Bank cards in Botswana

277 views
Skip to first unread message

Francois Rautenbach

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 4:33:59 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Hi,
Those who have been to Botswana of late; are garage, chq and credit cards widely acceptable (especailly the garage card)?
And is the best exchange rate from the ATM's?
 
Many thanks
Francois

Marc Hall

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 4:35:21 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Garage cards have NEVER been accepted!  You use your regular credit card for fuel
 
 
mh

Francois

--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
overland-foru...@googlegroups.com
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2

Jean Struweg

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 4:36:33 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Hi Francois

Garage cards in my experience not accepted. We got reasonable rates doing ATM withdrawals in Francistown and Kasane. At larger retailers and businesses specifically geared towards tourists credit cards were accepted.

Cheers

On 23 August 2012 10:33, Francois Rautenbach <francoisa...@gmail.com> wrote:
Francois

--

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 4:42:23 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Francois:

 

Garage cards, as noted, not accepted.

Some garages advertise that they will accept Credit cards, but the reality is that many times this simply does not work reliably. Take enough cash to get you back to main centres.

 

Exchange from ATM’s is better than at the bank – typically, around R1.10 per BWP1.00

 

VISA works the best, Mastercard typically gives problems or simply does not work.

FNB ATM’s seem to be the best source of cash – although on occasion, the Standard Bank ATM’s will be in a good mood and will accept your VISA card. I have NEVER had a mastercard work in Botswana.

 

Cheers

 

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

+27 86 530 6642 (Fax )

+27 82 492 9272 (cellular)

ZR6ETR (gTalk)

ZR6...@gmail.com

Description: ZR6ETR 2D Signature (small) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

image001.jpg

Anton Heiberg

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 4:46:01 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
I used credit card to fill up (they wanted you to provide some ID). Afaik Garage card is not accepted
I used credit card at Choppies and Spar but admittedly its a bit more of a PITA to use as most of their customers only use cash and are not geared to do it at every till point
I used my (Maetro ) Std Bank card to withdraw cash

From: overlan...@googlegroups.com [mailto:overlan...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Francois Rautenbach
Sent: 23/08/2012 10:34
To: overlan...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Overland] Bank cards in Botswana

--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
overland-foru...@googlegroups.com
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
This e-mail is subject to the Columbus Stainless [Pty] Ltd Email Legal Notices available at: http://www.columbus.co.za/EmailLegalNotice.htm.
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

Sats Oosthuizen

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 5:09:56 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
I used visa for fuel and it worked nicely. 


--

francoisa...@gmail.com

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 5:56:25 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Thanks all.
Have there been any issues with the pin type visa cards?
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!
From: Sats Oosthuizen <satsoos...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:09:56 +0100
Subject: Re: [Overland] Bank cards in Botswana

Con de Bruin

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 6:00:05 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Check my statements last night. 1000 Pula = R1071. I used Nedbank Visa and drew at FNB ATM. R40 Saswitch fee

 

Con

 

 

Exchange from ATM’s is better than at the bank – typically, around R1.10 per BWP1.00

 

VISA works the best, Mastercard typically gives problems or simply does not work.

FNB ATM’s seem to be the best source of cash – although on occasion, the Standard Bank ATM’s will be in a good mood and will accept your VISA card. I have NEVER had a mastercard work in Botswana.

 

Cheers

 

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

+27 86 530 6642 (Fax )

+27 82 492 9272 (cellular)

ZR6ETR (gTalk)

ZR6...@gmail.com

Description: ZR6ETR 2D Signature (small) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


image002.jpg

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 6:09:52 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Francois:

 

I used my Visa SmartCard PIN enabled card 2 draw cash at FNB ATM and to purchase the spares for Mike’s truck. No problems.

image001.jpg

Rob Harvey

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 6:59:52 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
That's a pretty good rate. In July I exchanged cash at the Bureau de Change in Maun, and I coughed R1150 / BWP1000.

Bruce Turner

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 7:18:09 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
I withdrew Pula1500 from and ATM which cost me R1580-00 and fees were R47.15 Atm Fee and R28.44 Int Currency fee. This was a Nedbank Cheque account at a FNB ATM in Palaype.
I also paid for my fuel with a Nedbank Credit Card. Fuel was Pula968 and cost me R988-00 with a R17.80 fee for the transaction.

