GLD INDEXGLD COUNTRY SCORE
The national picture for LGBTQ+ travel.
YOUR DESTINATION IN THE INDEX
Among destinations covered by this index with current publishable scores. Based on unrounded scores; equal values share a rank. As of 2026-09-27. How rankings work →
YOUR DESTINATION, IN CONTEXT
Botswana has a published GLD Country Score of 65/100, in the Medium range.
Botswana decriminalised consensual same-sex relations, marking important legal progress within southern Africa. Its tourism economy is centred on remote wildlife areas where privacy and provider practice matter more than urban community visibility.
PLACES TO STAY
Independent selections with sourced hotel information and LGBTQ+ travel context.
BEYOND THE NATIONAL SCORE
Source-based overview · external sources consulted 2026-09-29. GLD score dates are shown separately.
The Okavango Delta, Chobe and Kalahari involve charter flights, long road transfers or guided operations. Season, water levels and lodge access determine both cost and experience.
Sources: Botswana Tourism Organisation — official websiteGaylidays currently connects 12 scored cities to the national picture. Gaborone, Palapye, Kasane are the three highest-scoring cities currently covered. Recorded city scores range from 59/100 in Mogoditshane to 63/100 in Gaborone, a 4-point spread that shows why local context still matters.
Source: GLD country and city scoring records. Interpretation of the recorded assessment, not a new score calculation.Legal reform reduced a major risk, but public community infrastructure remains limited and social attitudes vary. Lodge policies should be checked individually rather than inferred from international pricing.
Sources: Botswana Tourism Organisation — official websiteNo. The relevant criminal provisions were struck down, although social acceptance and equal recognition remain separate issues.
Sources: Botswana Tourism Organisation — official websiteRemote safaris place accommodation, guiding and transport largely in the hands of one operator.
Sources: Botswana Tourism Organisation — official websiteHOW TO READ THIS SCORE
The country score combines legal rights, social acceptance, rule of law and travel comfort. City guides add the local perspective to this national foundation.
BEHIND THIS SCORE
The source-based overview above adds national and city-level context. These are the recorded score components; the editorial research has not recalculated them.
Components have different weights and may be subject to methodology caps; this is not a simple average.
ILGA World and Equaldex used for legal evidence; Equaldex Public Opinion Index used directly for social score; World Bank WGI Rule of Law percentile rank used directly; GOV.UK, Outright International, LEGABIBO, official tourism and LGBTQ+ travel evidence used for travel comfort review.
Synced from GLD Index on 27 Sept 2026. The sync date is not an evidence verification date.
No. Use the GLD Index alongside current official travel advice and local information. Conditions and personal experiences vary.
This score is read from GLD Index’s data portal, using only current published or partner-ready records. Score last updated: 20 May 2026. Public display levels use the existing four-band scale; the underlying methodology category is tracked separately.