Botswana - Country Information

Film Commissions

Ministry of Labour & Home Affairs
Tel: 36 11100 Fax: 39 13584
E-mail: omatsila@gov.bw
Film Commissioner: Ms. Ogomoditse Matsila

Permits/visas
Permits are required for filming and visas for non-Commonwealth countries. The following information is required: a synopsis of proposed film and detailed script; a breakdown of the proposed filming schedule; purpose of the film; places or areas and exact locations to be used.

Tax breaks/incentives
Tax break opportunities depend on the type of film. Fees differ according to documentaries and film.

Recent productions
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Roar Lions of the Kalahari, Long Journey to the Forgotten River, Eternal Enemies.

General Information

Location: Southern Africa
Local Time: GMT+2
Capital City: Gaborone
Population: 1.6 million
Area: 569,582 square km, 219,916 square miles.
Language(s): English, Setswana
Dialling Code: 267
Emergency: Police: 999. Fire: 998. Ambulance: 997
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the left
Electricity: 220/240V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Pula (BWP 1 = 100 Thebe)
Notes: BWP: 10, 20, 50, 100
Coins: Thebe: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Limited acceptance of credit cards

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1530 Mon-Fri 0815-1045 Sat
Office: 0730-1630 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-1800 Mon-Fri, 0800-1300 Sat-Sun

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year, 2 Apr - 5 Apr Easter, 1 May Labour Day, 13 May Ascension Day, 1 Jul Sir Seretse Khama Day, 20 Jul President's Day, 30 Sep Botswana Day, 25 Dec -26 Dec Christmas.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in English. Photography is generally unrestricted but where there are regulations these will be made explicit. Many traditions and customs regulate social life and visitors should be perceptive to unfamiliar local conventions. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Tips are discretionary

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from or having passed through infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year. Countries & areas included in the endemic zones are considered as infected areas.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria precautions are essential. Exists throughout the year especially from Nov-Jun in the northern regions including along the Zimbabwean border, Zambezi river and all game parks north of the Kalahari desert. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for at least 3 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Botswana

2) For stays up to 90 days:
a) Holders of British passports
b) Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR China), Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (South), Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solvenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:

1) Persons continuing their journey by the same of first connecting aircraft without leaving the airport

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Visitors must hold return or onward journey tickets and sufficient funds for maintenance during their stay.

Climate

Bostwana lies in the middle of Southern Africa & forms part of the Kalahari Desert. Typical of desert areas, temperatures are high & rainfall is unreliable, what little rain there is generally falls between Nov-Mar, although south & western regions get less rain even during this period. Cooler conditions, including the odd frosty night, exist between May-Sep

Clothing

Light clothes with warmer wear for cooler evenings

Charts for Francistown

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 33 30 29 27 25 24 22 26 30 33 32 31 Min Temp (C) 20 17 16 13 9 5 4 7 12 16 18 18 Humidity am (%) 69 73 74 70 68 69 63 60 55 56 64 65 Humidity pm (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rainfall (mm) 106 79 72 19 6 4 0 0 0 23 55 85

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Botswana Tourist Office
c/o High Commission of Botswana

Embassy
High Commission of Botswana
6 Stratford Place
London, W1C 1AY
tel: +44 20 7499 0031
fax: +44 20 7495 8595
hours: 0900-1300 & 1400-1700 (Mon-Fri)