Electrical sockets (outlets) in Botswana are the “Type M ” South African SABS1661 (“Large” 15 amp BS-546) sockets. If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into.Electrical sockets (outlets) in Botswana usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you’re plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. If you need to use appliances that are not compatible with 220-240 volt electrical input, you will need a voltage converter.

CurrencyBotswana’s currency is Pula (which means ‘rain’ in Setswana). It is divided into 100 thebe (which means ‘shield’ in Setswana). Travellers’ cheques and foreign currency may be changed at banks, bureaux de change and authorised hotels.The US dollar, Euros, British Pound and the South African Rand are the most easily convertible currencies (and accepted by some estabishments – but, generally, then an inflated rate of exchange will be applied). Cash payments made to camps for curios and also gratuities need to be in one of these currencies. To check the current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.BankingSeven main commercial banks, as well as a number of foregin exchange bureaux, operate in Botswana. Operating hours are Monday to Friday 08h30 to 15h30 and Saturday 08h30 to 10h45.Full banking services are available in major towns, although ATMs are sprouting up all over the country. Most credit cards are accepted at hotels and restaurants. Cultural sites and community art and craft outlets usually only accept cash.Credit CardsInternational Visa and MasterCard are usually accepted throughout Botswana but American Express and Diners Club are often not accepted.

Visitors are advised to drink bottled or filtered water. Filtered water is available at most camps and shops offer bottled water.Milk is pasteurised, and dairy products, local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally safe.Safari lodges and camps serve international-style cuisine, generally of an extremely high standard, along with local beer and imported wine and spirits. Good restaurants and bars can be found in main towns, often within hotels. Beef and goat are very popular meats. Elsewhere, food is more basic: millet and sorghum porridge are the local staples.A discretionary 5 to 10% tip is typical for restaurant bills. In many places, a service charge is automatically added.

Botswana’s climatic pattern is typical of southern Africa, although its rainfall is less than countries further east. The rains in Botswana come mostly between December and March, when average minimum temperatures are in the low 60°s. Some days will be bright and sunny, some will have afternoon thunderstorms, and some will just be grey.April and May in Botswana are generally lovely, with the sky clear and the landscape green. Night temperatures start to drop during these months, especially in the Kalahari. Note that places in and around the Okavango tend to have less extreme, more moderate temperatures than the drier areas of the Kalahari.From June to August the night-time temperatures in drier areas can be close to freezing, but it warms up rapidly during the day, when the sky is usually clear and blue. It’s now very much ‘peak season’ for most safari areas: the land is dry in most areas so the animals congregate around the few available water sources.This continues into September and October, when temperatures climb again, drying the landscapes and concentrating the game even more. This is the best time for big game safaris – although October can feel very hot, with maximum temperatures sometimes approaching 100°C.November is difficult to predict, as it can sometimes be a continuation of October’s heat, whilst sometimes it’s cooled by the first rains; it’s always an interesting month.

Public transport in Botswana is geared towards the needs of the local populace and is confined to main roads between major population centres. Although cheap and reliable, it is of little use to the traveller as most of Botswana’s tourist attractions lie off the beaten track.Driving off the main roads in Botswana is only recommended in 4×4 vehicles, that are equipped correctly. Most lodges offer transfers or they can be arranged. If, however, you will be driving in Botswana: your home driving licence will be accepted (with an official English translation if necessary; driving is on the left side of the road; and the national speed limit is on tarred roads is 120km/h and 60km/h in towns and villages. Be sure to watch out for wild animals on the roads!There are major airports in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone, while smaller charter flights are used to get to the other top attractions and camps.

In summer, lightweight, lightcoloured cottons are preferable. Avoid synthetic materials and black clothing, as they increase perspiration and discomfort. In winter, wear trousers, longsleeved shirts / blouses and jerseys. From May – August, night temperatures can fall below freezing, so warm jerseys and jackets are vital, especially on morning and evening game drives.Bring a lightweight jacket and/or jersey for unexpected temperature changes or rain.Garments of neutral colours that blend with the bush and forest are advisable for safaris and game viewing.Closed, comfortable walking shoes or gym shoes are a must in all seasons.Special attention should be given to protection from the sun. Bring a sunhat, good quality sunscreen, sun lotion and polarised sunglasses. Wide brimmed sun hats are essential.

Please consult your health-care provider 4-6 weeks prior to travel to ensure you are receiving all required vaccinations and that the medication has enough time to take effect. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance with medical benefits and that you bring any personal medication with you. Please also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.

Required Immunizations/Vaccinations:

Yellow Fever – all travelers coming from a yellow fever infected country will be required to show a valid Yellow Fever certificate on arrival. It is otherwise not required or recommended. You should be vaccinated at least 10 days before you travel, as this will allow enough time for your body to develop protection against the yellow fever infection. Your proof of vaccination certificate will only become valid after this time.

Recommended Immunizations/Vaccinations:

Malaria prophylaxis – highly recommended for all travelers (even if you are only visiting malaria-free areas as there has been an increase in malaria in southern Africa)

Malaria

Malaria is found in most parts of Botswana. Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. Both chloroquine-resistant and normal strains of malaria are prevalent in Africa.

Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are mainly active in the early evening and throughout the night. Malaria transmission is at its highest during the warmer and wetter months of November through to April. From May through October the risks of acquiring malaria are reduced. There is also less prevalence in remote areas where our camps are situated; nonetheless, we strongly recommend you take the following preventative measures:

Use plenty of mosquito repellent. Some camps provide a locally made repellent but please bring your own as there may be skin sensitivity.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings.
Please use the mosquito net over your bed where supplied/available.
If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with a suitable insecticide to kill any mosquitoes that may have flown into your room.
Mosquito coils are also effective.

