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http://www.botswanatourism.us/
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
Botswana is a year round travel destination. However, depending on what you want out of your visit will determine what time of year you should go.
For game viewing the dry winter season is the best time to go (May to November). This is when the bush is most minimal and large numbers of game congregate at the waterholes in the Okavango Delta. The dry season also offers comfortable weather and fewer mosquitoes.
December to March is considered the green (rainy) season. These are the calving months and allow visitors to experience nature’s own timetable of regeneration. This is also the time when large numbers of game migrate into the summer grazing areas, while the delta comes alive with sounds of hundreds of bird species. The rains also make for dramatic skies offering fantastic photographic opportunities. Please note that summers (particularly from December through to February) can become exceptionally hot and rain may make some roads muddy and impassable.
April/early May and late September/October are transitional months and still tend to be dry. However, the days are cooler than in the summer and the nights warmer than in the winter, making it a wonderful time to visit as well.
Edited by: botswanagirl
How to avoid ID theft using a public computer
You're probably already familiar with the risks you run when using a public Internet shop, of having information you enter via the keyboard captured and sent to a remote operator. Spyware is a real risk when you use a public computer. It's a real risk, it's out there and people are falling prey to it all the time. It's bad enough when your email or Facebook password is lifted, but what about if you want to use online banking or pay for something with a credit card?
There are several ways to minimise the risk. Taking your own computer is probably the safest - providing you don't use unsecured wifi for sensitive transactions - but not everyone wants to truck around with a laptop or even a netbook/tablet.
I've put together a bundle of portable programs to help travellers. It's completely free, many of the programs are open-source, and it comes with my own help file for guidance. You load it onto a USB flash drive and plug that into a cybercafe computer. You could download a lot of it yourself, but the time you save grabbing the bundled version leaves you longer to concentrate on planning your trip.
There are two versions: one for basic web surfing, which includes Firefox web browser, a password safe, and a secure, onscreen keyboard. The full version has these, plus an instant message client and other programs to check out the computer for security risks.
Because people do more than email and surf in a cybercafe, I've included some digital photo tools - an editor and viewer - in the bundle.
Read more about it here .
Note to all travellers heading to Rwanda:
"The Government of Rwanda has introduced a New Immigration Law No O4/2011 of 21/03/2011 and its implementing ministerial orders on regulation and fees published on Official Gazette No 24 of 13 June 2011."
These regulations will be implemented effectively on Monday 20th June 2011.
Main informations:
The entry visa fee has been reduced from 60USD to 30 USD as early indicated there is a provision for multiple entry visa which shall be issued at a fee of 60 USD.
the duration of an entry visa has been extended from 15 up to 30 days with multiple entries. This will facilitate visitors of Rwanda to visit other countries within the region contrary using the Single entry visa.
Students’ permit has been introduced to cater for foreigner students in Rwanda for study purposes and its fee has been reduced to 10,000 Frw. Similarly, a holiday’s workers permit has also been introduced to facilitate students and other people wishing to work during their holidays.
A specific visitor’s pass was also introduced for EAC nationals for a period of up to 6 months.
For more more information, the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration encourage Rwandans, visitors and residents to visit:
www.migration.gov.rw
www.facebook.com/Rwandaimmigration
www.twitter.com/rwandamigration
Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
“I am an American staffer that works in Tanzania for a volunteer NGO, and we deal with this constantly. Embassies in other countries often dispense inaccurate information probably for various reasons.
The July 2011 increase for the work permit c to $550 shocked everyone, but it is what it is. As many have mentioned, this is a lovely country and there are many needs and the NGOs, women and children that are here to receive help didn't make those rules. However...here are recent changes that immigration agreed to that benefits the shorter term volunteer. At least this is true in Moshi, I don't know why it wouldn't be anywhere.
If you are coming for less than 8 weeks, they will accept a CTA /Tourist Visa combination (CTA is a temporary assignment permit $200) and tourist visa prices vary based upon your country but total of this would be around $250-$300. The organization you volunteer with sends a letter requesting immigration to issue the CTA for the number of weeks starting X date; they email to you, you present to immigration upon arrival at airport, pay for it and tourist visa. Could be that this is the 'letter' referenced above, but it is $200, and not $100.
Longer than 8 weeks still requires the work permit c, tourist visa not required unless you are doing a fairly lengthy bit of travelling before or after your volunteering duty.
As others have reported, immigration officials know where the volunteers hang out, where they volunteer and they have been making rounds in various communities. Reports of arrests, near arrests, etc come up frequently so it's not worth the risk of sneaking in.
I’m sure that we are all experiencing a drop but the marked increase in airfare has also been a factor. However, we still have many people coming for short and longer term volunteering stays; no one is happy with the increase but on another plus side, those that are really committed to cause of helping people and making a difference, and those that have a heart for Tanzania have figured out that they will do it anyway.”
(Posted by Mamaafrica – on the Tanzanian page 7 March 2012) edited my Orion_mike
To answer some of the most FAQ's like:
Where Do I Sleep In Africa?
How Much Is A Safari?
Where is the best place to book a Safari for budget backpackers?
Where is the best place to do a safari in Africa?
Which countries in Africa should i visit first?
Is Egypt safe to travel?
Check out Goats On The Road
Edited by: goatsontheroad
← Back to topic list
60
I want to go to Botswana, where do i start?http://www.botswanatourism.us/
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
Botswana is a year round travel destination. However, depending on what you want out of your visit will determine what time of year you should go.
