Jumbo Tours
Botswana: General Information
Population:1.63 million
Borders: South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe (all overland crossings)
Seasons: Wet (November to March); dry (May to August)
Telephone: Country code 267; international access 00
ATMs: Found in large towns
Capital: Gaborone
Visa: None required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada or the USA. Botswanatourist visa is not required for citizens of Netherlands for a stay up to 90 days.
Area: 582, 000 sq km
Language:English, Setswana
Money: Pula (P); US$1 = 6.4P Euro1 = 9.5P (Pula means ‘rain’ in Setswana)
Landlocked Botswana extends 1100km from north to south and 960km from east to west, making it about the same size as Kenya or France.
Three of the world’s richest diamond-bearing formations were discovered within its borders.
Most of the country lies at an average elevation of 1000m, and consists of a vast and nearly level sand-filled basin characterised by scrub-covered savannah.
The Kalahari, a semi-arid expanse of sandy valleys, covers nearly 85% of the country, including the entire central and southwestern regions.
In Northern Botswana, the Okavango River flows in from Namibia, and soaks into the sands to form the Okavango Delta, easily accessed via Maun. With vast open savannas teeming with wildlife, Botswana is truly the Africa of your dreams. Because the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River provide a year-round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal species are present in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park. In the Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park herds of wildebeest, zebra and other mammals migrate annually in search of permanent water and stable food supplies.
CLIMATE
Botswana is a very dry, semi-arid land. The northern two-thirds of the country lies within the tropics. Day time temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius may drop to below freezing point occasionally during the night.
The rainfall ranges from 600mm in the Northwest to 250mm in the southern part. The rainfall is extremely unpredictable therefore there are frequent droughts.
Summer (September - April)
Frequent rain and thunderstorms; days and nights are very hot, but cooling off after rain spells.
Winter (May - July)
Dry and cold days and nights cold especially in the early hours of the morning.
CLOTHING
Generally throughout the year casual comfortable clothes are worn, blouses, shirts, shorts or light skirts are best. Some hotels in Gaborone do not permit jeans although they are useful on safari. Jerseys and jackets are necessary for winter mornings and evenings.
Dull colours are more suitable on safari, white is not practical. In winter, warmer clothing is needed and track suits are very useful for sleeping in on safari. Comfortable shoes are essential.
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
Electricity is supplied at 220/240v. Both square and round wall plugs are used.
ACCESSORIES
Sun block lotion, sunglasses, hats and insect repellents are essential.
Binoculars are an absolute must.
HEALTH
Consult a doctor at least 2 weeks prior to entering Botswana on what precautions should he taken against malaria. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of malaria infection amongst visitors and residents of Botswana's malaria endemic areas. As a precaution boil or sterilize drinking water outside of the main towns.
VACCINATIONS
If you are travelling to Botswana from areas infected with Yellow Fever, you must have a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Otherwise, no other immunisations are required. However, it would be wise to have an updated TPD (tetanus, polio, diphtheria) vaccine, and a Hepatitis A vaccine.
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
It is advisable to adhere to the luggage restrictions for both scheduled international, domestic and charter flights: 20kgs (44lbs) on domestic flights, 12kgs (26lbs) on light aircraft (including Okavango Delta charter flights), and 20kgs (44lbs) on international flights.
Borders: South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe (all overland crossings)
Seasons: Wet (November to March); dry (May to August)
Telephone: Country code 267; international access 00
ATMs: Found in large towns
Capital: Gaborone
Visa: None required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada or the USA. Botswanatourist visa is not required for citizens of Netherlands for a stay up to 90 days.
Area: 582, 000 sq km
Language:English, Setswana
Money: Pula (P); US$1 = 6.4P Euro1 = 9.5P (Pula means ‘rain’ in Setswana)
Landlocked Botswana extends 1100km from north to south and 960km from east to west, making it about the same size as Kenya or France.
Three of the world’s richest diamond-bearing formations were discovered within its borders.
Most of the country lies at an average elevation of 1000m, and consists of a vast and nearly level sand-filled basin characterised by scrub-covered savannah.
The Kalahari, a semi-arid expanse of sandy valleys, covers nearly 85% of the country, including the entire central and southwestern regions.
In Northern Botswana, the Okavango River flows in from Namibia, and soaks into the sands to form the Okavango Delta, easily accessed via Maun. With vast open savannas teeming with wildlife, Botswana is truly the Africa of your dreams. Because the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River provide a year-round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal species are present in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park. In the Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park herds of wildebeest, zebra and other mammals migrate annually in search of permanent water and stable food supplies.
CLIMATE
Botswana is a very dry, semi-arid land. The northern two-thirds of the country lies within the tropics. Day time temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius may drop to below freezing point occasionally during the night.
The rainfall ranges from 600mm in the Northwest to 250mm in the southern part. The rainfall is extremely unpredictable therefore there are frequent droughts.
Summer (September - April)
Frequent rain and thunderstorms; days and nights are very hot, but cooling off after rain spells.
Winter (May - July)
Dry and cold days and nights cold especially in the early hours of the morning.
CLOTHING
Generally throughout the year casual comfortable clothes are worn, blouses, shirts, shorts or light skirts are best. Some hotels in Gaborone do not permit jeans although they are useful on safari. Jerseys and jackets are necessary for winter mornings and evenings.
Dull colours are more suitable on safari, white is not practical. In winter, warmer clothing is needed and track suits are very useful for sleeping in on safari. Comfortable shoes are essential.
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
Electricity is supplied at 220/240v. Both square and round wall plugs are used.
ACCESSORIES
Sun block lotion, sunglasses, hats and insect repellents are essential.
Binoculars are an absolute must.
HEALTH
Consult a doctor at least 2 weeks prior to entering Botswana on what precautions should he taken against malaria. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of malaria infection amongst visitors and residents of Botswana's malaria endemic areas. As a precaution boil or sterilize drinking water outside of the main towns.
VACCINATIONS
If you are travelling to Botswana from areas infected with Yellow Fever, you must have a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Otherwise, no other immunisations are required. However, it would be wise to have an updated TPD (tetanus, polio, diphtheria) vaccine, and a Hepatitis A vaccine.
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
It is advisable to adhere to the luggage restrictions for both scheduled international, domestic and charter flights: 20kgs (44lbs) on domestic flights, 12kgs (26lbs) on light aircraft (including Okavango Delta charter flights), and 20kgs (44lbs) on international flights.
| general_info_botswana.doc |
