How to find a cheap car rental deal in Botswana
Pick up a cheap rental car in Botswana and hit the road from just R 452 a day. From city stays to far-flung escapes, we'll help you find the right rental for your plans.
Longer adventures come with better value, starting at R 3,159 for a weekly rental.
Browse the car rentals in Francistown and free up more of your budget. It's the cheapest place in Botswana to book your ride.
Gaborone is the most popular city for car rentals.
If you're not sure which company to go with, check out Hertz. It's the first choice for many travellers in Botswana.
Step off the plane and into the driver's seat by picking up a ride at the airport. Gaborone Airport, Maun Airport and Kasane Airport all provide access to car rentals.
You can easily rent a set of wheels in cities including Gaborone, Maun and Kasane.
A one-way rental could work in your favor. Providers often lower prices when they need to move cars between sites. When searching for a car for rent in Botswana, choose 'Return car to a different location' to unlock those deals.
Plans stretch a little further? Consider a 30-day rental. Extended bookings can cost less since there is less admin involved for the company.
Pick a vehicle with a 'Fair fuel policy' and avoid extra fuel charges. It arrives with a full tank and goes back the same way, so your fuel spend stays predictable.
Rentals with 'Unlimited mileage' let you cover more ground without worrying about added charges. Search for this option under the 'Policies' filter and travel freely.
Best time to book a car rental in Botswana
If you like to plan with precision, book around one week ahead to grab the best price on a car rental in Botswana.
July is the most affordable month to rent a car. You can expect average daily rates of R 475 then.
March tends to be the most expensive.
Compare car rental types in Botswana
Economy: True to its name, this option keeps savings front and centre. It combines some of the cheapest rates around with excellent fuel efficiency to help keep the total spend down. If saving matters most, this is an easy choice.
Small: Mini and economy cars fall into this category. Their compact size and easy handling make city driving less stressful. And with engines made to use less fuel, they're a practical choice when searching for a cheap rental car in Botswana.
Medium: If you need something more spacious without going big, this hits the mark. Medium rentals offer more room for passengers and bags, along with a good mix of efficiency and power. You'll find compact and intermediate models here.
Large: No squeezing in. No bags stealing your legroom. Also known as full-size, large cars offer real passenger space and the luggage capacity to match. Choose this category when you're covering serious ground or bringing the entire crew.
SUV: From highways to unexpected detours, SUVs are ready for it all. With an elevated driving position, configurable seating, and stable performance across a range of terrain, they're perfect for road trips across Botswana.
Van: This type of car for rent in Botswana includes commercial vans and trucks. With generous load capacity and practical interior layouts, they're built to transport bulky items, equipment or larger groups in one go.
Luxury: Ready to go all in? This is not just about getting from A to B — it's about showing up in style. Luxury vehicles combine premium design, advanced technology, and refined performance in one standout package.
Insurance and optional extras
Choosing excess insurance for your rental car lets you drive with confidence. It protects you from paying a big excess fee in case of theft or an accident. Insurance policies can differ from one provider to another, so give them a quick comparison.
From GPS units to reverse cameras, the right extras can totally transform your drive. Weigh up which features could make your trip more comfortable when you rent a car in Botswana.
Driving in Botswana: What you need to know
Rental age requirements aren't always the same everywhere. Companies can set their own policies, and if you're a younger driver, you could be hit with extra charges or rules. Check the exact rules for each supplier before booking your rental in Botswana.
Bringing the kids with you? Car seat requirements differ from place to place, and the best setup may depend on their weight, age and height. Find out if you need to add one to your car rental reservation in Botswana.
You'll be asked for a few things when picking up your rental car: a current driver's licence, extra photo ID, and a credit card that can cover the security deposit. Debit cards aren't widely accepted. The full set of requirements will be laid out in your booking.
Driving in Botswana may feel unfamiliar if it's your first time. Keep in mind you'll need to stick to the left side of the road.
Local speed limits can vary, but it's usually around 55kph in built-up areas and 110kph or so on highways. Always obey the road signs.
