Capital city in South-East District, Botswana
Can you drink tap water in Gaborone?
Can you drink the tap water in Gaborone?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Treated tap water is generally drunk by locals, but cuts and old pipes vary. Visitors should filter or buy bottled.
Key facts
- In Gaborone: Treated tap water is generally drunk by locals, but cuts and old pipes vary. Visitors should filter or buy bottled.
- Across Botswana: Town tap water is treated and locals drink it, but supply cuts and old pipes vary; lodges provide filtered water. Never drink from rivers.
- Safely managed drinking water: 63% of people in Botswana (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across Botswana
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Gaborone?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Treated tap water is generally drunk by locals, but cuts and old pipes vary. Visitors should filter or buy bottled.
Can you drink tap water in Botswana?
Town tap water is treated and locals drink it, but supply cuts and old pipes vary; lodges provide filtered water. Never drink from rivers.
More about Gaborone
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Botswana Tourism Organisation
- Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana
Verdicts reflect official utility statements and what locals actually do. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.