Botswana Safaris Directory and Travel Guide

THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Botswana Travel Guide
Botswana, a country located in Southern Africa, north of South Africa is bordered with South Africa in the south and southeast, Zimbabwe in the northeast and Namibia to the west.
The landlocked Country is divided into two distinct topographical regions, with a vast plateau of about 4,000 ft in height, extending from near Kanye north to the Zimbabwean border.

PRACTICAL DETAILS:
Currency: Pula (BWP) =100 Thebe ($1=5.77)
Time: GMT +2
Major Airport: Kasane (north Botswana), Selebi-Phikwe, Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE), Eros Airport, Hosea Kutako International Airport, Maun International Airport (MUB)
Ports and Harbours:Walvis Bay and Lüderitz
Electricity: 230V, 50Hz.
Main Health risk: Malaria, typhoid and HIV/Aids.
International telephone country code: 267

GEOGRAPHY:
Capital: Gaborone
Rainfall: Averages 18 inches but ranges from 27 inches in the north to less than 9 inches in the Kalahari.
Temperarture: maximums of 26.6°C - 32°C (80°F-90°F) from October to February,minimums of 2° to 4.4°C (30° - 40°F) from June to August.
Land Area:581,730 sq km about the size of Texas.
Altitude: 3,300 ft.
Vegetation:Desert and savanna.
Natural Resourses: Diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, soda ash, salt, gold, potash.
Land use:Arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34%
Major National Park: Chobe National Park
Main Exports: diamonds. copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, livestock.
Climate:Mostly subtropical.

HUMAN STATISTICS:
Language:English (official), Setswana, Ikalanga.
Population:Approximately 1.6 million.
Nationality: Batswana
Density: 2.97 persons/ sq km
Life expectancy: 33.9 years. Infant mortality rate 56/1,000.
Religion: Christianity 70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%.
Income per capita: $4,736.
Education: Adult literacy--81%.

ADMINISTRATION/POLITICS:
President: Festus G. Mogae
Vice President:Lt. Gen. (ret) Seretse Khama Ian Khama
National Flag:The blue represents water (the motto on the national arms is PULA, meaning "let there be rain"). The white-black-white bands depict racial harmony of the people as well as the pluralist nature of the society.
Government: multiparty constitutional democracy
Administrative divisions:Five town councils and nine district councils.

WHEN TO VISIT:
Botswana can be visited at any time of the year. This is true for those who a taking on a safari to Botswana.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY:
Botswana has both International and domestic Airlines including Air Botswana, Air Namibia, KLM, British Airways, South African Express Airways, Nation wide Airlines and Airports include Kasane (north Botswana), Selebi-Phikwe, Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE), Maun International Airport (MUB), Eros Airport, Hosea Kutako International Airport which receive flights from Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gaborone and other international countries around the world. Charter companies include Delta Air, Mack Air, Moremi Air Services, Northern Air, Sefofane and Wildlife Helicopters. Kalahari Air Services offers charters within Botswana and to Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Airports are found in Francistown, Ghanzi, Jwaneny, Kasane, Maun, Pont Drift and Selebi-Phikwe. Many visitors use based in Maun to fly to the various lodges in Botswana. There are no regular bus services to and from the airport but several hotels run minibuses (combis). Taxis are available to the city center (travel time - 15 minutes).
The following goods may be imported into the country without incurring customs duty:
2l of wine and 1l of spirits, 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco, 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; goods up to the value of P500.

BOTSWANA VISA AND PASSPORT GUIDELINES
Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport for at least six months after the date of travel, in order to enter the country, and in some cases, a visa.
All visitors to Botswana require visas except visitors from Commonwealth countries, Belgium,Austria, Liechtenstein,Denmark,Germany, France, Greece, Western Samoa, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg,Finland, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan,South Africa, Rep. of Ireland, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and USA are exempted from Visa
Nationals of Ghana, India, Mauritius, Nigeria and Sri Lanka must have visas. Visitors can acquire stay permits, extendable up to 30 days at the border.
Visitors from British Commonwealth countries and holders of Irish, Japanese, Swiss Scandinavia, Japan, the USA and German passports can aquire Entry permits on arrival at the Airport. Travellers from these regions do not need to formally apply for a visa.

It is advisable to check with your nearest Botswana Embassy/Consular before you travel.

FLIGHTS TO BOTSWANA:

Botswana has several Tour and travel companies/Tourist offices which offer Airline tickets and also offer other services.

GETTING AROUND

Botswana has good tarmac roads linking Botswana with South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also road access from Namibia. There are share-taxis or minibus services between different towns and these run every day.A car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia, there is a railway line that crosses several towns and Car hire services are also available.Timetables can be obtained from bus operators
Please note:
An International Driving Permit is not legally required, but is recommended for stays. A Botswana driving license must be obtained.
Seat belts must be worn and Traffic drives on the left.
Speed limit of 120kph (75mph) outside built-up areas, and about 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas.

Botswana Safaris

BOTSWANA HOTELS

Botswana has several accommodation facilties ranging from 5 star hotels, lodges, tented camps, camping sites, cottages, inns, and country houses.Major hotels include Gaborone Sun Hotel, Chobe Marina Lodge, Khwai River lodge, Grand Palm hotel Casine Resort, which offer a wide range of services and facilities.

ATTRACTIONS

Botswana has several tourism attractions like the Okavango Delta which offers Bird watching and game viewing, the Chobe Game Reserve which is a home to one of the largest herds of free-ranging elephants in the world.Moremi game Reserve, Mokolondi Nature Reserve, Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Kgalagadi National Park are well known for game viewing.
Okavango Swamps and river, Kalahari Desert, Chobe River, Limpopo, the Makarikari Salt Pans and Lake Ngami are some of other great attractions found in Botswana.

MONEY

The country has several banking services in most major towns. Travellers cheques, Credit and charge cards like Barclays are widely accepted in facilities like hotels and restaurants in larger towns.
Autobanks are found in most towns and operate on a 24-hour basis and Some ATM's give cash advances.There is howerver a surcharge for using credit cards and cashing travellers checques. Banking hours are from 9am to 2:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesdays from 8:15 am to noon.