Moving to Botswana from Switzerland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Botswana — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Switzerland to Botswana, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Gaborone averages 83°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Botswana.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Botswana Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Botswana
Visa Free
Botswana passport holder visiting Switzerland
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?
Switzerland performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Botswana compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Botswana?
The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