For game viewing the dry winter season is the best time to go (May to November). This is when the bush is most minimal and large numbers of game congregate at the waterholes in the Okavango Delta. The dry season also offers comfortable weather and fewer mosquitoes.
December to March is considered the green (rainy) season. These are the calving months and allow visitors to experience nature’s own timetable of regeneration. This is also the time when large numbers of game migrate into the summer grazing areas, while the delta comes alive with sounds of hundreds of bird species. The rains also make for dramatic skies offering fantastic photographic opportunities. Please note that summers (particularly from December through to February) can become exceptionally hot and rain may make some roads muddy and impassable.
April/early May and late September/October are transitional months and still tend to be dry. However, the days are cooler than in the summer and the nights warmer than in the winter, making it a wonderful time to visit as well.
Edited by: botswanagirl
61
Use an Internet cafe and lose your personal information!How to avoid ID theft using a public computer
You're probably already familiar with the risks you run when using a public Internet shop, of having information you enter via the keyboard captured and sent to a remote operator. Spyware is a real risk when you use a public computer. It's a real risk, it's out there and people are falling prey to it all the time. It's bad enough when your email or Facebook password is lifted, but what about if you want to use online banking or pay for something with a credit card?
There are several ways to minimise the risk. Taking your own computer is probably the safest - providing you don't use unsecured wifi for sensitive transactions - but not everyone wants to truck around with a laptop or even a netbook/tablet.
I've put together a bundle of portable programs to help travellers. It's completely free, many of the programs are open-source, and it comes with my own help file for guidance. You load it onto a USB flash drive and plug that into a cybercafe computer. You could download a lot of it yourself, but the time you save grabbing the bundled version leaves you longer to concentrate on planning your trip.
There are two versions: one for basic web surfing, which includes Firefox web browser, a password safe, and a secure, onscreen keyboard. The full version has these, plus an instant message client and other programs to check out the computer for security risks.
Because people do more than email and surf in a cybercafe, I've included some digital photo tools - an editor and viewer - in the bundle.
Read more about it here .
63
Official New Immigration LawsNote to all travellers heading to Rwanda:
"The Government of Rwanda has introduced a New Immigration Law No O4/2011 of 21/03/2011 and its implementing ministerial orders on regulation and fees published on Official Gazette No 24 of 13 June 2011."
These regulations will be implemented effectively on Monday 20th June 2011.
Main informations:
The entry visa fee has been reduced from 60USD to 30 USD as early indicated there is a provision for multiple entry visa which shall be issued at a fee of 60 USD.
the duration of an entry visa has been extended from 15 up to 30 days with multiple entries. This will facilitate visitors of Rwanda to visit other countries within the region contrary using the Single entry visa.
Students’ permit has been introduced to cater for foreigner students in Rwanda for study purposes and its fee has been reduced to 10,000 Frw. Similarly, a holiday’s workers permit has also been introduced to facilitate students and other people wishing to work during their holidays.
A specific visitor’s pass was also introduced for EAC nationals for a period of up to 6 months.
For more more information, the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration encourage Rwandans, visitors and residents to visit:
www.migration.gov.rw
www.facebook.com/Rwandaimmigration
www.twitter.com/rwandamigration
Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
64
Tanzanian Visa Situation for Volunteers – Non-Resident “C” Permits“I am an American staffer that works in Tanzania for a volunteer NGO, and we deal with this constantly. Embassies in other countries often dispense inaccurate information probably for various reasons.
The July 2011 increase for the work permit c to $550 shocked everyone, but it is what it is. As many have mentioned, this is a lovely country and there are many needs and the NGOs, women and children that are here to receive help didn't make those rules. However...here are recent changes that immigration agreed to that benefits the shorter term volunteer. At least this is true in Moshi, I don't know why it wouldn't be anywhere.
If you are coming for less than 8 weeks, they will accept a CTA /Tourist Visa combination (CTA is a temporary assignment permit $200) and tourist visa prices vary based upon your country but total of this would be around $250-$300. The organization you volunteer with sends a letter requesting immigration to issue the CTA for the number of weeks starting X date; they email to you, you present to immigration upon arrival at airport, pay for it and tourist visa. Could be that this is the 'letter' referenced above, but it is $200, and not $100.
Longer than 8 weeks still requires the work permit c, tourist visa not required unless you are doing a fairly lengthy bit of travelling before or after your volunteering duty.
As others have reported, immigration officials know where the volunteers hang out, where they volunteer and they have been making rounds in various communities. Reports of arrests, near arrests, etc come up frequently so it's not worth the risk of sneaking in.
I’m sure that we are all experiencing a drop but the marked increase in airfare has also been a factor. However, we still have many people coming for short and longer term volunteering stays; no one is happy with the increase but on another plus side, those that are really committed to cause of helping people and making a difference, and those that have a heart for Tanzania have figured out that they will do it anyway.”
(Posted by Mamaafrica – on the Tanzanian page 7 March 2012) edited my Orion_mike
65
Asky and Air Ethiopia have probably the most coverage over West Africa if that helps66
There is a lot of great information on this blog. People heading to Africa can find great information here. I would recommend staying to the Eastern Countries for a first visit and make sure that you see Egypt at some point in your life. Not just for the Pyramids but for everything this place has to offer.To answer some of the most FAQ's like:
Where Do I Sleep In Africa?
How Much Is A Safari?
Where is the best place to book a Safari for budget backpackers?
Where is the best place to do a safari in Africa?
Which countries in Africa should i visit first?
Is Egypt safe to travel?
Check out Goats On The Road
Edited by: goatsontheroad
