Moving to Botswana from Zambia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to Botswana — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zambia to Botswana.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Zambia to Botswana, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zambia to Botswana.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zambia generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Zambia performs better than Botswana across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Botswana performs significantly better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Botswana generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Botswana generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lusaka | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | Gaborone |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
Botswana Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.
Zambia passport holder visiting Botswana
Visa Free
Botswana passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa FreeData: 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?
Zambia generally does better on safety, though Botswana leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Zambia?
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in Botswana compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Botswana?
The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Zambia, the official language is English.
