Botswana Travellers Guide: Travel Information
Money / Currency Safety advice Health Issues Visas
Weather Commuications Electricity Public Holidays
Botswana's climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months. Summer rains fall in the form of thunderstorms. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable and highly regional. Often a heavy downpour may occur in one area while 10 or 15 kilometres away there is no rain at all. Showers are often followed by strong sunshine so that a good deal of the rainfall does not penetrate the ground but is lost to evaporation and transpiration. 'Pula', one of the most frequently heard words in Botswana, is not only the name of Botswana's currency, but also the Setswana word for rain. So much of what takes place in Botswana relies on this essential, frequently scarce commodity.
Daytime temperatures in summer often exceed 35º and nighttime temperatures in winter often fall below freezing.
Click on the links below for a recent forecast
Currency: Pula = 100 Thebe
Pula means rain and Thebe Raindrop showing the importance of water in the country.
The currency is strong and easily changeable
There are often problems with international credit cards in banks and at ATM's
UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office
US State Department
Australian Foreign affairs
Canadian Consular affairs
The following countries do not require a visa for Botswana:
Australia Austria Belgium Canada Denmark Finland
France Germany Italy Ireland Japan Luxembourg
Netherlands New Zealand South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland
United Kingdom
Thi information cannot be guaranteed and it is wise to check with the local embassy before travel.
Or check the link below.
Postal service is generally good and reliable
Telephones are found in most areas and are reliable
Country code: ++267
Botswana uses 230 V / 50 Hz.
The plug either has round pins with ground or is a rectangular blade plug