Toll Free (USA & Canada) +1 866 978 2997
CAPITAL
Gaborone.
LANGUAGE
Setswana and English are the official languages of Botswana.
RELIGION
The majority of people are nominal Christian’s including Anglican’s, Congregationalists & Methodists.
LOCAL TIME
Central Africa Time (CAT) is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
ELECTRICITY
Volt A/C 50 hz
PASSPORT & VISA
A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.
LOCAL CURRENCY
The monetary unit of Botswana is the Botswana Pula (BWP; symbol P) = 100 thebe. Notes are in denominations of P100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of P5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 thebe.
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.
MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM
In Botswana, Banks and Bureau de Change facilities can generally be found in most towns and provincial capitals. ATMs are common and cash in $US, GB£ or Euro’s are changeable in cities and provincial capital’s, but may prove difficult away from these larger cities. Do bear in mind that in terms of neighboring countries’ currencies, you will only be able to get hold of the Botswana Pula in South Africa. We would recommend that you bring cash in Euro’s or $US to ensure you have access to enough funds during your stay.
CLOTHING
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. As these Southern Africa is warm during the day all year round, cotton clothing is much more comfortable and practical than man-made materials like nylon. While in the National Parks, you should wear natural, neutral colors – bright colors can make you stand out, meaning that you’re less likely to spot wildlife. In general, shorts are acceptable, although there may be occasions when it is appropriate to where long trousers. Make sure you bring a few items of clothing which cover your shoulders and knees and also several outfits which cover your legs to the ankles and your arms past the elbows. A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs). It also doesn’t go amiss to bring along a set of smart/casual clothes for the occasional night out. Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in very hot countries, night-time and early morning temperatures will be cooler, so it is worth taking a fleece along.
COMMUNICATION & EMAILS
Email
Internet cafes can now be found in many towns in Southern Africa, although connection times can be slow and unreliable. There are often power outages. The cost for an hour is generally around $US 1-2 per hour.
Phone
The phone system in Southern Africa is improving, although international calls are expensive. A 5-minute call (to the USA) can cost up to approx. $US 4-5. Your tour leader will be able to advise you on the best way to call home.
Post
The postal service is relatively good and is best described as cheap and slow. Stamps are available everywhere. An overseas stamp for postcards will cost approx. $US 0.80.
WEATHER & CLIMATE
Botswana generally has a semiarid subtropical climate. Rainfall is greatest in the north, where it averages about 640 mm (about 25 inches) annually. In the Kalahari rainfall averages less than 230 mm (less than 9 inches). The normal rainy season in Botswana is in the summer months and so hot and humid conditions are associated with the rain. Rain usually falls from December to March, although it can extend on either side of these months. We recommend a rain jacket should you be travelling at this time of year. In winter (May- September) temperatures during the day are often in the mid-20s (celcius); at night, however, it is possible for them to drop to 0º (celcius) and you will need to bring adequate warm clothing, particularly for early morning walks or game drives. By late September, daytime temperatures will be back into the low to mid-30s (celcius) with milder, warmer nights. In general, October is the hottest month, and July is the coldest.
Kasane (Chobe): (approx)
|
|
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEPT |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
|
MAX TEMP (CEL/FAH) |
31/89 |
30/86 |
31/89 |
31/89 |
29/85 |
26/79 |
26/79 |
30/86 |
33/92 |
34/94 |
34/94 |
31/89 |
|
MIN TEMP (CEL/FAH) |
20/68 |
19/67 |
19/67 |
18/65 |
15/59 |
11/52 |
10/50 |
12/54 |
18/65 |
20/68 |
21/70 |
20/68 |
|
RAINFALL (cm) |
14 |
14 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:
DRINKS
Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Prices in restaurants, hotels, and cruise boats can be as much as double those specified.
Tap water is considered safe to drink, although outside main cities and towns, visitors are advised to check first and sterilise water if in any doubt. It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Botswana just to take extra precautions however bottled water and carbonated soft drinks are widely available throughout the country.
FOOD
The markets of Botswana are filled with a large variety of foods. While some are grown locally many are imported from neighboring countries. A large number of high-quality cattle is raised in Botswana. Lamb, mutton, and chicken as well as other meats are also plentiful. Beef is the most popular meat eaten. Sorghum and maize are the main crops grown in Botswana. Wheat, rice, and other cereals not grown locally are also imported. Many different types of beans are grown locally, including cowpeas, ditloo, letlhodi as well as peanuts. Vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, cabbage, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and lettuce are grown. Vegetables that grow in the wild that are available seasonally. Dried bean leaves are a popular Setswana food. Many fruits are available ion Botswana. These include exotic fruits like the marula fruit and more common ones such as watermelon. Another kind of melon called lerotse or lekatane is locally grown. There are some kinds of wild melon found in sandy desert areas, which are an important food and water source for the local people.
Milk is pasteurized, and dairy products, local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, and vegetables are generally safe.
TIPPING GUIDELINES
It is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.
Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:
US$10 per guest per day for a ranger or guide
US$5 per guest per day for mokoro polers or trackers
US$5 per guest per day for the general lodge / hotel staff
HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over one year of age if travelling from infected areas.
The dust and heat may cause problems for some people. Visitors should use sun protection, especially due to Botswana's high altitude. The public health system is good. All main towns have chemists, and pharmaceutical supplies are readily available. Health insurance is essential.
Vaccinations for tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended. Hepatitis C occurs. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Tick-bite fever can be a problem when walking in the bush. It is advisable to wear loose-fitting clothes and to search the body for ticks. Rabies is present in animals. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.
