Botswana is easily accessible from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Basic Facts

Full Name		Republic of Botswana (formerly Bechuanaland)
Capital		Gaborone
Independence		Sept 30, 1966
Time		GMT 2 hours
Population		1,464,167 (estimated July 1999)
Area		600,370 kmē (585,370 kmē land; 15,000 kmē water)
Currency		Pula (P)
President		President Festus Mogae (since October 1999)

Culture & Language

The original Botswana artists were everyday craftspeople who injected individual aesthetics into utilitarian implements such as pottery, fabrics and tools. Because indigenous languages have only been written since the coming of the Christian missionaries, Botswana doesn't have much of a literary tradition. All that survives of the ancient myths and praise poetry of the native peoples has been handed down orally and only recently transcribed.

Historically, men were responsible for tending the herds and subsisted primarily on meat and milk, while women were left to gather and eat wild fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, millet and sorghum porridge form the center of most Botswana meals, but imported maize mealies are rapidly replacing these. People in remote areas supplement their diets with morama, an immense underground tuber, and an edible fungus known as the Kalahari truffle. You may also encounter dishes including the mopane worm, a caterpillar-like grub that can be cooked in hot ash, boiled in salt water or dried and deep-fried. Traditional drinks include palm wine, a less than legal, extremely potent swill, and kgadi, made from distilled brown sugar or fungus. Legal home brews include bojalwa, an inexpensive sprouted sorghum beer.

The main ethnic groups are the Batswana (descendants of iron age immigrants from Central West Africa), the Basarwa (San, indigenous hunter gatherers, pre iron age), and the Herero (pastoralists). Eighty percent of the population of Botswana are rural inhabitants.

Botswana's early tribal religions were primarily cults in which ancestors directed family matters from their underworld domain and were contactable only through the heads of family groups. Religious rites included male and female initiation ceremonies and rainmaking rituals. Polygamy was practiced, and the children of his head wife inherited a man's estate. Missionaries dislodged nearly all the traditional practices, and Christianity is currently the prevailing belief system in Botswana. About one-half of the population practice traditional African religions; most of the remainder are Christians.

The official language is English and the national language is Setswana.

A Few Phrases

English		Setswana
Hello (to a woman)		Dumela mma
Hello (to a man)		Dumela rra
How are you? (morning)		A o tsogile?
How are you? (afternoon)		A o tlhotse?
I am fine.		Keteng
Goodbye (to a person leaving)		Tsamaya sentle
Goodbye (to a person staying)		Sala sentle
Please		Tswee tswee
Thank you		Ke itumetse
It's ok.		Go siame

Before you go

Visa & Passport

All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival

Nationals of the following countries do not require visas for a stay of less than 90 days: All Commonwealth Countries, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Greece, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Western Samoa, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia. This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Botswana Consulate for up to date information.

If you are traveling with another passport, please contact the consulate directly regarding visa requirements. All visitors may be requested to show proof of sufficient funds and onward travel / return ticket.

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana
3400 International Dr, NW
Washington D.C. 20008
202.244.4990

Immunizations & Health

Current WHO Report for Botswana

You will find Africa a hospitable and healthy place to visit. However, we do strongly recommend that you consult your physician regarding medications and immunizations that are recommended or mandatory. The World Health Organization compiles a listing of required and recommended immunizations for international travelers. Your health insurance provider may cover some of the costs associated with these immunizations. All vaccinations should be officially recorded and stamped in a yellow international immunization card. This card should be carried with your passport.

Routine Immunizations are: tetanus-diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza and pneumococcal. Many of these are groups together and some are oral. Additional immunizations to discuss with your doctor are yellow fever, hepatitus A, typhoid, cholera, polio and meningitis.

For your safety, we request all passengers take a course of malaria prophylactics. There are several different possibilities on the market. Please discuss with your doctor which one is best for you.

It is important that you alert us to any allergies, dietary restrictions and existing medical conditions.

Any person entering Botswana from or via a yellow fever infected area must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever. Travelers should be aware that there is a presence of bilharzias and sleeping sickness.

Many Botswana camps are located in remote areas. For your safety, Mango offers and requires all passengers to obtain travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation back home and major medical.

Please remember, not all immunizations can be taken or obtained on the same day or on the day of departure. Some immunizations must be administered serially over a period of time and some cannot be given together. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect.

*Health concerns throughout the world change regularly. For the latest requirements and recommendations, consult your doctor and/or go to the above link for the latest WHO report on Botswana.

