Botswana is a mostly flat tableland at about 1 000 m / 3 300 ft altitude. A plateau divides the country into the Eastern and the Western region. The Eastern part is mainly bush land where most of the population settles. The Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert dominate the Western area. Over 80% of the land is Kalahari Desert land. 
The climate is subtropical to semiarid with warm winters and hot summers, although desert nights can be below 0°C / 32°F. The winter months of April to August hardly see any rain. During this time wildlife watching is at its best since the animals flock to the water holes. The rainy season falls into the summer, stretching from November to March. During this time, dirt roads can be hard to use due to the rain. The maximum temperature lies about 32°C / 90°F.

On entering, citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries, and the US will be granted a 30-day visa. This can be extended up to 90 days if you have proof of a return or onward ticket as well as sufficient funds. Note that children ID's need to contain a picture.

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of Botswana

 

European Union 169 Ave de Tervuren 1150 Brussels Belgium	Tel. ++32 2 732 2070; ++32 2 7 35 61 10 Fax ++32 2 735 6312; ++32 2 735 6318 embasofbotswana@yahoo.co.uk
Honorary Consuls for Germany in Hamburg and Duesseldorf
United Kingdom 6 Stratford Place London W1C 1AY United Kingdom .	Tel. ++44 20 7499 0031 Fax ++44 20 7495 8595 . . .
United States 1531-33 New Hampshire Ave NW Washington DC 20008 United States	Tel. ++1 202 244 4990 Fax ++1 202 244 4164 .

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in Botswana
 

Germany Professional House (3rd Floor) Segodithsane Way Broad Hurst Gaborone Botswana Postal Address: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, P.O. Box 315, Gaborone, Botswana .	Tel. ++267 3 95 31 43, ++267 3 95 38 06 Fax ++267 3 95 30 38 germanembassy@info.bw   .
United Kingdom Plot 1079-1084  Main Mall Queen's Road Gaborone Botswana Postal Address: Private Bag 0023, Gaborone, Botswana .	Tel. ++267 395 2841 Fax ++267 395 6105 bhc@botsnet.bw www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/botswana . . .
United States Government Enclave Embassy Dr Gaborone Botswana Postal Address: P.O. Box 90, Gaborone, Botswana .	Tel. ++267 395 3982 Fax ++267 395 6947 pausemb3@botsnet.bw consulargaboro@state.gov .

1 Pula (BWP) = 100 Thebe (pula = rain; thebe = raindrops)

You can exchange cash (preferably US dollars) or traveller cheques at banks and foreign exchange bureaus in major cities. There is no import limit on foreign currencies. Most credit cards (especially VISA) are accepted in tourist places, although there might be an additional surcharge. Credit card cash advance is possible at Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank outlets in major cities; the latter offers ATM's for withdrawals as well.

Banks are usually open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9.00 to 14:30 and on Wednesdays from 8:15 to 12.00.

Country code: ++267. There are no regional codes; hence, the number is added directly to the country code.
International access code from Botswana: 101 (from private lines; international calls from payphones seem not to be possible).
Internet code: .bw

Other important numbers: 
Police: 999
Ambulance: 997

Botswana's postal system is slow and not very reliable. Internet access is only available in major cities, slow, and expensive.

Post and telephone offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 16.00.

Electricity

Botswana uses 230 V / 50 Hz.
The plug either has round pins with ground or is a rectangular blade plug.

Air

Botswana's main airport is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport near Gaborone. Air Botswana connects Gaborone with Johannesburg and Harare as well as Johannesburg with Maun and Limpopo Valley. South African Airways also flies the route Johannesburg – Gaborone. Although it is possible to fly into Gaborone directly from overseas, the routing via Harare, Victoria Falls, Windhoek or Johannesburg seems to be preferred. Please note that the international air departure tax of 50 Pula should be included in your ticket.

Overland

Driving

The main border crossings are:

From Namibia:  Mahango - Mohembo, Buitepos – Mamuno, Ngoma Bridge, Kasane - Mpalila Island and Dobe

From South Africa: Limpopo River, Molopo River, Pioneer, Mmabatho - Ramatlamba, Tlokweng Gate (near Gaborone) and Skilpadshek

From Zambia: Kazungula

From Zimbabwe: Kazungula, Mpandamatenga and Plumtree – Ramokgwebana

If you want to bring a rental car from South Africa into the country, you will need a written permission of the rental agency. Note that your car tyres and your shoes have to go through cattle-dip at the border to keep foot-and-mouth-disease out of the country and that there is a vehicle tax of 5 pula.

Bus

From Namibia: Minibuses run between Windhoek or Gobabis and Mamuno. There is also a bus between Windhoek and Ghanzi and Maun.

From South Africa: Minibuses run between Johannesburg and Gaborone and Palapye as well as between Mafikeng and Lobatse. Busses connect Johannesburg and Gaborone, too.

From Zimbabwe: Buses and minibuses run between Bulawayo and Francistown (with or without stop in Ramokgwebana). Buses run from Gweru to Maun via Bulawayo as well as to Gaborone. There is also a connection between Victoria Falls and Kasane.

Train

From South Africa: Johannesburg and Pretoria are connected to Gaborone by railway via Mafikeng.

From Zimbabwe: The train system links Harare (via Gweru) and Victoria Falls via Bulawayo with Gaborone.

Boat

You can cross the Zambezi River on the Kazungula ferry between Zambia and Botswana.