Africa

Botswana

Location

Southern Africa, north of South Africa.

Crime rate low. Vehicle security, personal security, general travel, navigation, off road driving, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation/sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, cultures/customs, communications, emergency shelters. Do not take photographs of airports, official residences, military and defence installations.

Water is safe to drink in the major cities and hotels but not in the rural areas. If in doubt, use bottled water.

Predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in south-west.

Semi-arid; warm winters and hot summers.

Periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility.

Bacterial diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, hepatitis A, HIV/AIDS, malaria in some areas, polio, rabies, sleeping sickness present, ticks, typhoid fever.
Hospital: Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone. Tel: 353 221

Overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources.

Good tarmac roads over most of country. Standards of driving are poor. Drink driving is a major cause of accidents. Wildlife and stray livestock can pose serious hazards. Taxis are generally safe. Agree a price prior to setting off.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.