Packing

Africa is very casual. Plan to wear neutral colors because bright colors and white can startle some animals. Remember, there is a lot of dust - khaki seems to be a good solution. The following is a general outline of items to pack:

Documentation

• Passport
• 2 passport photos
• Health Certificates
• Airline Tickets
• Travelers Checks
• Spending Money
• Proof of insurance
• Xerox copy of passport, travelers checks

General

• 1 bag/backpack - max 30 lbs
• 1 small day bag
• Travel pillow
• Travel alarm clock
• Luggage lock
• Travel umbrella

Field Gear

• Camera/film/batteries
• Video camera/tapes/batteries
• Binoculars (Extremely Important)
• African Field Guild
• Journal & Pens
• Book
• Map - Michelin #955 is best
• Water Bottle
• Flashlight & Batteries
• Sunglasses
• Wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap and/or bandanas

Clothes

• 2 pair shorts
• 2 pair lightweight pants
• 3 lightweight shirt
• 1 longsleeved lightweight shirt
• 1 sweater/fleece
• 1 warm windproof jacket
• Swim Suit
• Undergarments & Socks
• 1 pair all weather sandals
• 1 pair lightweight walking shoes
• 1 pair evening shoes for lodges and cities
• Men: one nice collared shirt
• Women: dress or skirt and blouse. Sports bra for ladies.

Toiletries

• General - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, shampoo, etc.
• Sunblock
• Insect repellent (containing DEET - 20% is optimal)
• Lotion/sun protective lip balm
• Small bottle of Woolite or washing detergent for undergarments
• Contact lenses/solution/glasses
• Hairdryer (requires a converter 220-240 volt AC 50 Hz

First Aid Kit

• The basics: bandages, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrea tablets, antacid tablets, pain reliever, waterproof tape, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, etc./li>
• Allergy pills
• Prescription drugs w/original label
• Malaria Tablets

Laundry services in Africa are very good and available at nearly all of our safari camps, lodges and hotels. This means that you can travel light and still enjoy clean fresh clothing throughout your journey.

Money & Tipping

Today's Exchange Rate

The currency of Botswana is Pula. There are 100 thebes per 1 Pula.

We suggest bringing a combination of Traveler's Checks (mainly as a security measure) and US dollars. Have your traveler's checks issued in small denominations ($20s and $50s) as you will receive the entire amount in the foreign currency you exchange for. Getting US dollars in Africa is expensive but having some throughout the trip is necessary. The remainder of your spending money is a combination of credit card purchases and obtaining local currency at ATM machines. The amount of extra money you need to bring will depend on how many optional activities interest you and your shopping habits. $300 cash should be plenty - with at least $50 in small bills for bartering and tipping.

Personal expenditures, meals in major cities, insurance, drinks other than specified, gratuities, airport taxes and visa fees are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$25-35 per day to cover the cost of personal expenses and souvenirs (within reason). There are a number of optional activities available and recommended in the Victoria Falls area.

Note: We strongly recommend keeping your passport, all money, vouchers and international air tickets in a money belt or pouch.

Guide to Tipping on Safari

Although tipping is a safari tradition, it is never compulsory and should only be done if you have received good service. The staff very much appreciates receiving gratuity from you and it is one way of assuring them they are doing a good job. You can tip in US dollars or local currency.

Guests often want to know what is appropriate, so we have prepared a brief guideline to assist you.

Professional Guides and Driver Guides
We recommend, if you are happy with the service, about US$5-10 per person, per day for the guide and about US$3 per person, per day for the driver as a suggested tip.

Lodges and Camps
Here we recommend $US3-5 per client, per day, to be divided among the staff. Most lodges have a staff tip box located at reception or a central location. Tips left here will be divided among the porters and waiters and other lodge staff. If you are particularly satisfied with assistance received from someone, a personal tip is also acceptable.

Voltage & Photography

Bring the photo equipment you are used to working with. A trip like this is not the best place for trying out a new camera. If you spend all of your time learning how to use a piece of equipment, you may not learn how to shoot good images. Bring the instruction manual. Keep in mind that too much equipment can be a hindrance, while leaving behind a piece that could be useful is also a mistake. We suggest bringing an 8" x 5" beanbag to use as a tripod to hold your camera steady when shooting from the vehicle. Bring a combination of lenses that range from 25mm to 300mm.

We suggest an average of 2-3 rolls of film per day of game viewing. Most of your game viewing is in the early morning and mid to late afternoons. For protection from airport X-ray machines, pack all film in lead-lined shield bags. Film and batteries are not available in the African bush. You will find them in the major cities, but they are very expensive.

Digital photography is here. Digital photographers will have to plan for how to save images while in the field. Multiple storage disks are less cumbersome than bringing a laptop to download images to.

Whichever film type you select, the slower ASA films (50-100) generally produce higher quality photos. I would bring a slow film and a faster one (400) for low-light situations.

Note: Always ask before photographing the native people. Do not take pictures of military installations, police stations, airports, soldiers, police or border posts - you may have your film confiscated.

Please consult with lodge managers about charging your equipment. Many properties are run on generators that are only turned on at certain times of the day, usually in the early evening and turned off in the late evening at bedtime.

Electricity in Africa is generally at 220 volts AC, therefore, for most 110 appliances you will need both an adapter for the proper plug configuration and a converter for the correct current. Both round and rectangular three pronged plug sockets are in use. Most safari camps do not have individual electrical outlets in the tents.

The Africa factor

Expect the unexpected. Despite our efforts to have every safari run perfectly, things are going to happen that are simply out of our control. We will do what we can to minimize these situations however, things will still occur albeit a canceled flight beyond our control, rogue warthogs wandering in our camp, flat tires, floods, all or none may occur.