About Botswana

Capital City:Gaborone.

Population: Estimated at 1.85 million with a population growth rate of 3.5% per annum.

Coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E Area: 600,370 sq km

Area: 600,370 sq km

Measures: Metric System

General information

Do your research: Get to know your destination in depth before you arrive. Read traveler reviews and consult with locals for information about the safest neighborhoods, places to stay and incidences of crime. Vaccinations may be required for some or all of the places you are intending to visit. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have arranged all necessary vaccinations for your itinerary.

Travel Insurance - Travel insurance is a mandatory element of some travel arrangements. We strongly recommend that you have taken out adequate insurance for the duration of your journey. Travel insurance exists for things like injury or illness while traveling, trip cancellations, baggage loss or theft, and many other things if you’re having trouble planning, try to talk to a travel agent or someone you know that’s experienced in traveling.

Electricity: In Botswana we use 3 pin round and square electrical sockets shaver plugs and/or adapters available. Most of campsites have no electricity they have to generate their own electricity. In most camps, they use solar panels and invertors in each tented room for lighting and ceiling fans (please note some camps use paraffin lamps for lighting in the tents). Make sure you pack some headlamps and flashlights and some additional batteries.

Currency: The currency in Botswana is (BWP) Pula. Pula in Setswana means ‘rain’. One Pula is made up on 100 Thebe. Coins available are: 5t, 10t, 25t, 50t, P1, P2 and P5. Notes available are: P10, P20, P50, P100, and P200. Traveler’s foreign currency can be changed at banks, bureau the change and most of lodges and campsites accept visa and MasterCard credits cards. Currency accepted are Euros, Dollars, Pounds and SA Rands.

Time: Botswana is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round.

Driving: Driving is on the left hand side of the road. The general speed limit is 120 km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas. On the countryside be aware of animals blocking the road.

Language: English is the official language of Botswana. Setswana is the national language and is widely spoken. Other languages spoken in Botswana include Seyiyi, Sesarwa, herero, Mbukushu and Afrikaans.

Dress Code: In summer, lightweight, light-colored cottons are preferable. Garments of neutral colors that blend with the bush and forest are advisable for safaris and game viewing. Avoid synthetic materials and black clothing, as they increase perspiration and discomfort. Bring a lightweight jacket and/or jersey for unexpected temperature changes or rain. In winter, wear trousers, long-sleeved shirts / blouses and jerseys. From May – August, night temperatures can fall below zero degrees Celsius, so warm jerseys and jackets are vital, especially on morning and evening game drives. Closed, comfortable walking shoes or gym shoes are a must in all seasons. Special attention should be given to protection from the sun. Bring a sunhat, good quality sunscreen, sun lotion and polarized sunglasses.

Health: Clients are advised also to take their malaria medication, to bring mosquito repellants. The Okavango delta has a lot of mosquitoes which breeds in this water lands but carriers of malaria. Guests need to have travel insurance and medical aid. We need to be informed of medical aid details in advance Avoid drinking tap water and ice made from tap water. We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

Visa Requirements for Botswana: Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy if you need a visa for Botswana, then you must get one before you arrive in country. You are also required to carry a valid passport while travelling. Even for domestic flights or chartered (scenic) flights, your passport will need to be presented.

Seasons

Botswana’s climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months – November till March. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable and highly regional.

Summer usually brings very high temperatures. However, cloud coverage and rain can cool things down considerably, although only usually for a short period of time.

The winter season begins In May and ends in August. This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas, especially in the southwest.

The In-between periods – April/early May and September/October – still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.

Rains

The rainy season is in the summer, with October and April being transitional months. January and February are generally regarded as the peak months.

The mean annual rainfall varies from a maximum of over 650mm in the extreme northeast area of the Chobe District to a minimum of less than 250mm in the extreme southwest part of Kgalagadi District (see the map for districts).

Almost all rainfall occurs during the summer months while the winter period accounts for less than 10 percent of the annual rainfall. Generally, rainfall decreases in amount and increases in variability the further west and south you go

Best Time To Visit Botswana

The best time to visit Botswana National Parks and Game Reserves is from May to September, during the dry season and winter, the temperatures are moderate and favorable for any traveler, In addition, the Okavango is flooded from June to October. Wildlife viewing is good year-round.

SAFETY AND SECURITY TO SELF

• Plan your route and fuel consumption in advance.
• Have phone numbers of your destination on hand, in case you get lost.
• Pay special attention to speed limits, road signs and traffic markings.
• Obtain a map and plan your route before you set out on an excursion.
• Travel with certified copies of your valuable documents, and keep originals in a safe place.
• Plan your route beforehand and, as far as possible do not ask directions from strangers