Page 98 - Discover Botswana 24th Edition 2024

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The Republic of Botswana is a multi-party
democracy. Botswana became independent on
30 September 1966. The country has an Executive
President. The National Assembly elects the
President for a term of five years. The current
President is His Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi.
GEOGRAPHY
Botswana is roughly the size of France or Texas, with a
surface area of 581,730 sq km. It is entirely landlocked,
bordered by its neighbours South Africa, Namibia, Zambia
and Zimbabwe. Botswana is 84% covered by the Kalahari
(Kgalagadi) Desert. Most of the population is settled in the
east and southeast of the country.
POPULATION
The total population estimated for 2022 is 2,346,179,
declining at a rate of 1.4% from 1.9% per annum. The
population is heavily weighted towards younger age
groups. About 33% of the population is younger than 15
years of age. Over 63% of the population is settled in urban
areas (cities, towns and urban villages).
URBAN CENTRES
Gaborone, in the extreme southeast, is the capital city.
It’s population is approximately 289,700. It has good
communications by road and air to South Africa. Other
main towns are Francistown (118,125), Lobatse (26,056),
Selebi-Phikwe (45,542), Jwaneng (21,381), Orapa (9,528)
and Sowa (4,518).
CLIMATE: SUMMER
December to March. High temperatures average 30c to
35c with lows around 18c and rain particularly between
December and March.
WINTER
June to August. Daytime temperatures around 23c with
night-time lows averaging 5c.
AIR BOTSWANA
The National airline’s schedule of international flights now
includes flights between: Gaborone and Johannesburg,
Gaborone and Harare, Gaborone and Lusaka, Gaborone
and Cape Town, Maun and Johannesburg, Kasane and
Johannesburg. Domestic flights run between: Gaborone
and Francistown, Gaborone and Maun, Gaborone and
Kasane, Kasane and Maun. Other Airlines offer direct flights
from Gaborone to Addis Ababa.
VISAS
Visitors from the European Union, most Commonwealth
countries and the USA do not require visas. Visitors from
other countries should check with Botswana embassies or
consulates. Visas are initially granted for 30 days and may
be extended for a total of three months.
(For more information, visit the Botswana Government
website: www.gov.bw/en/Visitors/Topics/Before-You-Go/
Before-You-Go1/)
DUTY-FREE ALLOWANCE
The following goods declared on arrival are duty free: Two
litres of wine, one litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars,
250gm of cigarette and pipe tobacco, 50ml perfume,
250ml eau de toilette. All goods acquired outside Botswana
must be declared upon entry to the country.
DEPARTURE TAX
International P100, Local P50
PEOPLE
Batswana are the most numerous people in the country,
forming about 78.2% of the population and speaking the
Setswana language. (Batswana also refers to citizens of
Botswana.) They have settled in nearly all parts of the
country. The oldest ethnic group is the San. Over 80% of
the population lives in the eastern region.
LANGUAGES
The official language is English, which is used in
government and business affairs. Setswana is the national
language, and is widely spoken. Other ethnic groups speak
their own languages.
BUSINESS HOURS
Private sector:
Monday to Friday 8am-5pm
Government offices:
Monday to Friday 7.30am – 4.30pm.
TIME
GMT plus 2 hours.
CURRENCY
The Pula is divided into 100 thebe. Notes are P200, P100,
P50, P20 and P10. Coins are P5, P2, P1 and thebe 50t, 25t,
10t and 5t.
BANKS
Eight main commercial banks – as well as a number of
foreign exchange bureaux – operate in Botswana.
Banking hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm.
Saturday 8.30am to 11.00am.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1 January: New Year’s Day
2 January: Public holiday
March/April (variable): Good Friday and Easter Monday
1 May: Labour Day
May (variable): Ascension Day
1 July: Sir Seretse Khama Day
21 July: President’s Day
(and following day)
30 September: Independence Day (and following day)
1 December: Public holiday
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Boxing Day
EMBASSIES AND HIGH COMMISSIONS
The following countries have diplomatic representation in
Botswana: Angola, Brazil, Cuba, China, Ethiopia, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Libya, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, Russia, Republic of South Africa, Turkey,
Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America,
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
BOTSWANA TOURISM
ORGANISATION OFFICES
HEAD OFFICE
Private Bag 00275
Plot 50676, Fairgrounds
Office Park
Gaborone, Botswana
TEL: +267 391-3111
FAX: +267 395 9220
E: board@botswanatourism.co.bw
www.botswanatourism.co.bw
