Indoor smoking is not usually the dominant social marker. Law vibe is relatively orderly and not overly intense.
Minimum budget: rural $900/mo, urban $1000/mo. Medical insurance: $900/yr.
Auto: Russian licenses should be paired with an IDP, English translation; rental companies are strict because distances and gravel roads are serious. Small cars can be $35-75/day, but realistic desert, safari rentals are often $90-190+/day for Hilux, Fortuner, 4x4. South Africa, Botswana crossings are possible with written permission and fees; Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe routes are higher-friction and not always allowed.
Smoking: Indoor smoking is not usually the dominant social marker.
Police / rules: Police and public-order vibe is orderly and clear: not especially soft, but the rules tend to feel legible rather than random or performatively harsh.