How to Make and Sell Biltong in Botswana for Profit

Biltong is one of Southern Africa’s most loved dried meat snacks — flavorful, long-lasting, and easy to prepare at home. With the right ingredients and a simple setup, you can turn biltong-making into a small business with great profit margins. Here’s a complete guide to making and selling biltong in Botswana.

🥩 Ingredients You Will Need

Meat Cuts:

Beef Silverside or Topside (best for lean biltong)

Wet Ingredients:

Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce

Dry Ingredients:

Ground Black Pepper
Freddy Hirsch Chilli Bite Spice
Seven Colours Spice
Chilli Pepper (optional, for extra heat)

⚙️ Equipment

Mixing bowl with lid
Food gloves
Chopping board
Sharp knife
Drying machine (Dehydrator)

🔪 Preparation Steps

Rinse the Meat:
Wash the beef with tap water to remove any blood.
Cut into Strips:
Slice the meat into strips of your preferred size — not too thick or too thin.
Marinate the Meat:
In a mixing bowl, add the strips, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Add Dry Spices:
Mix all the dry ingredients and rub them thoroughly onto the meat.
Make sure the spices are massaged well into each strip.
Leave it to rest for 6–24 hours in the fridge to absorb the flavor.
Dry the Biltong:
Hang the marinated strips in a dehydrator for 24–36 hours until completely dry.
Packaging:
Store the finished biltong in paper bags or vacuum-sealed packs to keep it fresh.

💰 Pricing and Profit Breakdown

Beef Cost: P60 per kilogram (Botswana price)
Yield: 1 kg of beef produces 10–12 packets (each 30 grams)
Selling Price: Each 30g pack sells for P12–P15

Example Calculation:

Cost: P60 (for 1 kg of beef)
Revenue: 10 packs × P15 = P150
Profit: Around P90 per kg before packaging costs

👉 The secret to success is bulk production and consistent sales.
Producing and selling at least 500 packets per week can keep your business profitable and stable.

🎯 Target Market Ideas

You can sell your biltong in a variety of places and events:

Local pubs and bars
Wedding snacks or party platters
Birthday or bachelor parties
School lunch snacks
Gym and fitness centers
Corporate events
Picnic snacks
Bus ranks and train stations
Hospital kiosks or cafés
Online via Facebook, WhatsApp, and other digital marketplaces

Biltong-making can be both a fun craft and a profitable small business in Botswana. With good hygiene, flavor consistency, and smart marketing, your local brand can grow quickly.

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