Botswana Travel Guide

Language

English is the official language but Setswana is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is divided into 100 Thebe. The word 'Pula' means rain and 'Thebe' means shield. The shield appears on the national coat of arms. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and travelers checks and foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges. There are banks and exchange bureau in all the main towns, as well as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travelers checks, and it is best to carry checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

6.6395

Time

GMT +2.

Electricity

230 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Botswana is +267. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Gaborone's area code is 31, 35, 36 or 39; there is no NDD prefix for calling within Botswana. Mobile phones operate on a GSM 900 network and are limited to urban areas; most North American cell phones will not work. Internet cafes are available in Gaborone and Maun.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Botswana over the age of 18 can enter the country with 400 cigarettes; 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette without incurring customs duty. Gifts and personal goods to the value of P500 can also be imported without incurring customs duty.

Tourist Office

Department of Tourism, Gaborone: +267 395 3024 or www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw

Embassies in Botswana

• United States Embassy, Gaborone: +267 395 3982.
• British High Commission, Gaborone: +267 395 2841.
• Consulate of Canada, Gaborone: +267 390 4411.
• Australian High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 423 6000.
• South African High Commission, Gaborone: +267 390 4800/1/2.
• Irish Honorary Consul, Gaborone: +267 390 5807.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 435 9000

Botswana Embassies Abroad

• Botswana Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 244 4990.
• Botswana High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7499 0031.
• Botswana High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 7500.
• Botswana High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 9640.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police), 911 (Medical Rescue).

Language

English is the official language but Setswana is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is divided into 100 Thebe. The word 'Pula' means rain and 'Thebe' means shield. The shield appears on the national coat of arms. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and travelers checks and foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges. There are banks and exchange bureau in all the main towns, as well as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travelers checks, and it is best to carry checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

6.6395

Time

GMT +2.

Electricity

230 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Botswana is +267. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Gaborone's area code is 31, 35, 36 or 39; there is no NDD prefix for calling within Botswana. Mobile phones operate on a GSM 900 network and are limited to urban areas; most North American cell phones will not work. Internet cafes are available in Gaborone and Maun.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Botswana over the age of 18 can enter the country with 400 cigarettes; 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette without incurring customs duty. Gifts and personal goods to the value of P500 can also be imported without incurring customs duty.

Tourist Office

Department of Tourism, Gaborone: +267 395 3024 or www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw

Embassies in Botswana

• United States Embassy, Gaborone: +267 395 3982.
• British High Commission, Gaborone: +267 395 2841.
• Consulate of Canada, Gaborone: +267 390 4411.
• Australian High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 423 6000.
• South African High Commission, Gaborone: +267 390 4800/1/2.
• Irish Honorary Consul, Gaborone: +267 390 5807.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 435 9000

Botswana Embassies Abroad

• Botswana Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 244 4990.
• Botswana High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7499 0031.
• Botswana High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 7500.
• Botswana High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 9640.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police), 911 (Medical Rescue).

Language

English is the official language but Setswana is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is divided into 100 Thebe. The word 'Pula' means rain and 'Thebe' means shield. The shield appears on the national coat of arms. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and travelers checks and foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges. There are banks and exchange bureau in all the main towns, as well as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travelers checks, and it is best to carry checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

6.6395

Time

GMT +2.

Electricity

230 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Botswana is +267. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Gaborone's area code is 31, 35, 36 or 39; there is no NDD prefix for calling within Botswana. Mobile phones operate on a GSM 900 network and are limited to urban areas; most North American cell phones will not work. Internet cafes are available in Gaborone and Maun.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Botswana over the age of 18 can enter the country with 400 cigarettes; 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette without incurring customs duty. Gifts and personal goods to the value of P500 can also be imported without incurring customs duty.

Tourist Office

Department of Tourism, Gaborone: +267 395 3024 or www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw

Embassies in Botswana

• United States Embassy, Gaborone: +267 395 3982.
• British High Commission, Gaborone: +267 395 2841.
• Consulate of Canada, Gaborone: +267 390 4411.
• Australian High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 423 6000.
• South African High Commission, Gaborone: +267 390 4800/1/2.
• Irish Honorary Consul, Gaborone: +267 390 5807.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 435 9000

Botswana Embassies Abroad

• Botswana Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 244 4990.
• Botswana High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7499 0031.
• Botswana High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 7500.
• Botswana High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 9640.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police), 911 (Medical Rescue).

Language

English is the official language but Setswana is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is divided into 100 Thebe. The word 'Pula' means rain and 'Thebe' means shield. The shield appears on the national coat of arms. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and travelers checks and foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges. There are banks and exchange bureau in all the main towns, as well as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travelers checks, and it is best to carry checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

6.6395

Time

GMT +2.

Electricity

230 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Botswana is +267. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Gaborone's area code is 31, 35, 36 or 39; there is no NDD prefix for calling within Botswana. Mobile phones operate on a GSM 900 network and are limited to urban areas; most North American cell phones will not work. Internet cafes are available in Gaborone and Maun.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Botswana over the age of 18 can enter the country with 400 cigarettes; 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette without incurring customs duty. Gifts and personal goods to the value of P500 can also be imported without incurring customs duty.

Tourist Office

Department of Tourism, Gaborone: +267 395 3024 or www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw

Embassies in Botswana

• United States Embassy, Gaborone: +267 395 3982.
• British High Commission, Gaborone: +267 395 2841.
• Consulate of Canada, Gaborone: +267 390 4411.
• Australian High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 423 6000.
• South African High Commission, Gaborone: +267 390 4800/1/2.
• Irish Honorary Consul, Gaborone: +267 390 5807.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Botswana): +27 (0)12 435 9000

Botswana Embassies Abroad

• Botswana Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 244 4990.
• Botswana High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7499 0031.
• Botswana High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 7500.
• Botswana High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 9640.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police), 911 (Medical Rescue).