Botswana Travel Etiquette—What You Need To Know
Before Your Safari
By Peter Davis Krahenbuhl
Botswana safaris are evocative of a bygoneera, when the African wilderness was uncrowded and synonymous with exhilarating adventure. If you are thinking of heading to this incredible land of wildness and adventure, including the chance to witness the vulnerable African elephant, then here are a few travel etiquette tips for visiting Botswana.
The local language is Setswana. It's a Bantu language for the Tswana people, so while it's spoken throughout Southern Africa, it's one of Botswana's national languages. Below are some basic phrases that may, at the very least, evoke smiles of appreciation that you are trying to learn their mother tongue. Our friend Wazha Dube is from Botswana and helped us out with the proper phonetic pronunciation for each phrase:
If you're keen to learn even more Setswana phrases, here are a couple of helpful websites:
http://www.setswana.info/wiki/index.php?title=Simple_phrases
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/tswana.php
When greeting locals, it is respectful to greet everyone there, starting with the elders first and using the above local greeting phrase. You may see locals bowing their heads and grasping, and elders right wrist with their left hand when shaking. A kiss on the cheek is not uncommon but not expected from a foreign traveler.
Pointing and, in general, using one’s left hand is generally frowned upon (sorry lefties!), and you may often see an avoidance of direct eye contact. Other than that, do what your guides suggest and take the lead from any local hosts; for example, if your host is not wearing shoes inside, do the same.
However, if you are going on a life-changing Botswanasafari , while staying in luxury safari tent camps with a world-class company such as Natural Habitat Adventures, you’ll likely be spending very little time inside!
Header Credit: Dana Allen
Botswana safaris are evocative of a bygone
The local language is Setswana. It's a Bantu language for the Tswana people, so while it's spoken throughout Southern Africa, it's one of Botswana's national languages. Below are some basic phrases that may, at the very least, evoke smiles of appreciation that you are trying to learn their mother tongue. Our friend Wazha Dube is from Botswana and helped us out with the proper phonetic pronunciation for each phrase:
| Hello | Dumela (Doo-Mela) |
| How are you | O |
| Please | Tsweetswee ( |
| Thank you | Ke a |
| Goodbye | Go |
| Yes | Ee (Ehh) |
| No | Nnyaa (n-yaa) |
If you're keen to learn even more Setswana phrases, here are a couple of helpful websites:
http://www.setswana.info/wiki/index.php?title=Simple_phrases
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/tswana.php
When greeting locals, it is respectful to greet everyone there, starting with the elders first and using the above local greeting phrase. You may see locals bowing their heads and grasping, and elders right wrist with their left hand when shaking. A kiss on the cheek is not uncommon but not expected from a foreign traveler.
Pointing and, in general, using one’s left hand is generally frowned upon (sorry lefties!), and you may often see an avoidance of direct eye contact. Other than that, do what your guides suggest and take the lead from any local hosts; for example, if your host is not wearing shoes inside, do the same.
However, if you are going on a life-changing Botswana
Header Credit: Dana Allen
See Botswana's Wildlife on These Safaris
Repeater Layout :
vertical-2up
Secluded Botswana Safari
Secluded Botswana Safari
Our flagship Botswana safari! A truly exclusive wilderness immersion in the Okavango Delta's best private wildlife reserves and beyond, plus Victoria Falls.
Photo departures available
Photo departures available
12 Days / May – Nov, From $12795
(+air)
Botswana: Kalahari, the Delta & Beyond
New Itinerary!
Botswana: Kalahari, the Delta & Beyond
Witness and photograph the spectacle of Botswana during the green season as the desert bursts forth with life, wildlife thrives upon seasonal water, and new births fill the plains.
Photo departures available
Photo departures available
12 Days / Dec – Apr, From $11495
(+air)
New Itinerary!
Travel Stories
