Is Kasane safe?
Low violent crime for visitors. Wildlife is the main risk, with elephants, hippos and buffalo wandering through town and camps.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-06-16.
- Homicide rate in Botswana: 11.4 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Botswana: 26.4 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999 · Ambulance 997 · Fire 998.
Safety in Kasane at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Opportunistic theft from vehicles and rooms, and occasional bag snatching at the border post and market. |
| At night | Town is quiet after dark and wildlife roams. Use lodge transport or a taxi rather than walking. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable. Standard caution about walking alone at night, mostly because of animals and unlit roads. |
| Other risks | Elephants, hippos and crocodiles near water and roads; Malaria in the wet season; Heat in Oct |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Border touts offering visa or transfer help for a fee
- Unofficial boat operators selling cheap, overcrowded cruises
Take care
- Walking at night: elephants and hippos on streets
- Leaving valuables in cars at the border
- Camping without electric fences
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drug offences carry fines up to P500,000 and up to 25 years in prison.
- Photographing military or government installations is illegal.
- Hunting, buying or trading protected wildlife products brings severe sentences.
How Kasane compares in Botswana
Quick answers
Is Kasane safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable. Standard caution about walking alone at night, mostly because of animals and unlit roads.
Is Kasane safe at night?
Town is quiet after dark and wildlife roams. Use lodge transport or a taxi rather than walking.
What is the crime rate in Kasane?
Opportunistic theft from vehicles and rooms, and occasional bag snatching at the border post and market. Nationally, Botswana records 11.4 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kasane?
Police 999 · Ambulance 997 · Fire 998.
More about Kasane
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Botswana Tourism Organisation
- Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.