- Officially: The Republic of Botswana
- Capital: Gaborone
Facts
- Population 2 million
- Languages: English (official), Setswana
- Religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
- Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 51 years (women)
- Currency Pula
Geography
- Area: 581,730 sq km (224,607 sq miles)
Notes
- Botswana has a countrywide ban on plastic bags
- One of Africa’s most stable countries
- Relatively free of corruption
- Has a good human rights record
- Sparsely populated
Tourism
- Carry identification with you at all times. A photocopy of your passport is sufficient.
Climate
- The best time to visit is from May to September, during the dry season and winter, resulting in more moderate temperatures.
- September and October temperatures start to climb (40ºC)
- November to April is known the wet Season and Summer
- Rains can be heavy in January and February
Overlanding
- You can drive using an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 90 days.
- If you intend to stay longer you may need to apply for a Botswana driving licence.
- Botswana has good tarmac roads covering most of the country
- Speed limit is 120 km/h
- Dangerous driving and drunk driving contribute to frequent serious and fatal accidents.
- Wildlife and livestock on roads are a hazard, particularly at night.
- Be alert to unpredictable behaviour by wild animals.
- The Okavango Delta, Moremi, and Chobe are Botswana’s most popular parks
Overlanding Adventures
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Map) – 8-10hr drive from Johannesburg
- Built to protect Botswana’s remaining populations of black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest.
- Okavango Delta (Map) – one of the world’s most renowned and complex ecosystems – 16,000 square kilometre maze of wetlands
- Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (Map) – covering some 12,000 square kilometres, some of the largest salt flats on earth
- Chobe National Park (Map)