smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Botswana
| Botswana overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 22 November 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Local Travel (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Botswana because of the risk of criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Street crime is common in Botswana, particularly in urban centres. You should be vigilant, particularly while walking and also if out after dark. While attacks on tourists are rare, violent crime, residential break-ins and carjacking (particularly of four wheel drives) are increasing.
Due to the very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
Roads in urban areas vary, but are good by African standards. Driving outside major urban areas in Botswana can be hazardous due to poor road conditions, local driving practices and inadequate lighting. Wild animals and livestock often stray onto roads and have right of way. The Botswanans take injuries or deaths of their cattle by motorists very seriously. Road travel in Botswana often involves driving long distances in sparsely populated, harsh environments and careful planning is required. When travelling to remote desert areas, we recommend the use of a reputable guide and a four-wheel-drive vehicle which is well equipped with emergency provisions. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
You should not bathe in lakes and rivers because of the possibility of attacks by wildlife and the risk of catching water-borne diseases.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Botswana, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for drug offences, including those involving cannabis, are severe and include mandatory prison sentences.
Serious offences, including murder and treason, carry the death penalty.
Some offences, such as serious assaults, attract corporal punishment.
Homosexual acts are illegal and penalties include imprisonment.
The possession of pornographic material is illegal.
Photography of military or government installations is prohibited.
All animal souvenirs or 'trophies' are subject to National Trophy Law that strictly regulates the sale, possession or export of animals or their durable parts. Travellers carrying such items will need to present a government permit or receipt from a licensed store on departure. The export of elephant hair, ivory and rhinoceros horn products is strictly prohibited.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Botswana does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Botswanan dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We recommend you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of Botswana for the most up-to-date information.
All foreign currency or Pula in excess of Pula 10,000 (approximately A$2,500) must be declared upon entry into and departure from Botswana.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities outside the urban areas of Botswana are limited. Public and private facilities will require confirmation of insurance cover or guarantee of payment before commencing treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the required facilities (usually South Africa) may be necessary. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable.
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Botswana is very high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
Malaria is prevalent in the northern regions of Botswana, including the Okavango Delta. Other insect-borne diseases (including filariasis and African sleeping sickness) also occur. We recommend that you take prophylaxis against malaria when travelling north of the capital Gaborone and take precautions against being bitten by insects, including using an insect repellent at all times.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including typhoid, hepatitis, polio, rabies and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. Some drug-resistant tuberculosis cases have recently been identified in Botswana. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have a High Commission or Consulate in Botswana. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in South Africa:
Australian High Commission
292 Orient Street
Arcadia
Pretoria, South Africa
Telephone (27 12) 423 6000
Facsimile (27 12) 342 8442
Email pretoria.info@dfat.gov.au
Website http://www.southafrica.embassy.gov.au
If you are travelling to Botswana, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above mission, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
