Botswana is a land-locked country located in Southern Africa and bordering on Namibia , South Africa , Zimbabwe and Zambia . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining and tourism. Botswana is famous for its wildlife, areas like the Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve have a very high concentration of game. The bulk of the Kalahari desert falls within Botswana's borders and Botswana is home to most of the world's San (bushman) population.

Understand

History

Climate

Public Holidays

The public holidays in Botswana are:

• January 1, New Years' Day
• Easter weekend, ("Good Friday", "Easter Saturday", "Easter Sunday" and "Easter Monday"): a four day long weekend in March or April set according to the Western Christian dates.
• May 1, Workers Day
• July 1, Sir Seretse Khama Day
• Mid July, President's Day
• September 30, Botswana Day
• December 25, Christmas Day
• December 26, Day of Goodwill

Regions

• Kalahari - The sparsely populated Kalahari Desert and its fringe.
• Okavango-Chobe - The northern part of the country with the Okavango Delta and good game reserves like Chloe National Park and Moremi National Park.
• Southeast - Home to the capital, Gaborone , and most of the country's population.

Cities

• Gaborone
• Francistown
• Ghanzi
• Kasane
• Maun

• Nata
• Gweta
• Kanye
• Tsabong

Other destinations

• Okavango Delta - A unique geological formation where a delta is formed by a river (the Okavango) flowing into the Kalahari desert instead of the ocean. Part of the Delta is designated as Moremi National Park
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Chobe National Park - A great place to see wildlife, and a good point from which to move on to Victoria Falls .
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

See also African National Parks

Sleep

Most of the accommodation establishments in Botswana are located near the larger towns and cities, but there are also many secluded game lodges tucked away in the wilderness areas.

• Limpopo River Lodge, Limpopo River, Tuli Block (Near Platjan Border Post), ☎ +27-82-8517779 The Lodge is situated on the banks of the Limpopo River in the Tuli Block. A perfectly situated weekend getaway or overnight stop en route to central or northern Botswana. (S22.486, E28.833)

Buy

Botswana's currency is the Pula; 100 Thebe = 1 Pula. In Setswana, pula means "rain" and thebe means "shield." Rough conversions are 5:1 (USD) 6:1 (EUR), 10:1 (GBP) and 1:1.3 (South African Rand).

Talk

The language of business in Botswana is English and most people speak it, although in the more rural areas many people do not speak English, particularly the older generations. The primary indigenous tongue is Setswana, and is the mother tongue of the overwhelming majority of the population. It is not difficult to learn basic greetings and such, and using these in conversation will make people very happy.

Setswana- Hello – Dumela (Dumela Rra- pronounced borra- when addressing men, Dumela Mma- pronounced bomma- when addressing women)

Safety

People in Botswana are very friendly and the crime rate is low. There isn't much to worry about on this front. Nevertheless, crime has been on the rise over the past several years, so always be aware of your surroundings. Basic common sense will keep you safe from the predatory wildlife in rural areas.

Learn

The University of Botswana is in Gaborone.

Stay healthy

Botswana's HIV infection rate, estimated at 24.1% , is the 2ND highest reported in the world. Exercise regular universal precautions when dealing with any bodily fluid and remain aware of this high rate of infection. Take precautions accordingly. Wear rubber gloves when dressing someone else's cut, even if they are a child, and obviously NEVER, EVER HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX. If you form a serious relationship, consider both getting an HIV test before taking things further.

The northern part of Botswana, including Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta is in a malaria zone, so it is advisable to take the relevant precautions. Seek medical advice before travelling to these areas.

The drinking water is safe in urban areas, unless otherwise indicated.