OFFICES ABROAD
UNITED KINGDOM
c/o Botswana High Commission
6 Stratford Place
London, W1C 1AY
TEL:+44207499–0031
FAX: + 44 207 495 – 8595
www.botswanatourism.org.uk
HIGH COMMISSIONS AND EMBASSIES
AUSTRALIA
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana
130 Denison Street
O’malley Act 2600 Canberra Australia
PO BOX 3812
Manuka Act 2603 Canberra TEL: (+612) 62437500
FAX: (+612) 6282 4140
EMAIL: botaus-info@gov.bw
www. botswanahighcom.org.au
BELGIUM
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana and Mission of the
European Union
169 Avenue De Tervuren B – 1150 Brussels
Belgium
TEL: (+322) 735 2070 / 735 6110
FAX: (+322) 735 6318 / 732 7264
Email: boer@gov.bw
BRAZIL
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana
Shis Qi 09, Conjunto 17, Casa 16 Lago Sul
Brasilia – Df
Brazil
TEL: (+5561) 33665563 / 32481584
FAX: (+5561) 32486713
CHINA
Embassy of the
Republic of Botswana to the Republic of China
Unit 811 IBM TowerPacic Century Place , No 2A Gong Ti Bei
Lu Chan Syan District, Beijing 100027 China
TEL: (+8610) 65391616 FAX: (+8610) 65391199
ETHIOPIA
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana and Permanent
Mission of the African Union
Old Airport, W23, K12
PO BOX 22282
Code 1000
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
TEL: (+25 11) 371 5422/3 FAX: (+25 11) 371 4099
FRANCE
Consulate of The Republic Botswana
88 Avenue d’I na
75116 Paris
France
Tel: +33 1 47.20.08.23
GERMANY
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana
Altensteinstr. 48A
14195 Berlin
Germany
Tel: +49 30 42 02 84 64
INDIA
High Commission of the Republic of
Botswana Plot F8/3, Vasant, Vihar New Dehli – 110057
India
TEL: (+91) 11 4653 7000 FAX: (+91) 11 4603 6191
JAPAN
Embassy of the Republic
of Botswana
6F Kearny Place Shiba
4-5-10 Shiba, Minato-Ku Tokyo, 108 – 0014
Japan
TEL: (+813) 5440 5676 FAX: (+813) 5765 7581
E: botjap@sepia.ocn.ne.jp www. botswanaembassy.or.jp
KENYA
High Commission of the Republic
of Botswana Gigiri Drive off United Nations Avenue PO
BOX 754-00606 Nairobi, Kenya
TEL: (+254) 20 444 7735 / 444 20 8726
FAX: (+254) 20 418 5013
E: botkena@gov.bw
NAMIBIA
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana
101 Nelson Mandela Klein, Windhoek
PO BOX 20359 Windhoek
Namibia
TEL: (+264) 61 221 941/2/7 FAX: (+264) 61 23 6034
KUWAIT
Embassy of the Republic
of Botswana
Block 3, Street 319, House 3 Mubarak Al Abdulla
Al Jaber Area, West Mishref
PO BOX 26145
Code 13122
Kuwait
TEL: (+965) 25383619 FAX: (+965) 25393529
NIGERIA
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana
SOUTH AFRICA
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana
24 Amos Street, Colbyn, Pretoria 0083
PO BOX 57035
Arcadia, 0007
Pretoria
TEL: (+27) 12 4309640 FAX: (+27) 12 3421845/4783
CAPE TOWN
Botswana Consulate General 7 Coen Steyler Avenue
13th Floor, Metropolitan
Life Building
Cape Town 8001
PO BOX 3288
Cape Town, 8000
TEL: (+27)21 4211045 FAX: (+27) 21 4211046/4212569
Emergencies: 021 794 7473(24 Hrs)
JOHANNESBURG
Botswana Consulate General 33 Hoold Street,
Braampark Forum Ii, 4Th Floor Johannesburg
PO BOX 32051
Braamfontein, 2017 TEL: (+27) 11 403 3748
FAX: (+27) 11 403 1384 /4031286
SWITZERLAND
Permanent Mission
of the Republic of Botswana to the United Nations
80, Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva Switzerland
TEL: (+4122) 9061060 FAX: (+4122) 9061061
E: botgen@bluewin.ch
Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm. Saturday 8.30am to 11.00am.
EMBASSIES AND HIGH COMMISSIONS
The following countries have diplomatic
representation in Botswana: Angola, Brazil, Cuba,
China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Japan,
Kenya, Libya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria,
Russia, Republic of South Africa, Sweden, United
Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
SWEDEN
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana
Tyrgatan 11
PO BOX 260 24
100 41 Stockholm Sweden
TEL: (+468) 545 25 880 FAX: (+468) 723 00 87
CELL: (+46) 7 093 14 6 34 Telegrams: Botstock
UNITED KINGDOM
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana 6 Stratford
Place London W1C 1AY
United Kingdom
TEL: (+44) 207 499 0031
FAX: (44) 207) 495 8595
NEW YORK
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Botswana to the
United Nations 154 East 46th Street New York,
New York , 10017
FAX: (+1212) 725 5061 EMAIL: botswana@un.int
TEL: (+1212) 889 2277
ZAMBIA
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana 5201
Pandit Nehru Road Diplomatic Triangle
PO BOX 31910
Lusaka
Zambia
TEL: (+260) 1 250555 /253903 / 250019
FAX: (+260) 1 253895/254756
ZIMBABWE
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana
22 Phillips Avenue, 793 416 Belgravia PO BOX 563
Harare, Zimbabwe
TEL: (+2634) 794 645/7/8
FAX: (+2634) 705 809/793 416
E: botzim@gov.bw
Essential Facts