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BOTSWANA T0URS
WINGS
OVER BOTSWANA
8 Nights/9 Days
HIGHLIGHTS
OF VICTORIA FALLS
THE
MIGHTY FALLS & DELTA DREAMS
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Botswana - Basic Travel Information
By Andrew Muigai
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Accommodation
Accommodation mainly comprises hotels, safari lodges
and camping. There is no grading system for the hotels but they
all generally maintain reasonable standards and have the basic amenities.
Majority of safari lodges in Botswana are found in Chobe National
Park, Moremi Game Reserve and Okavango Delta. The standards in these
are generally high with some having permanent structures and others
having tents. There are also designated camping sights in these
game reserves. However campers should exercise care when in these
areas, especially at night, due to presence of wild animals. Camping
is not allowed on private land unless prior permission is sought.
International Travel
The best way to gain entry into Botswana is through
Johannesburg International Airport. The national airline is Air
Botswana and it provides regular flights from Johannesburg, Harare
and Victoria falls. South African Airways and British Airways also
provide flights from Johannesburg to Gaborone. The main airport
is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, 15km from Gaborone.
Other airports that receive international flights are Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe,
Francistown and Maun International Airports. The road system in
Botswana is relatively good thus providing easy access to the neighboring
countries. Most of the roads are tarmac. Mini-buses provide the
easiest means of road travel. They depart daily during the morning
hours from the main bus station in Gaborone to Johannesburg. There
are also good roads connecting Botswana to Zimbabwe, Zambia and
Namibia. Railway transport is limited to between Botswana and South
Africa and Botswana and Zimbabwe. There are plans to extend the
connection to Namibia. There is also a ferry that provides a link
to Zambia from Botswana over the Zambezi River.
Local Travel
There are scheduled regular flights between the
major cities of Botswana. Charter companies such as Delta Air, Moremi
Air services amongst others provide flights to various lodges within
Botswana. However this services fall on the expensive side. There
are also several bus routes and good train lines between major towns
that provide cheaper services. Work on extending the rail network
is in progress. There are good tarmac roads linking major towns
but gravel roads and sand tracks also exist. Plans to construct
more major highways are underway. Taxi services are mainly available
in major towns. Care should be exercised in negotiating prices before
embarking on journeys using this means. For those who prefer to
drive themselves, car hire services are available and especially
for 4-wheel drive cars which are necessary in many areas. Traffic
drives on the left and wearing of seat belts is mandatory. An International
Driving Permit is recommended, though not a legal requirement, for
stays up to six months. A UK license is also valid. For periods
longer than six months, a Botswana license must be obtained and
can be issued without a test if a valid UK license is produced.
Public transport consists of share taxis or minibus services operating
at controlled flat fares.
Visas
All visitors must hold a passport that is valid
for at least six months, except those with UN Convention travel
documents. Visas are not required by nationals of Commonwealth countries
except those of Ghana, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan; nationals of
European countries except those of Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary;
nationals from USA, Canada and Japan. Nationals of Iceland, Switzerland
and Norway also require visas. The validity of visas by nationals
the require them is 90 days. Extensions can only be obtained from
immigration offices in Botswana. Visitors must also have outgoing
travel documents such as return air tickets and adequate funds to
finance their stay. Note that visa requirements vary from time to
time and you are advised to check on prevailing status well ahead
of travel.
Health
Botswana is generally not a risky place to visit
health wise. However certain precautions should be taken. Visitors
coming from areas where yellow fever is endemic should be inoculated
two weeks prior to travel. Malaria is prevalent in the northern
parts of Botswana (Chobe, Okavango, Boteti, Ngamiland and Tutume
districts/sub districts) especially during the rainy season. It
is imperative that one takes anti-malarial drugs two weeks prior
to their visit. Protective clothing, nets and insect repellants
are also recommended as preventive measures.
Typhoid fever is also common through out the region and especially
outside the cities. Vaccination before travel is advisable and care
should be exercised in handling food and drink. Tap water within
the cities is safe to drink but outside the cities sterilization
is advisable. Mineral water is available and can be bought instead.
Milk, other dairy products, local meat and other foods, fruits and
vegetables are safe for consumption. Other risks are hepatitis A,
B, and C, tuberculosis and Bilharzia. Trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness) is transmitted by tsetse flies in the western part of
Chobe National Park, Ngamiland and Moremi Wildlife reserve. Again,
protective clothing, nets and insect repellants are essential. To
prevent getting bilharzia, avoid swimming or paddling in fresh water;
well-chlorinated swimming pools are safer. There is also a high
prevalence of HIV/AIDS and appropriate measures should be taken.
Dust and heat may present a problem to people with asthma and allergies.
