Currency Menu

Making Friends in Botswana


Botswana people are very friendly, and enjoy making conversation with visitors.

Some of these handy Setswana phrases will encourage a lot of interest and many smiles!
 

Hello Dumela
Hello (to a man) Dumela rra
Hello (to a woman) Dumela mma
How are you? Le kae?
I am fine Ke teng
How much is this? Ke bo kae
Go well Tsamaya sentle
Stay well Sala sentle
Thank you Ke itumetse
No problem ga gona mathatha
Goodbye

Go siame
(also used for 'All is OK ')


Local Customs

Whilst on your Botswana safari, you will may notice the habit of locals clapping their hands or cupping one hand under the opposite elbow whilst receiving an item or a gift from you.

This is considered a polite form of respect and is much appreciated if done in return.
 

Batswana people, particularly guides and trackers, are generally very softly spoken.
 

Out of respect, they may avoid significant eye contact, which at first may appear rude to a Westerner. This is not the case! Eye contact in African cultures generally denotes disrespect to elders, often seen as wanting to challenge them or their authority.
 

The phrase ga gona mathatha (no problem) is very widely used in Botswana’s tourism and hospitality industry. With a beaming smile and gentle demeanor, one certainly gets an impression that any request, no matter how bizarre, is absolutely no problem!