Botswana
Although friendly and well disposed toward foreigners, businesspeople and government employees tend to be more reserved and formal for the region. Women may wear business suits, although jackets will be uncomfortably hot during much of the year. Shirtsleeves and ties are appropriate for men for some business meetings during the hot summer months. However, suits should be worn during the short winter or in meetings with senior government officials or business leaders.
The use of first names generally takes longer than in many countries, and it is a good idea to wait until your Botswana contact initiates the practice. Reconfirm your meeting 24 hours beforehand directly with the person you are to meet, if possible. Even carefully arranged meetings may sometimes start late. Business meetings may be interrupted by telephone conversations. Although odd for an American businessperson, these occurrences are not indications of a lack of respect or interest in your business offer.
This nation is one of the more stable and quieter places in all of Africa. The crime rate is not as great as in other nations with the possible exception of neighboring Namibia. Foreigners are welcome and relatively safe in this land, although it is always prudent to exercise solid security practices when in a strange location.
The most common crime is opportunistic and non-violent, such as pickpocketing and theft. Among other items, thieves take jewelry, cellphones, wallets, and passports. Take common-sense precautions, such as staying aware of surroundings, distributing cash in different pockets and not wearing expensive jewelry or watches. Muggers often work in groups. Reported theft is mainly burglary of homes and hotel rooms, as well as break-ins targeting parked vehicles. Do not leave any valuables visible in a car, even when driving, and place handbags and other items under the seat or beneath passengers' feet to prevent "smash-and-grab" crimes. Use alarms for cars and residences. Car vandalism and theft is a concern. The use of handguns, once quite rare, is becoming more common as illegal arms are smuggled from South Africa. Carjacking is on the rise; stay particularly alert at gate entrances, where many attacks occur.
Corruption is low. The police force, while professional, suffers from a lack of resources. Given delays on the police emergency number, travelers should carry their embassy's phone number and the police non-emergency number.
Hotels in Botswana generally maintain a reasonable standard, particularly those in main centers in the east of the country. The largest number of hotels and motels are in or near Gaborone (the President, the Sun Hotel, the Grand Palm, the Cresta Lodge and the Cresta Gabarone being of international standard. Other hotels have fairly basic amenities.
Telephone IDD service is available to over 80 countries. The country code is 267 and the outgoing international code is 00. There are very few public phone boxes. The use of fax service is increasing.
Electricity is 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. 15- and 13-amp plug sockets are used.
220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. 15- and 13-amp plug sockets are in use.
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Restaurants and bars can be found in main towns, often within hotels. Millet and sorghum porridge constitutes much of the cuisine. Beef and goat are very popular meats. Most lodges and safari camps also have restaurants and licensed bars, although food is generally basic outside major hotels and restaurants. The standard of food in lodges and camps is generally very good. There is local beer and no real restrictions on alcohol. National specialties:
• Morama (an underground tuber).
• The Kalahari truffle.
• The Mopane worm (boiled, cooked
or deep-fried).
• Beans such as cow peas, ditloo and letlhodi, dried bean leaves, plus nuts like peanuts and groundnuts.
• Wild spinach, morogo is very tasty.
• Plenty of watermelons, plus other varieties of melon.
• Seswaa or Chotlho is a popular traditional meat dish cooked with only salt and water and served with pap, a soft maize meal.
• Variations upon bread meals, such as dumplings (matemekwane), flat cakes (diphaphatha) and fat cakes (magwinya). National drinks:
• Palm wine (which is extremely strong) and Kgadi (made from distilled sugar or fungus).
• Traditional beer such as khadi or bojalwa, which tastes a bit like apple cider.
• Homemade ginger beer is popular.
• Bush tea - or Rooibos - is a reddish caffeine-free tea that is soothing and delicious, although something of an acquired taste. Tipping:
A discretionary 5 to 10 per cent. In many places, a service charge is automatically added. It is customary to tip the game guide and lodge staff while on safari.Nightlife
Most people get up early in the morning, and nightlife is not very extensive. However, there are some bars and restaurants in Gaborone. The city also has a cinema. Maun has a handful of restaurants and a small cinema.
