1. Bird Watching
A broad mix of habitats ensures that Botswana attracts a huge variety of bird species. More than 550 species have been recorded including 440 in the Okovango region and 460 in the Kasane region. Each year during the rainy season the Makgadigadi Pans fills up with water attracting hundreds of thousands of colourful migrating water birds to the region. The best time to visit is between November and March when the intra African and European migrants are present.
2. Fishing
More than 80 species of fish with tiger, bream and barbel being the most common are found in the Okovango Delta and Chobe River systems.
3. Game Viewing
Botswana is arguably one of the best safari destinations in the world with more than 37% of its land area set aside for national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas. It boasts the largest elephant population in the world and is home to over 164 mammal species and 157 reptile species. Some of the most animal rich national parks include Chobe National park, Moremi Game Reserve/Okovango Delta, Tuli Game Reserve, Central Kalahari game Reserve and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. You can safari by vehicle, boat or by foot. Best game viewing months are in the dry season between May and August when the animals congregate near the water.
4. Rock Art
West of the Okovango Delta in the Tsodilo Hills there are more than 4000 rock paintings at 500 individual sites chronicling thousands of years of human life in the area. Botswana is still home to around 3000 San (or Bushmen) people who follow a hunter-gatherer tradition dating back 100 000 years. Some of these communities can be found close to Tsodilo Hills.
CAPITAL: Gaborone
CLIMATE:
Summer: Summer runs from November to April and it is very hot and wet. Day time temperatures can be as high as 38 degrees C with night time temperatures averaging around 23C. It is also Botswana’s rainy season with most rains falling in the afternoon.
Winter: Winter runs from May to October and is dry, sunny and cool with daytime temperatures averaging 20C and nights averaging around 5 C
COMMUNICATION:
The international country code is +267
All major cities have good cellular network coverage, but once you go off the main routes or into the national parks there is no reception.
Internet cafes are available in Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and Francistown
ELECTRICITY:
220/240V. Two plug types are used: a three round pin and a two parallel flat pin with rectangular grounder. Many of the game lodges rely on generators for power.
LANGUAGE:
The official language is English and it is spoken widely, especially in the tourist areas. The national language is Setswana.
TIME: GMT + 2 hours
ENTERING AND GETTING AROUND:
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX: None
ARRIVAL BY AIR:
Botswana has 3 main airport arrival hubs being Gaborone, Maun and Kasane
CUSTOMS:
Duty free allowance of 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 2 litres of wine and 1 litre of spirits, 50 ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
Botswana strictly enforces its laws regarding the trade in animal products and it is illegal to remove any living or dead animal or trophy made from an animal without a government permit.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A valid passport is required to enter Botswana and the validity date needs to be atleast 6 months after the visitor intends to leave the country. Visitors may also be asked to produce outgoing travel documents and proof of sufficient funds to finance their stay. All visitors must check for visa requirements and these need to be obtained prior to travel. No visas are issued at port of entry.
HEALTH
Please check with your local doctor on which immunizations are deemed necessary and whether malaria prophylactics should be taken. Northern Botswana is considered a malaria risk area between November and May/June.
It is strongly recommended that you ensure that you have adequate medical insurance when visiting Botswana as private hospitals will turn away patients who cannot demonstrate ability to pay. Make sure this includes medical evacuation insurance.
MONEY
ATM’S: Available in most major towns
BANKS: There are 4 commercial banks in Botswana with branches in most major towns and villages. These are Barclays bank of Botswana, First National Bank of Botswana, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Standard Chartered Bank. Opening hours vary but most banks are open Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 15h30. Saturdays from 08h15 to 10h45.
CREDIT CARDS: Most hotels, lodges and main town restaurants and shops accept credit cards. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club cards are widely accepted, but not all vendors accept all 4.
CURRENCY: The official currency is the Pula (BWP) which is available in denominations of P10, P20, P50 and P100 in notes. P1, P2, P5 and available in coins. Smaller units are called thebe
FOREIGN EXCHANGE:
Money can be changed at banks and government authorised Bureaux de Change. Many hotels and lodges will accept foreign currency. Bureaux de Change are found in major towns and Gaborone and Maun airports.
TRAVELLERS CHEQUES:
Travellers cheques can be cashed at Bureaux de Change and banks and are usually accepted by most hotels and game lodges.
