Botswana - Consular Information Sheet
October 18, 1993

Country Description:  Botswana is a developing southern African nation.  
Facilities for tourism are available.

Entry Requirements:  A passport is required.  No visa is necessary for stays 
of less than 90 days.  Further information can be obtained from the Embassy 
of the Republic of Botswana, Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive, N.W., 
Washington, D.C.  20008, telephone (202) 244-4990/1.  There are also 
honorary consuls in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.

Medical Facilities:  Medical facilities in Botswana are limited.  Doctors 
and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services.  
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.  
Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to 
be useful.  Information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers 
For Disease Control's international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-
4559.

Information on Crime:  Some petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse 
snatching is common in the city of Gaborone.  The loss or theft abroad of a 
U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the 
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and 
"Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on 
protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the 
region in general.  Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, 
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in 
which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in 
illegal drugs are strictly enforced.  Botswana's Drug and Related Substances 
Act mandates harsh punishments for unlawful dealing and possession of 
cannabis (known locally as motokwane or dagga).  The Act specifies that: (a) 
anyone found to be unlawfully dealing in the possession of dagga in an 
amount exceeding 60 grams shall, on conviction, be liable to a mandatory 
punishment of five to ten years imprisonment, and to a fine of not less than 
7,000 pula (or $3500) or in default thereof, to an additional term of 
imprisonment of one to two years; and (b) if the dagga is less than 60 
grams, the offenders shall be liable to mandatory imprisonment of one to 
five years and to a fine of 1,500-5,000 pula ($750-$2500).

Automobile Travel:  Travel by automobile outside of large towns may be 
dangerous.  Although major roads are generally in good condition, the 
combination of long, tedious stretches of two-lane highway, high speed 
limits, and the occasional presence of large animals on the roads makes 
fatal accidents a frequent occurrence.  Driving at night on rural highways 
is particularly hazardous and strongly discouraged.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy can obtain 
updated information on travel and security in Botswana.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy is located in the capital city of 
Gaborone on Embassy Drive, Government Enclave.  The mailing address is P.O. 
Box 90, Gaborone, Botswana.  The telephone number is (267) 353-982; the fax 
number is (267) 356-947, and the after-hours emergency telephone number is 
(267) 357-111.

No. 93-260

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated December 24, 1992, to add 
information on travel by automobile in Gaborone.