Botswana

Climate

All areas in Botswana experience dry winter conditions with summer rains falling in the form of thunderstorms. Rainfall in the country is a scarce commodity with higher levels of precipitation in the north and east than in the south and west of the country. Daytime temperatures in summer often exceed 35º and nighttime temperatures in winter often fall below freezing.

Public Holidays

New Year’s Day 1st January; Public Holiday 2nd January; Good Friday (Easter weekend) April (variable date) Family Day (Easter weekend) April (variable date); Ascension Day 1st June; President’s Day 3rd Monday & following day in July; Botswana Day 30th September & 1st October; Christmas Day 25th December; Boxing Day 26th December

Health / Immunization

Visitors are responsible for their own medical needs and it is advisable to carry comprehensive medical insurance. There are Public Hospitals in most towns and cities with a reasonable quality of service. Private Hospitals and Clinics in large towns provide good quality medical services. Chemists/Pharmacies; private doctors and other medical practitioners are widely available in most large towns. Malaria is endemic to the Okavango and Chobe areas of northern Botswana and especially in proximity to water (rivers and swamps). Suitable precautions and the use of Prophylactics are recommended for visitors to these areas. There are a number of excellent mosquito repellents available; which are applied directly to the skin or clothes in the evening. Many hotels and other accommodation establishments have mosquito nets over the beds in their rooms. HIV/Aids is widespread in Botswana and it is recommended that visitors do not engage in any high-risk sexual or drug-related activities; which may cause exposure to the disease. Condoms are however widely available in the country; but it is recommended that a thorough inspection is carried out before use of the product.

On Safari

All large game at the wildlife reserves is to be considered dangerous and therefore the reserve’s rules should be strictly adhered to. To avoid snakebites while on a walking safari, wear boots, socks and long trousers. Neutral coloured clothing is recommended and in the cooler months warm clothing is recommended for game drives. Do not swim in the rivers in wildlife areas. Afternoon / evening game drives typically start between 15h00 – 16h00 so please ensure that you arrive in time.

Visas & Entry Requirements

Valid passports are required by all foreign nationals to enter Botswana. Citizens of the Commonwealth and the following countries do not require visas to enter Botswana: USA; Sweden; Belgium; Finland; Iceland; Denmark; Norway; Luxembourg; France; Italy; Netherlands; Austria; Germany; Greece; Liechtenstein; Yugoslavia; Switzerland; San Marino; Ireland; Uruguay and Japan. Visas are required by national of all other countries; which must be purchased before arrival in the country. All air arrivals must be in possession of a valid return ticket and must be able to prove that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay in the country.

Money

The unit of currency in Botswana is the Pula; which is divided into 100 Thebe. Bank notes currently available are in denominations of P100; P50; P20; P10 and P5. Coins in denominations of P2; P1; 50t; 25t; 10t; 5t; 1t are in circulation. Most hotels; shops; restaurants and other retail outlets accept valid international credit cards. MasterCard; Visa; American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted for payment. Foreign bank notes and travellers cheques may be converted into local currency at most banks. Changing currency at a hotel will usually involve the charging of a larger commission than at a bank. When converting foreign currency you will be required to show your passport. There is no currency black market in Botswana.

Road Travel & Public Transport

The road network is well developed and being improved on an on-going basis. Most major international and a number of local car hire companies are represented in Botswana. Easy access to car hire from major airports and in the main centres is possible and is the preferred mode of transport for international tourists. The developed national and tourist infrastructure within Botswana makes it an easy self-drive destination for the international tourist. It is however preferable to fly into the tourist areas in the north of the country; as the distances from Gaborone and South Africa are very long; despite the good condition of the arterial road network. Public transport is largely non-existent in Botswana. Taxi services are available in Gaborone. Mini-bus taxis provide long distance and in-town services in Botswana but are poorly maintained and generally unroadworthy. Trains and luxury inter-city coaches run between Gaborone and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa.