Languages: Setswana (national) English (official)
Religion: Christianity
National Flag: The national flag consists of a sky blue background, horizontal black stripe sandwiched between two narrow horizontal white stripes. The blue represents rain and water (a precious commodity in Botswana) and the black and white symbolize the nation’s plural (multi-racial) society.
Currency: 100 thebes = 1 BWP = 1.30 SEK There are no currency controls in Botswana and most hotels, lodges, travel agents and larger shops accept international credit cards and travellers cheques.
Banks: Five main commercial banks including Standard Chartered and Barclays Banks operate in Botswana, as well as a number of foreign exchange bureaus. Most banks are open from 8.30am to 15.00pm
Climate: Summer: October to March with temperatures soaring to more than 40 degrees at midday. The rains come between September and April, especially in December and January) Winter: May – July
Economy: The discovery of diamonds in 1967 transformed the economy and made Botswana one of the wealthiest countries in Africa on a per capita basis. Other major industries are beef production and tourism.
Time: GMT +2 hours
