Summer months from November to March is when the rains arrive and it's hot between the thunderstorms. The vegetation is a sea of green, wild flowers can be seen everywhere and all mammals and birds have their young. The bush is alive - Africa is at its most productive!
It's a photographers paradise especially in the Kalahari where the large herds of animals have migrated to.
The Prime Tourist Months are from April through to October
Both the weather and game viewing are excellent Animals are at their most visible around what water there is - the natural waterholes, dams & rivers
CAPITAL - Gaborone
TIME- GMT + 2 hours
AREA - 600,370 km2 (585,370 km2 land; 15,000 km2 water)
LANGUAGE - Although the official language of Botswana is English, most of the population speak Tswana as their home language. Guided safaris are always conducted in English.
CURRENCY - Pula (P) Most credit cards are accepted by shops, restaurants and gas stations. Credit card cash advances are available at local banks in Gaborone, Lobatse, Francistown, Kasane and Maun. Most facilities accept Rand, US Dollar, Euro and Sterling.
POPULATION
Almost 60% of the 1,5 million inhabitants of Botswana are concentrated on the Eastern side of the country. The ancient San (or Bushmen) can still be found at settlements around the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
CLIMATE
Most of the country has a subtropical climate with little rain.
The winter season begins in April and ends in August. Winters are clear-skied and bone-dry, the air seductively warm during the daylight hours but, because there is no cloud cover, very cold at night and in the early mornings. (Range from 2° to 25°C)
In August the seasonal winds begin, that blow from the west and carry sand and dust across the country. It is the hottest period, especially in the weeks that precede the coming of the cooling rains in November and shade temperatures rise to the 38°C mark and higher
The summer season begins in November and ends in March. It usually brings very high temperatures. However, summer is also the rainy season, and cloud coverage and rain can cool things down considerably. Temperatures range from 26°C - 38°C (80°F-90°F)
CULTURE
The main ethnic groups are the Batswana (descendants of iron age immigrants from Central West Africa), the Basarwa (San, indigenous hunter gatherers, pre iron age), and the Herero (pastoralists). Eighty percent of the population of Botswana are rural inhabitants.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day 1 January, Day after New Year's Day 2 January, Good Friday, Easter week end, Ascension Day, President's Day (varies), Day after President's Day (varies) , Botswana Day 30 September, Day after Botswana Day 1 October, Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day 26 December, Day after Boxing Day 27 December
