Travel Information

R1: BOTSWANA - DESTINATION INFORMATION Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country situated in Southern Africa. The citizens refer to themselves as "Batswana" (singular: Motswana), but many English-language sources use "Botswanan" instead. The landscape is defined by the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert, surrounded by a lush animal habitat, including wild dogs and cheetahs. The capital of Botswana is Gaborone is the Capital of Botswana, there are 2,254 million inhabitants throughout the country. Botswana Tourism Board: http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/ Geography: Botswana is landlocked, between South Africa to the South and Southeast, West and North are Namibia and Zimbabwe to the Northeast border. The country is predominantly flat, measuring at 581,730 km2, covered mostly by the Kalahari Desert Botswana is also largely covered by grassland and the savannah, much of the population of Botswana is concentrated in the eastern part of the country. The Chobe River on the border with the Caprivi Strip of Namibia together with a small adjacent swampy area is part of the Zambezi basin, the southern and southwestern regions, which are the driest of all, are drained by the Molopo river along the South African border and through the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. History: Archaeologists have found remains, dating back to around 2 million years. The first inhabitants dated in Botswana, were the San /Khosi people, known as hunter gatherers, who traded over long distances. Many women, children and even cattle where driven into the desert and hid in caves for sanctuary, during raids of the Bakololo. Christian religion became the religion of Botswana, due to the British missionaries, each village had its own missionary. In June 1964, Botswana gained independence from Britain, making way for a self-governed democratic party. Public Holidays: 01 Jan New Year's Day 10 Apr Good Friday 13 Apr Easter Monday 01 May Labour Day 21 May Ascension Day 01 Jul Sir Seretse Khama Day 21 Jul Presidents' Day 30 Sep Independence Day (of Botswana) 25 Dec Christmas Day 26 Dec Boxing Day Languages: Most guided safaris are usually conducted in English, German, Italian and French translators are available on request. Other spoken languages: Setswana. Climate: Botswana has a short rain season. But due to the terrain, the high altitude of the country gives it a subtropical climate. Sunshine totals are high all year round although winter is the sunniest period. The whole country is windy and dusty during the dry season. The dry season lasts from April to October in the south and to November in the north where, however, rainfall totals are higher. The south of the country is most exposed to cold winds during the winter period (early May to late August) when average temperatures are around 14 °C. The country has hot summers with average temperatures around 26 °C Electricity: The current used in Botswana is 220/240 volts at 50H. Both square and round 3-pin wall plugs are used. Telephones and dialling codes: The International access code in Botswana is 00. When calling international to Botswana, dial +267. All major towns in Botswana are network covered, as well as portions of the national highway. Time difference: Officially Botswana is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Customs allowances: • 200 Cigarettes, 20 cigars or 250gm tobacco per person over the age of 18 • Spirits and alcohol not exceeding l litre per person over the age of 18 • Wine not exceeding 2 litres per person over the age of 18 • Perfume not exceeding 50ml and eau de toilette not exceeding 250ml per person • New or used goods up to the value of ZAR500 (approx. US$ 55) from within the SACU zone (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa & Swaziland) and to the value of ZAR3000 (approx. US$330) from outside the zone Prohibited Items: You are not allowed to bring into Botswana prohibited goods such as narcotics, illegal drugs in any form, automatic weapons, military weapons, unnumbered weapons, poison and toxic substances. Driving: Botswana is generally not recommended as a self-drive destination, except as a 4x4 adventure. If, however, you will be driving in Botswana, you can do so using an international driving permit together with your home driving license, with English translation. Driving is on the left side of the road. The national speed limit on tarred roads is 120km/h and 60 km/h in towns and villages. Watch out for wild animals on the roads. Currency: Botswana Pula Please check the monetary rate of exchange close to departure. We use http://www.oanda.comwww.oanda.com Malaria: Protection against mosquito bites is essential and where the risk is considered high, anti-malarial medications are recommended. Anti-malarial medications should be discussed with experts as there are different medications available and not all medications suit all people or all destinations. Pregnant or very young children are not advised to travel to malarial areas. You are strongly advised to consult your doctor prior to travel and get accurate and up-to-date advice on anti-malarial precautions. Mosquito precautions: Mosquitoes cause much inconvenience and irritation due to the local reactions of the bites themselves and from the infections they transmit (Malaria and Yellow Fever). Most mosquito bites occur in the evening. 1. Avoid mosquito bites, especially after sunset. Wear long-sleeved clothing, long trousers, socks and closed shoes to avoid mosquito bites. 2. Use an Insect repellent. 3. Freshen up regularly and avoid sweet smelling scents that may attract insects. 4. Spray insecticides in the room and use mosquito coils. 5. If sleeping in an unscreened room/cabin, or outdoors use a mosquito net (which should be impregnated with insecticide). Health and Medical: Africa Tour does not offer a medical service. It is the responsibility of the client to meet all health requirements, including vaccinations. Africa Tour accepts no liability if these requirements have not been met. In general, the availability of medical services is restricted to main towns. The quality of service and care at these facilities may vary. Emergencies and accidents occurring in remote areas may attract a high cost when transport to the main town is required. If you have travelled to any country with any health risks (e.g. Yellow Fever) and/or made your own independent flight arrangements within the last 6 months, you are responsible for checking your own passport, visa and health requirements, restrictions, regulations and proof of immunization etc. Please note that health formalities form part of the legal requirements for entry into the country/countries or region(s) that you intend to visit. Consult your travel doctor regarding renewing your vaccinations. https://www.gov.bw/disease-prevention-control/yellow-fever-vaccinationVaccine