Botswana: General Informtion
Botswana: General Informtion
BORDER POSTS AIRPORTS:
Gaborone
Francistown
Most border posts do not stay open after six in the evening for vehicle transport, and it’s therefore advisable to check on operating times, especially the more remote, less used entry points. Generally the times are from six in the morning to six at night daily, but the busier posts may stay open later. Certain airports function as entry points
BANKS
BARCLAYS BANK
Maun and Kasane
Mon – Fri08h30 – 14h30
Sat 08h15 – 10h45
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Maun
Mon – Fri09h00 – 12h45 & 14h15 – 15h30
Sat 08h30 – 11h00
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
Maun
Mon – Fri08h15 – 14h00
Wed08h15 – 13h00
Sat 08h15 – 10h45Major hotels normally have foreign exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies accept travellers cheques.
HEALTH TIPS
Malaria:
Don’t forget to take Anti-Malarial tablets. Take these tablets 24 hrs before entering Botswana and continue taking them for 6 weeks after leaving the country. If you suffer from side affects try to take the pills at night after dinner. Speak to your doctor in this regard. No vaccinations are required as yet but check for latest info at time of booking.
Bilharzia
Bilharzia is another ever present threat in African streams and rivers, and the only way of avoiding contact is to stay out of the water. It is not caught by drinking untreated water, and the disease is easily cured today. There are some tsetse flies in certain areas in Northern Botswna, but they are harmless, other than a sometimes-painful bite. There has been no case of sleeping sickness reported in Botswana for about 25 years
MEDICAL SERVICES
Take Medican Insurace before eering Botswana. Bring with you any medicines you may need during your stay as you will probably have little access to pharmacies. Often an emergency evacuation insurance is included in the nightly rate charged by the various camps and lodges, however we advise all travelers to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any mishaps.
CURRENCY
Botswana’s decimal currency is the pula. The coins are thebe. Major hotels have foreign currency facilities. Most of the shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept travellers cheques. Customs authorities will only accept cash or travellers cheques in Rand, Sterling, Euros or US dollars. Any amount of currency may be imported into Botswana as long as it is declared. On leaving Botswana P 200 per person in cash, and the equivalent of P 300 in cash of a foreign currency, may be exported. Banks are open until two thirty in the afternoon, but close at midday on Wednesdays and at a quarter to eleven on Saturday mornings.
LANGUAGES
English is the official language and Setswana is the national language.Generally the population has a good command of the English language.
LOCAL FOOD AND WINE
The majority of Botswana is farmers and therefore traditional food is derived mainly from farm products. These include sorghum, millet, maize-meal and bean leaf relish. Beef, mopane worms and game meat are used as relish. ” There is no feast without beef in Botswana.”
SHOPPING
Shops in cities and towns are normally open between 8:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday and 8:30 to 13:00 on a Saturday. Most camps and lodges have curio shops. A really good buy is the baskets that are made in Botswana, a lot of time and effort is spent on each one.
WATER
Water supplies are safe in urban areas, but not reliable in rural regions. With a large number of wildlife and cattle, the limited water sources in rural areas are heavily utilised. All water from unknown sources should be boiled, filtered and purified. It is also advisable to carry water when travelling in remote areas.
SAFETY
Civil unrest and disorder are rare. Petty crime and crimes of opportunity, such as stealing of personal possessions, remain the most common form of crime in Botswana.
