Travel to Botswana

Botswana

With an area of almost 373 000 square miles, Botswana is virtually the same size as Texas. Travelers come to experience the stunning beauty of the world’s largest intact inland Delta – the Okavango; the unimaginable vastness of the world’s second largest game reserve – the Central Kalahari Game Reserve; the isolation and other-worldliness of the Makgadikgadi Pans – uninhabited pans the size of Portugal; and the astoundingly prolific wildlife of the Chobe National Park.

Situated in the center of southern Africa, Botswana is a landlocked country, with Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe as its immediate neighbors. Botswana lies an average of 3,000 feet above sea level and is more than 372 miles from the nearest coast.

Botswana has abandoned mass tourism and focuses on high quality, low volume tourism as the best way to preserve the environment. Your first – and most lasting impressions – will be of vast expanses of uninhabited wilderness stretching from horizon to horizon, the sensation of limitless space, astoundingly rich wildlife and bird viewing, night skies littered with stars and heavenly bodies of an unimaginable brilliance, and stunning sunsets of unearthly beauty.

With more and more cultural tourism options on offer, you will be charmed by the people of Botswana, visiting their villages and experiencing first-hand their rich cultural heritage. But perhaps most of all, Botswana’s greatest gift is its ability to put us in touch with our natural selves. It offers that vital link so keenly felt by inhabitants of the developed world, a pervasive void we feel but often cannot name – our connectedness with Nature and the astonishing diversity of plants and animals to be explored.

Overview

Botswana is one of the touristic jewels of Africa.  In addition to an abundance of natural beauty, shortly after achieving democratic rule from the British in 1966, three of the world’s richest diamond-bearing formations were discovered there. This has led to a high standard of economic stability, education and health care. Despite this, much of the country remains remote - a destination for the intrepid and relatively high end traveler.

People

The term “Batswana” refers to the ethnic group of people who speak the Setswana language and share the Sotho-Tswana culture, while in its common contemporary usage, it refers to all citizens of the Republic of Botswana, regardless of their ethnic background. The singular is “Motswana”: a citizen of the country. “Tswana” is used as an adjective - for example “Tswana state” or “Tswana culture”.

Language

The national language is Setswana however the official language is English.

History

Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country’s major ethnic group (the “Tswana” in South Africa), which came into the area from South Africa during the Zulu wars of the early 1800s. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.

In the 19th century, hostilities broke out between the Batswana and Boer settlers from the Transvaal. After appeals by the Batswana for assistance, the British Government in 1885 put “Bechuanaland” under its protection. The northern territory remained under direct administration and is today’s Botswana, while the southern territory became part of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest province of South Africa; the majority of Setswana-speaking people today live in South Africa.

In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved from Mafikeng, in South Africa, to newly-established Gaborone in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence in September 1966. General elections serve to elect members of parliament, and the presidential candidate from the party that wins the most seats in the general election becomes the president. Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant to traditional rule of the Bamangwato, became the country’s first president, was re-elected twice, and died in office in 1980. The presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire, who was elected in his own right in 1984 and re-elected in 1989 and 1994. Masire retired from office in 1998. The presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Festus Mogae, who was elected in his own right in 1999. Mogae won a second term in elections held October 30, 2004 and stepped down in accordance with national term limits on March 31, 2008. On April 1, 2008 former Vice President Ian Khama assumed the presidency. Khama was elected as President in his own right during the general election held on October 16, 2009.

Travel Guide

Currency

The currency in Botswana is the Pula (P) which is made up of 100 Thebe.  Pula means ‘rain’ in Setswana while thebe means ‘shield’ in Setswana.

Time Difference

9 hours ahead of Los Angeles
6 hours ahead of New York

Best Time to Travel

Game viewing is at its peak during the dry winter months of May to October when animals reliably concentrate at year round water sources. In particular, many experts regard the cooler months of June to August as the best time of year for a Botswana safari - the game viewing is consistently excellent, there’s virtually no rain and the weather is comfortable.  Prices are at their highest during these prime months.
Wildlife disperses and becomes harder to locate when the rains begin in January through April. However, several destinations such as Chobe’s Savute region and the Kalahari offer excellent game viewing at this time. One reason is that they lie on the path of migrating animals – such as zebra.
A year-round birding destination, bird watchers will find the migrant-filled summer months of the rainy season the best time to visit Botswana for both numbers and diversity of species.
December is a particularly good month as many antelope give birth then which means more predators come around to hunt.