There is a six to seven day minimum incubation period before symptoms present themselves. If you become ill on your return, while still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria. Please remember the best precaution is the preventative kind.

It is inadvisable for pregnant women to visit malarial areas as malaria infection during pregnancy can be detrimental to both mother and child.

Ticks

Ticks exist all over the world and are well known carriers of diseases that affect both animals and humans. In Southern Africa this is referred to as tick bite fever. Symptoms of this disease present after a 5-7 day incubation period and include fevers, headaches, malaise and even a skin rash, but effects can vary dramatically from person to person. A dark black mark usually results at the site of the infected bite and is a helpful diagnostic. The disease is easily treated with antibiotics although this is not always necessary.

After walking in the bush it is best to brush your clothes down and to examine your body for ticks. If a tick is found, remove it entirely without leaving the biting mouth parts in your skin. Anti-tick sprays such as Bayticol can be very effective against ticks and wearing long pants will prevent many bites.

Tsetse Flies

Tsetse flies exist in large areas of sub-Saharan Africa including parts of Northern Botswana. They are best known as the carrier of trypanosomiases – causing sleeping sickness in humans which can be fatal but is easily treated and cured. In the unlikely event that symptoms are recorded after a visit to an area containing tsetse flies, we recommend that a doctor be consulted. These symptoms can present a few weeks to months after a visit and begin with fever, headaches and pains in the joints followed by dramatic swelling of the lymph nodes. If left untreated these symptoms can evolve to cause anaemia, cardiac and kidney disorders; alternate bouts of fatigue and insomnia can disrupt the sleep cycle.

Not all tsetse flies transmit all variations of the disease and in our areas of operation they are regarded more as an irritation (the bites are sharp) than as a serious threat.  Enormous efforts have been made to eradicate tsetse flies in various countries and sleeping sickness has now largely disappeared from Southern Africa.

U.S. citizens do not require a visa. Non U.S. citizens should consult with your local embassy.

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18
Children under the age of 18 travelling to or from Botswana require additional documentation. The various scenarios are outlined below and are the same requirements as South Africa that can be found at this informative website: http://www.drivesouthafrica.co.za/child-visa-checklist/.  Please ensure you arrange for and travel with the necessary documentation.  Airlines will deny boarding and Immigration will refuse entry or departure, if these requirements have not been met. Please contact us for further clarification if needed.

Children under the age of 18 travelling to or from Botswana, traveling with both parents: Parents must provide an unabridged birth certificate  that is translated into English and a passport as minimum proof that the parents of that child have given their permission for that child to travel.

Children under the age of 18 travelling to or from Botswana, with only one parent: The parent traveling with that child must provide the following:

Unabridged birth certificate;
Consent, in the form of an affidavit (provided by the Department of Home Affairs) from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child, authorizing him or her to enter into or depart from Botswana with the child he or she is traveling with;
A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child;
Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate, provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her his or her parents, approve such a person to enter or depart the Republic with such a child

Children under the age of 18 travelling to or from Botswana, without their parents (i.e. with friends or grandparents) must provide the following:

A copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child;
An affidavit (provided by the Department of Home Affairs) from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child;
Copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and
The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her his or her parents, approve such a person to enter or depart the Republic with such a child.

Children under the age of 18 travelling to or from Botswana as an unaccompanied minor: An unaccompanied minor must provide the immigration officer with the following:

Proof of consent from one or both his or her parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit (provided by the Department of Home Affairs) for the child to travel into or depart from the Republic: Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child;
A letter from the person which is to receive the child in the Republic, containing his or her residential address and contact details where the child will be residing;
A copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic;
The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.

What is an unbridged birth certificate? An unabridged (unedited/complete) birth certificate reflects the particulars of both parents.

Do you have to have the original document? No, a certified copy of the birth certificate is sufficient. It must be certified as a true copy of the original by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Do the copies of the parents’ passports/ID’s have to be certified? Yes, they must be certified as a true copy of the original by a Commissioner of Oaths.

How do you obtain approval from the Director General when you do not reside in Botswana? Through the nearest Botswana diplomatic or consular representative abroad.

LanguageThe national language is Setswana; however, the official language is English.Public HolidaysThe dates of certain public holidays change from year to year – refer below. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the Monday is also declared a public holiday.Jan 01 New Year’s DayVaries Good FridayVaries Easter MondayMay 01 Labor DayMay 25 Ascension Day July 01 Sir Seretse Khama DayJuly 17 President’s DaySept 30 Botswana DayDec 25 Christmas DayDec 26 Boxing DayTime ZoneBotswana is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round.National Emergency NumbersAmbulance 997Police 999 or 351161Fire Service 998The telephone provider of Botswana is the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation. Another emergency telephone number of the country of Botswana is +27 82 558 7686. The people of Botswana or the tourists to Botswana can call in this number to report any problem or to meet any query. The telephone operators communicate in both English and local Botswana language.US EmbassyPhysical Address: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave, Gaborone, BotswanaMailing Address: P.O. Box 90 Gaborone, BotswanaTel: (+267) 395-3982 (Mon-Fri, 7:30AM – 5:00PM), (+267) 395-7111 (After Hours)Fax: (+267) 318-0232Website: botswana.usembassy.govVATVAT of 10% is levied on all goods and services. When leaving Botswana, non-residents may claim a VAT refund on goods exported as accompanied luggage. The value of the goods must exceed P 5,000 per export and goods must be available for inspection. Refunds are made by way of a check payment which is mailed. In order to claim, the original tax invoice with passport details reflected thereon, must be presented to the designated Customs Officer together with the VAT 006.1 claim form and the BW500 export declaration form.