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Botswana

General Information

Capital City:
Gaborone
Population:
2 million
Area:
219,916 square miles
Language:
English, Setswana
Electricity:
220/240V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:
267
Driving:
Driving is on the left
Currency:
Pula (BWP 1 = 100 Thebe)

Business Hours

Bank:
0900-1530 Mon-Fri 0815-1045 Sat
Office:
0730-1630 Mon-Fri
Shops:
0800-1800 Mon-Fri, 0800-1300 Sat-Sun
Public Holidays:
<b>2012</b> 01 Jan : New Year 06 Apr : Easter 01 May : Labour Day 17 May : Ascension Day 01 Jul : Sir Seretse Khama Day 17 Jul : President's Day 30 Sep : Botswana Day 25 Dec : Christmas

Business and social hints

General:
Business is conducted in English. Photography is generally unrestricted but where there are regulations these will be made explicit. Many traditions and customs regulate social life and visitors should be perceptive to unfamiliar local conventions. The minimum drinking age is 18 years
Tipping:
Tips are discretionary
Clothing:
Light clothes with warmer wear for cooler evenings
Emergency Services:
Police: 999. Fire: 998. Ambulance: 997

Climate

Bostwana lies in the middle of Southern Africa & forms part of the Kalahari Desert. Typical of desert areas, temperatures are high & rainfall is unreliable, what little rain there is generally falls between Nov-Mar, although south & western regions get less rain even during this period. Cooler conditions, including the odd frosty night, exist between May-Sep

Francistown

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum Temperature °C 33 30 29 27 25 24 22 26 30 33 32 31
Minimum Temperature °C 20 17 16 13 9 5 4 7 12 16 18 18
Average Humidity (mornings) % 69 73 74 70 68 69 63 60 55 56 64 65
Average Humidity (afternoons) % 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Average Rainfall 106 79 72 19 6 4 0 0 0 23 55 85

Customs

Import Allowances:
For persons of 18 years of age or older: a) 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250gr of tobacco b) 2 lit wine and 1 lit of alcoholic beverages c) 250ml of perfume and 250ml of toilet water
Contraband:
The import of narcotics, and pornography is prohibited, and there are restrictions on the import of firearms, ammunition, food, plants

Health

None.

Compulsary Vaccinations
Yellow fever certificate required if aged over 1 year and entering this country from an infected area or country at risk.
Recommended Immunisations
Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid. <b>In addition:</b> Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Cholera are also recommended to those travelling to Botswana frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
Risks
- <b>Malaria</b> - Precautions are essential. The risk is mainly from the malignant form and exists all year but more so from Nov-Jun in northern parts of Botswana including the regions along the Zimbabwean border, the Zambezi river and all the Game Parks to the north of the Kalahari desert. <b>GENERAL INFO FOR ALL TRAVELLERS:</b> Details listed can occasionally change at very short notice and it's recommended that all travellers seek advice from their Practice Nurse, GP or Travel Clinic when planning a visit to Botswana. It should be noted that some vaccinations and treatments may require one or more visits and should be planned well in advance of travel. Primary courses and boosters should always be up to date as recommended for life in the UK. This should include vaccines given to special groups due to complications or risk exposure such as Hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly etc.

Immigration and Passport

Passports must be valid for six months on arrival.

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Botswana. 3) For stays up to 90 days: a) Holders of British passports. b) Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Holy See, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Samoa, San Marico, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts And Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom (British Citizen Passports), United States Of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia & Zimbabwe.

Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the High Commission of Botswana

Useful Contacts

Embassy

High Commission of Botswana 6 Stratford Place London, W1C 1AY tel: +44 20 7499 0031 fax: +44 20 7495 8595 hours: 0900-1300 & 1400-1700 (Mon-Fri)

Airports

  • Gaborone Sir Seretse Khama International
  • Maun

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