Weather

Summer is from November to the end of March and usually brings very high temperatures. It is also the rainy season and cloud coverage and rain can cool things down, although only usually for a short period of time.
The winter season begins in May and ends in August. This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas.
The in-between periods - April/early May and September/October - still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.
Summers (particularly from December through to February) can become exceptionally hot, and rain may make some roads muddy and impassable.

What to Wear

Layers are best - you will be in open, moving vehicles before sunrise and after sunset, so even in summer it will be cool. Jackets, caps and gloves also recommended year round.

Health Requirements

No vaccinations or medications are currently required for entry to Botswana from the United States.

Africa Answers is unable to give personalized medical advice and requests that travelers contact their travel clinic regarding recommended medications.

Visa Requirements

A passport with at least six months of validity remaining is required. U.S. citizens are permitted stays up to 90 days total within a 12 month period without a visa. Passports must have 2 blank visa pages available.

Starting 1 June, 2017, a tourism levy of $30 US will be collected at all land border points and airports into Botswana by cash, debit or credit card.

Tipping & Porterage

Tipping guidelines will be issued with final documents.

Credit Cards

International Visa and MasterCard are usually accepted throughout Botswana but American Express and Diners Club are often not accepted.

Electrical Appliances

220-240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Water

The country’s tap water is safe to drink. Most supermarkets, shops, camps and lodges also have bottled water available. When road traveling it is recommended to carry sufficient water at all times.

Map

A: Alexandria
B: Amboseli National Park
C: Arusha
D: Aswan
E: Bazaruto Island
F: Benguerra Island
G: Botswana
H: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
I: Cairo
J: Cape Town
K: Cape Winelands
L: Central Kalahari Region
M: Chobe National Park
N: Denis Island
O: Desroches Island
P: Drakensburg
Q: Dubai
R: Dubai Beaches
S: Dubai City Center
T: Dubai Desert
U: Dubai Marina
V: Durban
W: Eastern Cape
X: Eastern Cape Safaris
Y: Egypt
Z: Ethiopia
AA: Etosha National Park
AB: Franschhoek
AC: Garden Route
AD: Ghana
AE: Greater Kruger National Park
AF: Greater Winelands
AG: Hermanus
AH: Hwange National Park
AI: Johannesburg
AJ: Jordan
AK: Kafue National Park
AL: Kampala
AM: Kariba
AN: Kenya
AO: Kigali
AP: Knysna
AQ: Kruger National Park
AR: Kwazulu Natal
AS: La Digue
AT: Lake Manyara NP
AU: Lake Nakuru
AV: Lewa Wildlife Conservation
AW: Linyanti/Savuti Region
AX: Livingstone
AY: Lower Zambezi National Park
AZ: Luxor
BA: Madagascar
BB: Madikwe Game Reserve
BC: Mahé
BD: Mana Pools National Park
BE: Masai Mara
BF: Mauritius
BG: Mombasa
BH: Morocco
BI: Mozambique
BJ: Nairobi
BK: Namibia
BL: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
BM: North Island
BN: Okavango and Moremi GR
BO: Oman
BP: Oudtshoorn
BQ: Plettenberg Bay
BR: Port Elizabeth
BS: Praslin
BT: Queen Elizabeth National Park
BU: Quirimbas Archipelago
BV: Rwanda
BW: Sabi Sands
BX: Samburu National Park
BY: Selous Game Reserve
BZ: Serengeti National Park
CA: Seychelles
CB: Sharm El Sheik
CC: Sheik Zayed Road
CD: Silhouette Island
CE: Skeleton Coast National Park
CF: Sossusvlei
CG: South Africa
CH: South Luangwa
CI: Stellenbosch
CJ: Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
CK: Tanzania
CL: Tarangire National Park
CM: Timbavati Region
CN: Uganda
CO: Umhlanga
CP: Victoria Falls
CQ: Vilanculos
CR: Volcanoes National Park
CS: Windhoek
CT: Zambia
CU: Zanzibar and Pemba Island
CV: Zimbabwe

