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 cheques and foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges. There are banks and exchange bureaux in all the main towns, as well as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travelers cheques, and it is best to carry cheques in US Dollars or
Pounds Sterling.
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 OfficeDepartment of Tourism, Gaborone: +267 395 3024 or www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw
EmergencyEmergencies: 999 (Police), 911 (Medical Rescue).
Embassies
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.
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)12 342 8656/7/8/9.