A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08% applies in Botswana. The only guaranteed way to stay safe to drive is to avoid alcohol completely.
Where to road trip in Botswana?
Botswana is easy to explore by car, with major rental hubs in Gaborone, Maun and Kasane, plus airport pickup points at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Maun Airport. If you're planning car rental in Botswana, the routes below show how pickup points, trip lengths and vehicle types vary considerably depending on whether you're heading into the bush, following the river or tracing the country's eastern corridor.
Wildlife and Wilderness: The Okavango and Chobe Region
Pick up your car in Maun and head north through the bush toward one of Africa's most wildlife-rich river frontages. This route is best suited to experienced off-road drivers who want extended time in remote areas and can handle long distances between fuel stops.
Recommended car: High-clearance 4x4 with a rooftop tent setup.
Suggested pickup point: Maun Airport.
Good for: Wildlife enthusiasts, overlanders and adventure travellers.
Road conditions: Sealed tar roads, sandy bush tracks, river floodplain tracks.
Best time to go: May to October for dry conditions and concentrated wildlife.
Trip length: Seven to ten days.
Key stops: Savuti, Kasane.
History and Culture: The Eastern Corridor from Gaborone to Francistown
Start your drive in Gaborone and travel northeast through Botswana's most populated corridor, passing historic hilltop sites and traditional villages. It's a good option for first-time visitors who want a manageable, mostly paved drive with cultural depth and easy overnight stops.
Recommended car: Standard sedan or compact hatchback.
Suggested pickup point: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Good for: First-time visitors, history buffs and solo travellers.
Road conditions: Paved national highway, short gravel access roads.
Best time to go: April to August for cooler, drier weather.
Trip length: Three to five days.
Key stops: Mochudi, Serowe.
Salt Pans and Wide-Open Landscapes: The Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi
Head out from Gaborone into Botswana's vast interior, where ancient salt pans and open semi-arid terrain define the drive toward the northeast. This route suits travellers who are comfortable with self-sufficient driving and want to cover ground through some of the country's most remote and sparsely populated areas.
Recommended car: 4x4 with recovery gear and extra fuel capacity.
Suggested pickup point: Gaborone city centre car rental.
Good for: Photographers, off-road drivers and independent travellers.
Road conditions: Sealed roads, long gravel stretches, soft sand pans.
Best time to go: June to August for firm pan surfaces and clear skies.
Trip length: Five to seven days.
Key stops: Rakops, Ntwetwe Pan.
Weather and driving conditions in Botswana
Weather
Botswana has a wet season from around November to March, when afternoon rain is common, and a dry season that runs from May through October. The dry season splits into a cooler stretch from May to August and a hot, dry period through September and October before the rains return.
Heat is a real factor when driving in Botswana, especially across the Kalahari, where high temperatures can affect your tyres and engine on long stretches of road. During the rainy season, short but heavy downpours can flood low-lying roads quickly, so slow down and never attempt a crossing if the water depth is unclear.
Driving conditions
The main paved highways, including the route linking the capital to the north, are in good condition and make for a straightforward road trip in Botswana. Once you head into rural areas or toward game reserves, expect sand tracks and gravel roads where a 4x4 is the practical choice.
Gaborone is one of Africa's more manageable capitals to drive in, though rush hour traffic on the main roads can build quickly. Parking is generally informal outside the central shopping areas. {NS} Outside the main towns, distances between settlements are long and road signs are sparse. Gas stations become infrequent once you leave the main corridor linking Gaborone to the north, so planning ahead matters.
Wildlife crossings are a real consideration in Botswana, particularly near Chobe and the Okavango Delta, where elephants, warthogs, and baboons can appear on unfenced roads at dawn and dusk. Cattle and donkeys are common on rural routes year-round.
Complete your road trip with a hotel
No matter where your drive leads, a solid overnight stop makes a big difference after a full day of driving. Once you've booked your car rental in Botswana, explore hotels in Gaborone if this major stop is on your route. It's also easy to find Maun accommodation options or check out more places to stay in Kasane while you work out the rest of your itinerary.
