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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Tebelelo Seretse
Embassy: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Ave., NW,Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-244-4990
Fax: 202-244-4164

Botswana mission to the United Nations is located at:
Address 103 E. 37th Street, New York, NY 10017
Telephone 212-889-2277
Fax 212-725-5061

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Michelle Gavin
Embassy: P.O. Box 90, Gaborone
Telephone: [267] 353-982
Fax: [267] 356-947

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Botswana

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Botswana
Embassy Web Site for Botswana in Washington DC


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-BOTSWANA RELATIONS

The United States considers Botswana an excellent partner and an advocate of and model for stability in Africa. Botswana has consistently maintained a democratic government, responsibly managed its natural resources, and invested in its people and infrastructure. The bilateral relationship is strong, grounded in a shared commitment to democracy, good governance, and human rights. The United States and Botswana also share an interest in ensuring the sustainability of Botswana's success by deepening economic diversification and promoting regional economic growth and development.

U.S. Assistance to Botswana

The United States has been a major partner in Botswana's development since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) phased out its bilateral partnership with Botswana in the mid-1990s, after successful programs emphasizing education, training, entrepreneurship, environmental management, and reproductive health. Botswana benefits along with its neighbors in the region from USAID's Initiative for Southern Africa, based in Pretoria, and USAID's Southern Africa Trade Hub, headquartered in Gaborone. The U.S. International Board of Broadcasters operates a major Voice of America relay station in Botswana serving most of the African continent.

Botswana is one of the focus countries for PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. PEPFAR assistance to Botswana supports sustainable, high-quality, cost-effective HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care interventions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has undertaken many projects and has assisted many organizations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana. HIV/AIDS-related programs also are a focus of the Peace Corps.

The International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), which is jointly financed, managed, and staffed by the Governments of Botswana and the United States, provides training to police and government officials from across the sub-Saharan region. Over 4,300 law enforcement professionals from 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have received training from ILEA since it began offering classes in 2001.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Botswana is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The country belongs to the Southern African Customs Union, which has signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) with the United States. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and trade and investment promotion.

Botswana's Membership in International Organizations

Botswana puts a premium on economic and political integration in Southern Africa. Botswana and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Botswana is Michelle Gavin; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Botswana maintains an embassy in the United States at 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036 (tel. 202-244-4990).

More information about Botswana is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Botswana Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Botswana Page
USAID Southern Africa Page | USAID Southern Africa Mission Page
History of U.S. Relations With Botswana
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information








TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Botswana check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (BWP) Pula
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 267, City Code, Gaborona 3+6D, Francistown 24+5D, Serowe 46+5D



Time: GMT + 2.

Electricity: 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Fifteen- and 13-amp plug sockets are in use.

Telephone: IDD is available to over 80 countries. Country code: 267. Outgoing international code: 00. There are very few public phone boxes.

Climate: Mainly temperate climate. Summer is between October and April and is very hot combined with the rainy season. Dry and cooler weather exists between May and September with an average temperature of 25ºC (77º). Early mornings and evenings may be cold and frosty in winter. Annual rainfall decreases westwards and southwards.

Food & Drink: Restaurants and bars can be found in main towns, often within hotels. Most lodges and safari camps also have restaurants and licensed bars, although food is generally basic outside major hotels and restaurants. The standard of food in lodges and camps is generally very good.
There is local beer and in general no restrictions on alcohol.

Shopping: Woodcarvings, handcrafted jewellery, woven goods and attractive basketry are recommended. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0830-1300.

Currency: Pula (P) = 100 thebe. Notes are in denominations of P100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of P5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 thebe. Various gold and silver coins were issued to mark the country’s tenth anniversary of independence, and are still legal tender.

Currency exchange: Money should be exchanged in banks at market rates. Owing to limited facilities in small villages, it is advisable to change money at the airport or in major towns, where credit card cash advances may also be available.

Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted on a limited basis. However, the majority of tourist facilities accept credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Tipping: A discretionary 10 per cent in urban centres. It is customary to tip the game guide and lodge staff while on safari.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco...................400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco

Liquor......................2 litres of wine and 1 litre of spirits

Perfume...................50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette

Cameras..................Must be declared on arrival

Film.........................Reasonable for personal use

Agriculture items.....Refer to consulate

Currency..................Must be declared on arrival





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