Money Tips for Botswana

The Botswana currency is the Pula (their coin is the Thebe). Just like so many other countries, the currency is very artistic and colorful.

Getting Cash

It is possible to exchange your U.S. dollars for Botswana Pula in Botswana. The reverse is not true. If you are in the United States, you cannot exchange Botswana Pula for US dollars. As of July 2002, the only Africa currency that the banks would exchange were South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco.

ATM - The "Ann Mathison" preferred system of getting cash, ATMs work great. Basic advice:

• Minimize service fees withdrawing larger chunks of money at a time.
• Check with your bank to find out service fees for using ATMs in Botswana, as well as the exchange rate.
• ATMs in Botswana typically only accept Visa ( the PLUS network). Mastercard only works at American Express ATMS.
• Make sure to have a 4-digit PIN (sometimes 5+ digit PINs do not work in these ATM machines)
• There is an American Express ATM at the Riverwalk Shopping Center that will accept virtually all US-based instant cash cards, including Mastercard.

Cash - Exchange services to convert U.S. dollars to Botswana Pula are available at (a) the airport at the Exchange Bureau, (b) banks in downtown Gaborone, and (b) American Express office at Riverwalk Shopping Center. Some branch offices do not exchange U.S. currency.

Traveler's Checks - Traveler's Checks are also easy to cash in Botswana, during banking hours. American Express traveler's checks can be cashed without a service fee at the American Express office at the Riverwalk Shopping Center.

Credit Cards - "Visa is everywhere you want to be" ... at least in Botswana. American Express and MasterCard are accepted at all tourist locations, but at some smaller organizations, they only accept Visa or cash. Banks can arrange for an advance on your credit card for a nice fee.

Some people recommend that travelers check in with their bank (or credit card companies) to let them know about plans to travel overseas. Sometimes banks/credit card companies "freeze" accounts when unusual activity occurs (such as charges appearing from Botswana), as a preventive measure. It is a pain to have to call the United States from Botswana to clear up the mix-up.