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Time in Botswana Now
What Time Is It in Botswana Right Now With Seconds
Botswana follows Central Africa Time (CAT), which operates on UTC +2 throughout the year. The country does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the time remains constant in all seasons. This ensures simple, stable, and predictable timekeeping for residents, travelers, and businesses.
Major cities such as Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Molepolole, and Selebi-Phikwe all follow the same national time zone. This uniformity helps maintain consistent scheduling for travel, communication, and daily activities throughout the country.
Botswana Time Zone Information
IANA Time Zone: Africa/Gaborone
UTC Offset: UTC +2 hours
Time Zone Abbreviation: CAT (Central Africa Time)
DST: Not observed
DST Abbreviation: None — the time stays unchanged year-round
Botswana shares its time zone with multiple countries in Central and Southern Africa that also follow CAT.
Botswana time zone(s)
| Time Zone | Example City/Region | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Central Africa Time (CAT) | Gaborone, Francistown | UTC +2 |
The official IANA identifier for Botswana is Africa/Gaborone.
Daylight Saving Time in Botswana
Botswana does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
The country remains on UTC +2 throughout the year, providing consistent, unified timekeeping nationwide.
Major cities in Botswana & their time
| City | Time Zone | Typical Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Gaborone | CAT | UTC +2 |
| Francistown | CAT | UTC +2 |
| Maun | CAT | UTC +2 |
| Molepolole | CAT | UTC +2 |
| Selebi-Phikwe | CAT | UTC +2 |
All major cities follow the same national time zone.
Brief info for Botswana time
Number of time zones: 1
Capital city: Gaborone
Default time: Central Africa Time (CAT)
Daylight Saving Time: Not used
IANA Time Zone ID: Africa/Gaborone
Standard UTC Offset: UTC +2
Neighbouring countries with same time: South Africa, Namibia (partly), Zambia, Zimbabwe
Regional differences: None — the entire country uses one unified time zone
Pros and Cons
Pros
One national time zone keeps timekeeping simple and consistent.
UTC +2 aligns with many neighboring Southern African countries.
No DST — no seasonal time adjustments.
Predictable, year-round timekeeping.
Easy international and regional coordination.
Cons
Limited overlap with American business hours.
Daylight variation may feel more noticeable without DST.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat do we know about Botswana time zone?
Botswana uses Central Africa Time (CAT), which is UTC +2 year-round.
QDoes Botswana observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Botswana does not use DST.
QWhat is Botswana’s official time zone?
Botswana’s official time zone is Central Africa Time (CAT), UTC +2.
QHow many time zones does Botswana have?
Botswana has only one time zone.
QDo neighbouring countries share the same time as Botswana?
Yes, South Africa and Zimbabwe share UTC +2.
QWhat is Botswana’s IANA time zone ID?
Botswana’s IANA ID is Africa/Gaborone.
QHow can I check the time difference between Botswana and another country?
Use a time converter to compare Botswana Time (UTC +2) with global time zones.