Time: | Local time is GMT +2. |
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Electricity: | Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. |
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Language: | English is the official language. Setswana is also widely spoken. |
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Health: | The major health risks in Botswana are malaria, typhoid and HIV/Aids. Malaria is a particular risk between November and June in the northern parts of the country. There are no compulsory vaccinations, but a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age coming from infected countries. |
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Tipping: | Generally a 10-15% tip is appreciated in hotels and restaurants. |
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Safety: | The majority of visits to Botswana are trouble-free, but visitors should be aware of the increasing incidence of crime, particularly armed robbery and rape, in the main towns. Wildlife and livestock make driving hazardous, so driving at night should be avoided. |
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Business: | Office hours are usually 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, or 7.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday between October and April. |
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Communications: | The international access code for Botswana is +267. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Mobile phones operate on a GSM 900 network and are limited to urban areas; most North American cell phones will not work. Internet cafes are available in Gaborone and Maun. |
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Duty Free: | Travelers to Botswana can enter the country with goods to the value of P500 without incurring customs duty. These include 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; and 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette. |
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