About Botswana

Botswana is Africa at its very best – untamed, vast expanses of pristine wilderness, teeming with wildlife, alive with expectancy and an ultimate safari destination.

The magnificent Okavango Delta and neighbouring Chobe National Park form the nucleus of this ultimate African safari destination, where great herds of grazers and browsers – followed by predators – roam between the red sands of the Kalahari – home to the San Bushmen – prides perfect peace and solitude, and the grand channels of the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Linyanti Rivers. Also worth visiting are the searing thirst lands of the Makgadikgadi Pans – a unique range of ecosystems in which bird, plant and animal life abound and the Central Kalahari. Botswana is a land locked country, dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert; however it is probably more famous for its safari tours in the spectacular inland Okavango Delta. Botswana safaris offer travellers truly amazing and diverse experiences in pristine environments.

Languages

With a population of just over 1.5 million people, the languages most spoken are only English, Setswana and Shona. There are a few other native languages spoken, but these are not official languages of the country.

Climate

The Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert dominate the Western area of Botswana. Over 80% of Botswana’s land is desert. The climate is subtropical to semiarid, with warm winters and hot summers, although winter nights in the desert region can fall below zero degrees Celsius.

The winter months of April to August hardly see any rain and during this time wildlife watching is at its best since the animals flock to the waterholes. The summer brings with it the rain during the months of November to March.

Visa / Passport Requirements

On entering, citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries, and the US will be granted a 30-day Visa. Please check with your consultant, before travelling, what your Visa requirements are.

Health

You do not require any compulsory vaccinations when entering Botswana, however it is a Malaria-risk area and you are advised to take Malaria Prophylaxis as a precautionary measure.

Currency

1 Pula (BWP) = 100 Thebe (pula = rain; thebe = raindrops)

Travellers can exchange cash (preferably US dollars) or traveller’s cheques at banks and foreign exchange bureaus in major cities. There is no import limit on foreign currencies. Most credit cards (especially VISA) are accepted in tourist places, although there might be an additional surcharge.

Local Time – GMT +2

Electricity – 230V / 50Hz. Plugs either have round pins with ground or are rectangular blade plugs.

System – Metric.

Driving – Left-hand side.

We advise taking transfers in this country rather than self-driving.