Destinations

Explore the rest of our Botswana destinations:

• Alexandria
• Amboseli National Park
• Arusha
• Aswan
• Bazaruto Island
• Benguerra Island
• Botswana
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Cairo
• Cape Town
• Cape Winelands
• Central Kalahari Region
• Chobe National Park
• Denis Island
• Desroches Island
• Drakensburg
• Dubai
• Dubai Beaches
• Dubai City Center
• Dubai Desert
• Dubai Marina
• Durban
• Eastern Cape
• Eastern Cape Safaris
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Etosha National Park
• Franschhoek
• Garden Route
• Ghana
• Greater Kruger National Park
• Greater Winelands
• Hermanus
• Hwange National Park
• Johannesburg
• Jordan
• Kafue National Park
• Kampala
• Kariba
• Kenya
• Kigali
• Knysna
• Kruger National Park
• Kwazulu Natal
• La Digue
• Lake Manyara NP
• Lake Nakuru
• Lewa Wildlife Conservation
• Linyanti/Savuti Region
• Livingstone
• Lower Zambezi National Park
• Luxor
• Madagascar
• Madikwe Game Reserve
• Mahé
• Mana Pools National Park
• Masai Mara
• Mauritius
• Mombasa
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nairobi
• Namibia
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• North Island
• Okavango and Moremi GR
• Oman
• Oudtshoorn
• Plettenberg Bay
• Port Elizabeth
• Praslin
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Quirimbas Archipelago
• Rwanda
• Sabi Sands
• Samburu National Park
• Selous Game Reserve
• Serengeti National Park
• Seychelles
• Sharm El Sheik
• Sheik Zayed Road
• Silhouette Island
• Skeleton Coast National Park
• Sossusvlei
• South Africa
• South Luangwa
• Stellenbosch
• Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
• Tanzania
• Tarangire National Park
• Timbavati Region
• Uganda
• Umhlanga
• Victoria Falls
• Vilanculos
• Volcanoes National Park
• Windhoek
• Zambia
• Zanzibar and Pemba Island
• Zimbabwe

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This Destination Botswana Related Destinations Alexandria Amboseli National Park Arusha Aswan Bazaruto Island Benguerra Island Botswana Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Cairo Cape Town Cape Winelands Central Kalahari Region Chobe National Park Denis Island Desroches Island Drakensburg Dubai Dubai Beaches Dubai City Center Dubai Desert Dubai Marina Durban Eastern Cape Eastern Cape Safaris Egypt Ethiopia Etosha National Park Franschhoek Garden Route Ghana Greater Kruger National Park Greater Winelands Hermanus Hwange National Park Johannesburg Jordan Kafue National Park Kampala Kariba Kenya Kigali Knysna Kruger National Park Kwazulu Natal La Digue Lake Manyara NP Lake Nakuru Lewa Wildlife Conservation Linyanti/Savuti Region Livingstone Lower Zambezi National Park Luxor Madagascar Madikwe Game Reserve Mahé Mana Pools National Park Masai Mara Mauritius Mombasa Morocco Mozambique Nairobi Namibia Ngorongoro Conservation Area North Island Okavango and Moremi GR Oman Oudtshoorn Plettenberg Bay Port Elizabeth Praslin Queen Elizabeth National Park Quirimbas Archipelago Rwanda Sabi Sands Samburu National Park Selous Game Reserve Serengeti National Park Seychelles Sharm El Sheik Sheik Zayed Road Silhouette Island Skeleton Coast National Park Sossusvlei South Africa South Luangwa Stellenbosch Swakopmund & Walvis Bay Tanzania Tarangire National Park Timbavati Region Uganda Umhlanga Victoria Falls Vilanculos Volcanoes National Park Windhoek Zambia Zanzibar and Pemba Island Zimbabwe

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