IX. Business Travel

  Sir Seretse Khama Airport, located 10 miles from
downtown Gaborone, is served by hotel vans; request
the hotel meet you when you make your room
reservation.  A valid U.S. passport is required for
entry into Botswana.  No visa is required, however,
for temporary business visits.

Transportation:  Gaborone does not have door-to-door
taxi service.   Major hotels do provide periodic
shuttle bus service to the downtown area, but
arranging transfers between business appointments is
often difficult.  Renting a car is recommended if you
have a busy appointment schedule in Gaborone (see
"Important Addresses" for car rental agencies).
Traffic moves on the left, however, so some care must
be taken when driving.

Hotels:  First Class business hotels in Gaborone
include a recently opened Sheraton, the Gaborone Sun,
and the President Hotel.  The Cresta Lodge is a
mid-range business hotel.  (see "Important
Addresses").

The Business Meeting:  Reconfirm your meeting
twenty-four hours beforehand directly with the person
you are to meet, if possible.  Even carefully arranged
meetings may sometimes start late, and it is not
unusual for colleagues of your Motswana (citizen of
Botswana) counterpart to enter the meeting
unannounced, engage in animated discussion, and then
abruptly depart -- after which your host will continue
the meeting as if nothing had happened.  Similarly,
business meetings are often interrupted by lengthy
telephone conversations.  Although odd for an American
business person, these occurrences are not indications
of a lack of respect or interest in your business
offer.

Business Protocol:  Although friendly and
well-disposed towards Americans, Botswana business and
government counterparts tend to be more reserved and
formal than in the U.S. business world.  The use of
first names generally takes longer; it is a good idea
to wait until your Motswana contact initiates the
practice.  A gentle handshake is appropriate upon
meeting and departing.  Batswana often seem to be
non-assertive to Americans; this should not be
mistaken for naivete or disinterest in your business
proposal.

Conversational Gambits:   Still largely a rural
culture, in Botswana many mid-and upper-level business
and government people leave Gaborone on the weekends
to retire to their rural family homesteads.  Batswana
like to talk about their special attachment to their
"cattle post" (although it is considered impolite to
ask how many head of cattle one owns!).  Many
government officials and businessmen and women have
visited or studied in the U.S. and enjoy discussing
the experience.  Conversation about family is much
less common than among Americans.

Dress:  Shirtsleeves and tie are appropriate for most
business meetings during the hot summer months
(October - April); suits should be worn during the
short winter (June - August) or with senior government
officials and business leaders.  Women may wear
business attire appropriate in the U.S., although
jackets will be uncomfortably hot most of the year.

Personal Security:  There is little violent street
crime in Gaborone, although one should be aware of
pickpockets when walking through crowded markets or
bus stops.  Security at all major hotels is good, but
occasional thefts do occur in lobbies, restaurants,
etc.  It is wise to exercise the same level of caution
one would employ visiting any major U.S. city.

Language:  English is the official language of
Government and business in Botswana.

Health:  Inoculations are not required for visitors to
Botswana.  Business people remaining in the Gaborone
area do not need malaria prophylaxis.  Tap water in
the major towns is safe to drink.  Good primary health
care is available in the Gaborone Private Hospital
("Important Addresses").

International Courier Service:  DHL has offices in
Gaborone and Francistown.   Federal Express operates
through a local agent in Gaborone.   ("Important
Addresses")

Video Format:  Promotional video tapes should be in
the PAL format.

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Hotels

Sheraton International Gaborone
Telephone: Country Code (267) 312999
FAX: (267) 312989
Front Office manager:  Robert Krygsman

Gaborone Sun International
Telephone: (267) 351111
FAX: (267) 302555

President Hotel
Telephone: (267) 353631
FAX: (267) 351840

Cresta Lodge
Telephone: (267) 375375
FAX: (267) 375376

Transportation

AVIS Car Rental
Telephone: (267) 375469
FAX: (267) 312205

HERTZ Car Rental
Telephone: (267) 353970
FAX: (267) 314894

Health

Gaborone Private Hospital
Telephone: (267) 301999
FAX: (267) 301998

International Courier Services

DHL Worldwide Express
Gaborone: Telephone (267) 312000
FAX: (267) 374168
Francistown: Telephone (267) 214752
No Fax

Federal Express
Agent:  XPS Services Botswana
Telephone: (267) 373588
FAX: (267) 351390