BOTSWANA (information) stay: 2005/May/9..2005/May/19 general view ********************************************** The famous sightseeing spots are expensive. But if you don't go the NP and inside of the delta, there's nothing special to visit. If you have little money, you should enjoy bush-camping. Because there are many good area. The Salt-Pan Crossing is also interesting. We Japanese don't need visa. climate ********************************************** When I visit, there were no rain. Near Okabvango Delta, I could find cloud in the sky. Even though in the night you may feel soggy. money ********************************************** *$1=P4.1..4.3, $1T/C=P4.3649 *ATM for visa are many. *American Express Office is in Gaborone. They have good rates. prices ********************************************** Petrol is cheaper than around countries. accommodation (camp); 20..30, petrol; 3.0..3.3/L, beer(can); 3.3..3.5, Internet; 30/h food ********************************************** There were no food stalls. accommodation ********************************************** They have enough parking space as long as there's no note in the following. But the security is your own responsibility. You can find many good places for bush camp, even though in the capital. in Gaborone (captal) Citi Camp Caravan Park (S24-38'21.6" E025-54'34.6") C35, chalet? Camping-car is required another charge for shower and electricity. in Nata (between Nata and Gweta) NATA Sanctuary (S20-17'21.9" E026-18'06.4") C30 + (vehicle)10 / bottle store (day trip) (admission)25 + (vehicle)10 Planet Bao-Bab (S20-11'21.3" E025-18'20.0") 1 km from the sign which is along the main road C30 / bar & restaurant There's a 4,500 years old bao-bab tree. in Gweta GWETA Lodge (S20-12'34.6" E025-15'28.1") There's a sign, 'MOTEL' in the town. Left side of the sign. C30 / bar, pool This is including an information. in Matlapaneng (Maun) SEDIA Hotel (S19-57'07.9" E023-28'38.8") along the main street C20 / bar & restaurant (bar happy time; Fri. 20:00..21:00), Internet; 30/h (Japanese readable), pool Cheap and comfortable! I recommend this. Isrand Safari Lodge (S19-55'28.9" E023-30'31.7") long deep sand road from the main street to the lodge C20 / bar & restaurant, pool, gift shop, river side Audi Camp (S19-56'02.0" E023-30'32.7") C25 / bar & restaurant, pool, duty kitchen (stove, refrigerator) Maun Rest Camp (S19-56'35.8" E023-29'13.2") C25 / permanent tents Crocodile Camp (S19-55'51.8" E023-30'45.2") C25 / Off-season is closing. in Seronga MBIROBA camp (S18-49'32.7" E022-25'58.3") out of the town C27.5 / mokoro trips; 187 (dugout canoe) town ********************************************** in Gaborone informaiton; (S24-39'28.3" E025-55'05.1") Metropolitan Botswana Building 2nd floor, in the mall Queensway side / The sign is a zebra mark on a blue ground. The name is 'Department of tourism.' ZAMBIA embassy; (S24-39'28.3" E025-55'01.8") single 1 month $25 10 days until issue! But you can get it at the border with the same price. And if you make a reservation of accommodation in ZAMBIA, you can get ZAMBIA visa free at the border. (refer to 'ZAMBIA') American Express; (S24-40'36.4" E025-56'11.1") in 'River Walk Shopping Mall,' the south east of the town along? Tlokweg Rd. Amex is only this in this country. You can exchange T/C with a good rate. in Sua There's nothing but a salt factory. the fork to Sua; (S20-31'12.1" E026-24'48.2") in Nata a small town in Gweta The gate town of the salt-pan. But there's no sign about the salt-pan in the town. information; 'Gweta Lodge' is including Information. (refer to 'accommodation') petrol station; not in the town. at the junction from the main road to the town. 2 km from the town. shopping; There seemed to be no shop in the town. Only at the above petrol station. Salt-Pan crossing In the rain season, it's difficult to cross because of the muddy. There are ruts with branches. If you have a compass, it's not so difficult to cross. The way is gravel, deep sand, flat salt and earth road. That may be interesting to pitch a tent in the salt-pan. (Refer to 'GPS') in Maun If you go to NAMIBIA by vehicle, this is the last big town. Bank (ATM) is only here. Be careful, you need N$ to enter NAMIBIA. Internet Compnet Internet Cafe (S19-59'16.3" E023-25'35.1") next to 'RILEY's HOTEL' (..18:30)30/h, (..21:00)21/h / Japanese typing possible. Post Net (S19-58'35.9" E023-25'50.1") near 'ENEGEN' (petrol station) (visitor) 36/h, becoming a member; 10 / (member rate) 60/2h, 100/4h, ...discount rate SEDIA Hotel (refer to 'accommodation') in Gumare There is some petrol stations. Between Maun and this is 250 km without petrol station. Between Shakawe and this is 140 km without petrol station. When you try to go Tsodilo Hills, be careful of your petrol. Because on the way there's no petrol station. in Shakawe There is a supermarket, petrol station and bottle store. petrol station (S18-21'58.0" E021-50'49.8") If you go to Okavango Delta, this is the last petrol station. Between Shakawe and Maun, Gumare is the only one town which has petrol stations. (refer to 'Gumare(town)') note; If you go to ZAMBIA by way of Caprivi Game Reserve (NAMIBIA) without N$, you cannot get petrol 370 km up to Katima Muiro (NAMIBIA). Because there's no ATM and money changer in NAMIBIA, though there're petrol stations. Tsodilo Hills near? Sahakawe. There is a camp site, though it seems to be expensive. the fork to Tsodilo Hilles (S18-35'50.3" E021-59'59.3") at the main road with a sign, 'Tsodilo.' gate (S18-47'16.6" E021-44'51.9") in a village in Mohembo ferry port town between Okavango Delta ferry; free / 6:00..18:30, about 10 minutes to cross Mohembo side port (S18-16'35.7" E021-47'16.0"), Okavango side port (S18-16'20.2" E021-47'38.4") Okavango Delta almost flat earth road. (by hearsay) from Seronga to NP is only for 4WD. view point 1 (S18-25'10.6" E022-01'27.2") about 30 km from the port. You can see the cow is crossing the water. You can pitch a tent there. view point 2 (S18-31'48.6" E022-09'16.6") This is at a village, so many people will gather round when you stop. in Seronga centre of the town (S18-48'46.3" E022-24'59.3") border ********************************************** Derdeport-Gaborone (entry from RSA); road tax; R40 (But they may require different expensive price.), Carnet is unnecessary. Mohembo-Bagani (leaving for NAMIBIA); road tax; (motorcycle) N80 or R80 or P80 at the NAMIBIA side There's no changer at the border. You have to prepare the money in advance. If you enter BOTSWANA here, you need P20 as a road tax (validity 1 year) and the commission P50. road ********************************************** Main roads are paved. Around Maun, the roads are a little different from a road map. Maun(petrol, bank)--[250km]--Gumare(petrol)--[140]--Shakawe(petrol) GPS ********************************************** Read Me First! botswana.gdb (for GARMIN 'Map Souce' file) botswana.rtf (GPS eXchange format file) You need to rename the file! plain text (html) #### route & track; SALT PAN　（passing SALT PAN） ************************************************************ (End) (English Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index2.html / (Japanese Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index.html All Rights Reserved: (c) seagull (seagulljapan@gmail.com) Copying is free as far as my copyright is specified. That's welcome to leave the copy at accommodations.