How to travel safely in Botswana – Know your way around Botswana
When travelling to a new country, one would always be met with some degree of apprehension which is why exercising caution is always welcome. Such would be the requirement even in the case of the southern African nation of Botswana which is by far, the safest country in the African continent to be in. Outlined below are tips and helpful information ahead of any planned trip to Botswana which would definitely come in handy.
Image via maxpixel
Know the destination
A quick search online will get you up to speed with things in Botswana, beginning from its exact location, transportation facilities and general information that travellers like yourself would find useful. As pointed out above, Botswana is located in southern Africa and borders South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia respectively. The nation is blessed with natural resources and from a tourism point of view, well known for providing enjoyable wildlife safari trips to national parks that scatter certain parts of the country. Tourism is more or less the norm here with service levels standing head and shoulders above those found in neighbouring countries. Travel inconveniences are almost unheard of which make for quite memorable journeys within Botswana’s most traversed areas which are Gaborone and Maun.
General Information
In terms of the required travel documents, stays that do not need to exceed a period of 90 days have no visa requirements. Further, one’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Of similar importance is the need to obtain sufficient travel insurance that will cover any medical emergencies and petty crimes that have a tendency to occur. The local currency used is the Botswana Pula and for the best exchange rates on the same, consider exchanging your money from the Bank of Botswana. The country’s capital of Gaborone is where the main international airport is located which is the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and is found 15 km north of the capital. While the weather too plays a part in how travel experiences turn out to be, factor into one’s thoughts that the months of September and October are the hottest and thus, an ideal period to call by here ahead of any safari outing. Additionally, the rainy season begins from December and continues on till March and therefore, is best kept well away from any travel plans.
The safety aspect
The locals are extremely friendly folk and for example, those of you opting to reside at hotels in Gaborone Botswana such as for instance, Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino will be well received and treated accordingly by all staff there. The crime rate in the country is relatively low with a street crime never seen to impact the tourism sector and those who patronize the region on holiday. With tourism being one of the chief sources of revenue, not much negativity is associated with the sector and therefore, travellers should not think twice before heading over. Also, the risk of being scammed will be at an all-time low but be mindful to deal with the subject of transportation carefully. Such would be the need when having to seek the services of a taxi as the local drivers may attempt to hike up prices for the duration of your trip. Similarly, street vendors may also attempt to sell their products at much higher prices than they would to their own countrymen and women. Thus, it will be prudent to inquire from your mode of accommodation as to the price points that you should be seen bargaining with. Always ensure that your valuables are stored away safely back in your hotel room or if wearing some, then do so in a manner where you will not be seen flaunting all your possessions out in the open. Visits to clubs and pubs must be done so in a way where you do not attract any unwanted attention and in the case of single travellers, the need for such a course of action will be a prerequisite.
