Wayzata World Factbook 1994/World Factbook - 1994 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso/pc/text/txtfiles/botswana.tvl

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#CARD:Botswana:Travel\Consular Information
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 [phone].  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.

#ENDCARD