Hats and sunscreen are recommended especially for those with fair
skin. There are different kinds of health facilities available;
23 district health teams, 3 referral hospitals in Francistown, Gaborone
and Lobatse, 12 district hospitals, 17 primary hospitals, 222 clinics,
330 health posts and 740 mobile stops. Medicine provided at government
hospitals is free. There is also a private hospital in Gaborone
and also several private medical practitioners. All main towns have
well stocked chemists.
Communications
Telephone, mobile phones, fax, Internet, telegram
and fax facilities are available in urban centers but are limited
in the wildlife areas. The country code is 267. Mobile phones are
based on GSM 900 network. Coverage is limited to the main inhabited
areas. Postal services are slow but cheap and are available in all
towns and larger villages. The daily newspaper is Dikgang tsa Gompieno
(The Daily News) published in Setswana and English. Other English
newspapers are Mmegi (The Reporter), The Botswana Gazette amongst
others. Radio services form BBC World Service and Voice Of America
can be received though the frequencies may sometimes change and
the current ones can be found online.
Money
The unit of currency is the Pula (P), which is divided
into 100 Thebe (t). Most hotels and lodges accept major credit cards
like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. They also
accept travelers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Exchange
bureaus and credit card advances through banks such as Barclays
and Standard Chartered are available in major cities. Cash transfers
are easiest and safest done through Western Union money transfer.
There are no restrictions on import of local or foreign currencies
into the country but amounts larger or equivalent to P10, 000 have
to be declared on arrival. Banking services are available in full
in all major towns while in remote towns, there are traveling banks
available weekly or monthly and they deal more with travelers cheques
than with cash. Tipping in hotels and restaurants is not necessary
but about 10% should be sufficient.
Peoples & Culture
The people of Botswana are divided into several
ethnic groups. The largest group is the Batswana. It comprises three
major tribes, the Bakwena, Bangwato and Bangwaketse. Other tribes
include the Bahurutshe, Barolong, Batawana, Bakgatla, Bakhurutshe,
Bateti, Bayei, Basubiya, Bambukushu, Bakgalagadi, Basarwa (Bushmen)
and Bakgothu or KhoeKhoe. English is the official language but Setswana
is the most commonly spoken. Some knowledge of it would prove useful.
Millet and sorghum porridge is the main dish. You will also come
across morama, an under ground tuber, Kalahari truffle which is
an edible fungus and mopane worm, a caterpillar-like grub. Traditional
brews include palm wine, kgadi (made from distilled sugar or fungus)
and bojalwa (cheap sorghum beer). If one is not adventurous enough
to taste these culinary delights, the standard of food in most hotels
and lodges is very good. Christianity and Islam are practiced in
Botswana but many of the people still practice the traditional animist
beliefs.
Climate
Botswana's climate is semi-arid. The rainy season
is experienced during the summer months, i.e. November to March.
Very high temperatures are experienced (they rise to 38 degrees
and can reach 44 degrees in rare occasions). Rainfall is erratic,
unpredictable and highly regional but it helps in cooling things
down. The Setswana word for rain is Pula after which their currency
is also named. Rainfall decreases in amount the further west and
south you go; mean annual rainfall varies from a maximum of over
650mm in the extreme northeast region of Chobe district to a minimum
of less than 250mm in the extreme southwest part of Kgalagadi district.
The winter season occurs between May and August. This is the dry
season. The days are sunny and cool however night temperatures can
drop to below freezing point in some part like the Kalahari. Frost
is also common during this period. The in-between periods (April
to October) are the best visiting periods. Climate is dry but cooler
than in summer and warmer than in winter. Extreme temperatures are
not experienced during this period making the conditions favorable
for tourists.
Travel Insurance
Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to
have a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which covers you for
repatriation to your country. You should also find out whether your
insurance plan will pay directly for your health expenditures or
reimburse you later.
What to Wear
Light clothing is preferable during the day especially
during the summer months. Sun block, sunglasses and hats are essential
especially for those with fair skin. Warm clothes should also be
carried due to colder nights during the winter season and incase
of rain, which is frequent during the summer, a raincoat will be
considered a good investment. Bright colored clothes should be avoided
especially during safaris to prevent any undue attention from wild
animals. Natural, earthy or khaki tones are preferable. Campers
are advised to carry warm sleeping bags and insect repellants will
prove useful out there in the bush. When walking in the bush, long
sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes will prevent you from getting
tick and mosquito bites.
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Copyright
© Africa Point
Author
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter.
You can view more info on Botswana tours at the website.
Disclaimer:
Africa Travel has done its utmost to ensure that the information
on this web site is as accurate and current as possible. The information
is provided 'as is' and Africa Travel will not accept responsibility
for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting
from the information on this website. Please verify crucial information
like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation with the
relevant authorities before you travel.
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