In future I will be using the card as much as possible but dont rely on this as your only option. :)

Rgds
BruceT

Hennie Rautenbach

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 7:49:44 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Nope

crebelo(mighty)

unread,
Aug 23, 2012, 9:01:14 AM8/23/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Hi guys,

I use my Mozambican debit card in any garage from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana without problems.
Only at a garage at Rundo - Namibia,  I was stuck! Drawing  money on a bank machine ATM- inside the Wimpy restaurant, short out my diesel & Wimply bill.
In Angola also have problems with my Mozambican debit card but the credit card works leka!...

Cheers
Carlos Rebelo

Ian Chantler

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 12:51:22 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
From this can I assume that fuel sations in Bots are better at accepting cards than in Namibia? We've spent 6 weeks here and apart from the really major truck-stop type filling stations I've given up asking if they accept cards.
 
Ian

De : Hennie Rautenbach <hennie.r...@gmail.com>
À : overlan...@googlegroups.com
Envoyé le : Jeudi 23 août 2012 12h49
Objet : Re: [Overland] Bank cards in Botswana

Nope

On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 11:56 AM, <francoisa...@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks all.
Have there been any issues with the pin type visa cards?
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!
From: Sats Oosthuizen <satsoos...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:09:56 +0100
Subject: Re: [Overland] Bank cards in Botswana

I used visa for fuel and it worked nicely. 



On 23 Aug 2012, at 9:33, Francois Rautenbach <francoisa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,
Those who have been to Botswana of late; are garage, chq and credit cards widely acceptable (especailly the garage card)?
And is the best exchange rate from the ATM's?
 
Many thanks
Francois
--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
overland-foru...@googlegroups.com
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2 --
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2

Peter Levey

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 12:55:01 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
I've never had any problems in either country.  Botswana accepts the normal credit card but Namibia uses the Garage Card that used to be the only way of paying with a card in South Africa until the change a year or so back.  

Hennie Rautenbach

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 1:01:23 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Nope - none of the ones I tried to fill at on my last trip accepted cards (Palapaye, Serowe, Lethlakane). Had to draw cash. Most had ATM's right on the premises fortunately.

On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 6:51 PM, Ian Chantler <ianch...@yahoo.fr> wrote:

Peter Levey

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 1:05:20 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Strange - I was there in May & June as you know and had no problems.  Maybe it's a personal thing :-)

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 1:12:43 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Bank/credit/debit cards for petrol is a hit and miss thing.

 

Depending on the situation with comms and their ‘cash’ requirements, will determine if they are going to accept your card or not.

 

More times than not they won’t, so I have stopped even trying – I just carry the cash – in the safe of course.

image001.jpg

Marc Hall

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 1:25:47 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Ditto Peter. I was on the same trip as Hennie and Eric and only used my card. Simple rule of asking first may have helped?????

Sent from my handheld device
From: Peter Levey <lev...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:05:20 +0200

Peter Levey

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 1:27:39 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Yes, I always ask first and as Eric says the cash was in the safe but I had no hassles and that was with Mastercard too.

Marc Hall

unread,
Aug 30, 2012, 2:10:54 PM8/30/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
And I am with Visa

Sent from my handheld device
From: Peter Levey <lev...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:27:39 +0200

bjtu...@gmail.com

unread,
Aug 31, 2012, 1:45:52 PM8/31/12
to Overland
Me too. Only used my card. Perhaps they were off line?

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
From: "Marc Hall" <isin...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:25:47 +0000

A.H. (Eric) Sommer

unread,
Sep 2, 2012, 3:37:41 AM9/2/12
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

>> Me too. Only used my card. Perhaps they were off line?

That is exactly the problem. Communications links are sometimes flakey (they all use the cell networks) and sometimes it is just laziness of the staff.

Even the ATM’s are off-line from time to time and you can’t get cash.

 

So one person will have no issues at all, the next struggles.

 

Answer – take enough cash so that if it doesn’t work, you won’t get burnt!

 

J

image001.jpg
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages