Moving to Botswana from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Botswana — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Botswana. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Botswana.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Botswana leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Botswana Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Botswana. To live, work, or study long-term in Botswana, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Botswana's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Botswana
Visa Free
Botswana passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Botswana?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Botswana has 4.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Botswana safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Botswana compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Botswana compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Botswana?
The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
