According to health-beauty-guides, Botswana is a country in Africa bordering Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. Botswana has been independent from the United Kingdom since 1966. The capital of Botswana is Gaborone. This is also the largest city in Botswana. A number of major cities in Botswana are: Francistown, Maun and Molepolole.
Botswana was always known as a poor country, but that has changed with the discovery of 3 diamond mines in 1967. Diamonds are the country’s main export product. Yet many people still live in poverty. Botswana is known for its beautiful nature and the many animals that live in the wild, such as: elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos and leopards. These animals can be found in the Chobe National Park, among other places. The country is also known for the many different birds (about 550). See barblejewelry for Botswana classic wilderness camps.
Where is Botswana?
Travel information of Botswana
Official name: Republic of Botswana
Continent: Africa
Area: 581,730 km²
Capital city: Gaborone
Country code: BW, BWA
Population: 2,317,233 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Parliamentary republic
Highest point: 1,491 m (Otse Hill)
Distance (Amsterdam – Gaborone): 8,771 km
Flight time: approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes
Travel advice
Current status: Attention, safety risks.
Current color code: Yellow.
Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), there may be (temporary) measures in place in Botswana that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs of Botswana, please visit Countryaah.
Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete trips and holidays to Botswana. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, walking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Botswana?
Excursions, activities and day trips
With the help of Countryaah you can reserve an excursion, activity, tour, entrance ticket and/or day trip for your stay in Botswana at a discount. This way you are assured of a place, in some cases you can skip the queue and you can already plan your travel program.
Weather and climate
In the summer months the temperatures are around 25 degrees and during the winter months around 30 to 35 degrees. The summer and winter months are opposite to those in the Netherlands.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Botswana can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of Botswana can be found at Climate info.
Best time
May, June, July, August and September are the best months to travel to Botswana. This avoids the hot summer months with a lot of rainfall.
Language
English is the official language in Botswana. In addition, Mbukushu, Naro, Subiya, Tswana, Kalanga, Afrikaans, Herero and Birwa are spoken on a small scale.
Would you like to translate from or into English for free? Use the Google translator for this.
Travel documents
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after departure from Botswana.
A visa is not required if you stay in Zimbabwe for less than 90 days.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in South Africa (also for Botswana):
netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Dutch consulate in Botswana: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Embassy of Botswana in Belgium (also for the Netherlands): rijksoverheid.nl.
Consulate of Botswana in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for Botswana if you have visited a yellow fever country in the seven days before you visit Botswana. In addition, it is advisable to get one or more vaccinations.
For extensive vaccination advice and to make a vaccination appointment at home, please visit Thuisvaccinatie.nl. You can also see here whether your health insurance reimburses the vaccination(s).
Malaria Malaria
occurs in Botswana (with the exception of Francistown and Gabarone). Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by malaria mosquitoes. This infectious disease can lead to death if not treated in time and/or incorrectly.
For prevention and control of malaria, please visit our malaria page.
Money and Currency
In Botswana people pay with the Botswanan pula (BWP).
The current position of this currency (currency, currency) can be found on our exchange rate page.
An overview of all ATMs in Botswana can be found on our ATMs page.
Price level
Prices in Botswana are much lower than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is -42% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (60% cheaper), food (35% cheaper), imported beer in catering (57% cheaper), cigarettes (49% cheaper) and public transport (88% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.
Tipping
In Botswana it is customary to tip because wages are very low. Good service is about 10% tip.
Time difference
During our summer time there is no time difference.
During our winter time it is 1 hour later in Botswana.
Botswana has no difference between winter time and summer time.
The local time, date and time zone for Botswana can be found on our time difference page.
Traffic and route
In Botswana you must drive on the left.
To drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Botswana you must have an international driver’s license. The international driver’s license is available at an ANWB shop.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Botswana.
Electricity
In Botswana you need a travel plug.
More information about common plugs and sockets in Botswana can be found on our electricity page.
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 999
– Fire: 998
– Ambulance: 997
Tap water
The water from the tap is safe to drink in tourist places. In places where this is not the case, the local residents will often point this out to you.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to Botswana can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Botswana can be found on Abyznewslinks.
Internet
Websites from Botswana end in.bw.
Botswana official websites: gov.bw and botswanatourism.co.bw.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Botswana is 00267 or +267.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Botswana? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Company details can be found in the Yellow Pages of Botswana.
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Botswana.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Botswana.
Holidays
Botswana’s national holiday falls on September 30 (Independence Day).
An overview of all public holidays in Botswana can be found on Beleven.org.
Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in Botswana, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Botswana?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Botswana. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Botswana can be found on Protected Planet.
An overview of the world heritage sites in Botswana can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Botswana? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, money and perfume, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Botswana.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.8.
– Tobacco: Unknown
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Not allowed. Prison sentence up to 10 years.
Did you know that…
…Botswana does not border any sea?
… There are precious minerals to be found in Botswana, such as gold, platinum and diamond?
…Botswana has the largest population of Stollen tails in the world?
…Botswana bore the name ‘British protectorate of Bechuanaland’ before 1966?
