How to use your mobile phone in Botswana?
In Botswana, two main operators provide coverage: Mascom and Orange Botswana. The network works well in cities and populated areas, but remains limited in national parks. Buying a local SIM card with a data plan is recommended to save money.
Mobile Phone Operators
Botswana has two main operators sharing the market:
- Mascom: the historical operator with the best national coverage
- Orange Botswana: subsidiary of the Orange group, present in major cities
Network Coverage Quality
Mobile coverage shows significant disparities depending on the areas:
- Excellent coverage: Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and other urban centers
- Limited coverage: Kalahari national parks, isolated wildlife reserves
- Dead zones: most remote regions of the Kalahari Desert
Advice from our local agency
Buy a local SIM card upon arrival at Gaborone airport or in city center shops. Local data plans are significantly more economical than international roaming. Plan to bring an unlocked phone before departure.