Botswana
Botswana is landlocked and is situated in the centre of southern Africa. Botswana occupies an area about the same size as France or a little smaller than Texas.
Travel with Nomad/ Whichway on an overland adventure in Botswana – and you will find yourself exploring the fascinating deserts, wetlands, savannahs, the Okavango delta and wildlife-packed game reserves of one of the wildest regions in Africa. Botswana ‘s wonderful national parks and reserves are home to an amazing variety of wildlife, including elephant, cheetah, hunting dog, leopard, hyena, giraffe, hippopotamus and zebra. Botswana is backed by a stable & democratic government – ensuring that overland adventure travel in Botswana is safe and secure.
Botswana Travel Facts
Area: 600,370 sq km (231,800 sq mi)
Population: 1.6 million
Capital city: Gaborone
People: Batswana 60%, Bakalanga, Basarwa, Bakgalagadi
Languages: English, Setswana
Currency: Pula
Visas: No visa is required for visits of up to 90 days for citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries, Israel, Japan, South Africa & the USA.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Health: Health risks: malaria.
Botswana Climate
Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn but experiences extremes in temperature. When you travel to Botswana you should be prepared for all types of weather. Days in Botswana are normally clear, warm and sunny, but nights range from cool to bitterly cold. In the Kalahari, sub-freezing nighttime temperatures are normal in June and July; where there’s enough humidity, frosts are common. Botswana is primarily a dry country, but a summer rainy season lasts roughly from November to March. From late May to August, rain is rare anywhere in the country.
Botswana Travel Tips
- April – August is a great and popular time to travel to Botswana, as the winter ensures that wildlife never wanders far from water sources.
- You’ll be pleased you have the services of your Nomad/ Whichway overland guide when travelling to Botswana in the summer months, as prolonged rains may render sandy roads inaccessible, and animals disperse when water is abundant.
- In Botswana basketry is a popular craft amongst the locals. The designs are exquisite and make excellent presents.
- For a different type of Botswana overland travel experience, why not try wildlife spotting on horseback or try bush walking. For a more tranquil adventure experience in the Okavango, try your hand at fishing.
- Botswana offers full banking services in most major towns, and there’s no trouble exchanging traveler’s cheques. Most major centres and shops accept MasterCard and Visa. American Express and Diners Club are not normally accepted.
For further information on Botswana you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana