BOSTWANA
Welcome
Motto: "Pula!" (Tswana) "Rain"
Anthem: Fatshe leno la rona "Blessed Be This Noble Land"
Botswana is a country in southern Africa, a member of the Commonwealth.
Capital: Gaborone.
Population: 2,330 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP(PPP): $18.6 billion.
Official languages: Tswana & English.
Area: 581,726 km2.
Water(%): 2,7.
Currency: Botswana Pula (BWP).
Safety rating: Ranked 30 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.68. This means that Botswana is one of the safest countries in Africa.
Food
Traditional cuisine is very similar to that of neighboring countries such as Namibia or Zambia. It is mainly made from meat and starchy foods. If the gastronomic scene does not present an enormous diversity in its recipes, it nevertheless remains very tasty, especially for those who love meat. In town, there are many street vendors who serve very good local dishes that the more adventurous will not hesitate to experience.
Eat like a local
In most local restaurant and street stalls, the price ranges from $3 to $5. Local markets are a great place if you would like to sample some local snacks. Traditional Botswana dishes includes sorghum and corn as principal ingredients. Daily staples consist of a stewed beef with vegetables. It may be surprising but beef is actually cheaper than chicken in Botswana, since they have so much cattle. I recommend tasting the melons as they are popular in Botswana.
Eat like a tourist
Restaurants and Bars ($5 - $15): There are many good quality restaurants and bars in the major cities, most of which are located in hotels. Expect to see both local and western cuisine on the menu. Most restaurants offer good quality meat dishes at an affordable price, whereas seafood is rare and expensive. Beer is excellent and a bottle costs about $1 - $3. If you do a safari tour, the lodges typically cover your meals and they are usually delicious. The chefs incorporate local ingredients into international cuisines, and vice versa.
Transportation
Getting There
Botswana’s main airport is Sir Seretse Khama International Aiport. The only scheduled flights are available from its surrounding countries, and travelers from other continents generally have to make a stopover in Johannesburg or Cape Town before flying into Botswana. The country is landlocked and surrounded by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Access to Botswana from these countries overland is well-developed and relatively fuss-free. Borders are open daily, and you can enter Botswana from Zambia via ferry, and from the other three countries through buses or rental cars.
Getting Around
Hiring or renting a car is the most practical way to get around Botswana. The local public transportation is currently limited to major cities and routes, this means that it could be very challenging to get to the rural villages or interesting areas with local buses or combis (minivans with blue number plates).
Taxis are commonly used for getting to the airport, and they are usually unmetered so make sure to agree on a price before getting onto one.
Best things to do
Go on a safari in the Okavango Delta, where wild nature and animals are in perfect harmony. Go in search of the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. Walk among the ancient rocks of the hills of Tswapong or Lepokole. Stop at Serowe, the largest shopping crossroads village in Bostwana. Admire the cave paintings in Tsodilo, the "Louvre of the desert", classified by UNESCO. In the Tuli reserve, admire the Wall of Solomon, a natural wonder carved into the rock by prehistoric erosion. Feel at the end of the world and tiny in front of the spectacular Victoria Falls.
See the Okavango Delta: The Okavango Delta is known as Africa’s last Eden. The UNESCO World Heritage site discharges a whooping 11,000,000,000,000 litres of water each year. The Okavango Delta hosts large concentration of animals such as elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalo, and so many more, and it is one of the best places to see animals in Africa thanks to careful wildlife management by the local authorities. Given its sheer size, a lightweight plane ride is the best way to see the delta.
Hang Out With Elephants in Chobe National Park
The very first national park of Botswana is famed for its large herds of massive African elephants that are entirely grey, hairless, and have massive ears and majestic tusks. They also seem to have all of the animals from The Lion King at the national park. Cruise along the Zambezi River and wait for the sunset.
Hang Out With The Rhinos At The Khama Rhino Sanctuary: The sanctuary sets out to assist in saving the critically endangered rhinoceros. While attempting to restore the area to its previous natural state, it also helps provide economic benefits to the locals through sustainable tourism. This is a great place to spot black and white rhinos, as well as over 30 other animal species that hang around that area.
Best time to visit
Botswana is in the southern hemisphere, straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, far from any oceanic influence. The seasons are therefore reversed. Generally, rainfall is low, temperatures high, and the climate is semi-arid. Maximum temperatures: 31-35 ° C in January, 28-31 ° C in April.
Hot and dry throughout the year, rainy season starts from December – March, though it is pretty common for the country to experience no rain for 6 months straight.
Dry season
Winter, from May to October, corresponds to the dry season. It is the best season to visit Botswana and observe wildlife. In June-July, the average temperatures are 21-25 ° C during the day, but the nights are very cool, even cold between June and August. It is not uncommon for it to freeze in Gaborone and the Kalahari Desert. Another drawback: night falls very early (around 5 p.m.), which is not ideal when camping. In August, westerly winds carrying sand and desert dust can obscure visibility. The floods fed by the rains from Angola (which fell the previous summer) finally reach the Okavango Delta which, in the middle of the dry season, is full of life! Between August and October, the mercury rises (reaching 30-35 ° C).
Rainy season
Summer, from November to April, is also the rainy season. It is then very hot: 31-35 ° C on average high and up to 40 ° C on certain days. Precipitation is especially marked in the North and in the East (Limpopo Valley), the most populated regions. In the Kalahari Desert, however, the rains remain light. Some roads may be closed at this time of the year, made impassable by the rains.
Quick tips
Best SIM cards
Mascom – cards can be purchased at the airport and authorized shops
Modesty Considerations
Botswana is generally relaxed about clothing and covering up. Though a sarong or scarf can always come in handy. Another thing to note is that wearing camouflage or military clothing is illegal
Botswana is one of the more expensive countries in Africa, and the cost for a basic dorm may not differ much from a more established hotel. If you have the budget, I recommend topping up a little on your accommodation cost and spoil yourself for a night with glamping instead of camping.
