V supply. Check the appliance instructions or ask the manufacturer whether a converter is required.

Pack a charger with USB-C ports if your devices support them, plus a power bank for drives between camps. A power bank will not replace a camp outlet, but it can keep your phone available for offline maps, photos and booking details during a long transfer. The research supports the need to plan around remote charging, but it does not provide a universal camp electricity schedule, so ask your operator about each camp.

Staying connected tips for Botswana

• Download offline maps, travel documents and lodge contact details before leaving a town with reliable service.
• Install and test your eSIM before departure, but check whether its validity starts at installation or at first network connection. Different products use different rules.
• Keep your home SIM available for banking codes if your phone supports dual SIM. Select the travel line for data to reduce the risk of home-network roaming charges.
• Ask your safari operator about Wi-Fi, satellite internet and charging at every camp. Wi-Fi may be limited to a common area.
• Carry a universal plug adapter because sources list Type G and also report Types D and M.
• Do not plan a safari around uninterrupted signal. Service can disappear outside towns and tourist hubs.
• Keep a little flexibility in your communications plan. A local SIM, travel eSIM and lodge Wi-Fi each solve a different part of the problem.

Before booking, decide whether you need reliable data only for arrival and transfers, or whether you will work, share large files or connect several devices. The first use case suits a travel eSIM. Longer stays and heavier use may make a local SIM worth the registration time, but confirm the live price and bundle with the provider.

Planning your Botswana safari

Choose your connectivity setup before you confirm transfers into remote camps, then ask the operator where you can expect Wi-Fi, charging and mobile signal. Compare the trips below and request quotes from verified operators below, using the itinerary details to check how much time you will spend in towns versus remote safari areas.