Ex-pats staying in Gaborone for 4 months or more would be wise to consider buying a cheap local car to use as a runaround.  Cars are fairly cheap in Botswana (thanks to the abundance of second hand imports from Japan) and are particularly good value when compared to prices in neighbouring South Africa. 

A still-reliable 12-year old Nissan, Ford or Mazda hatchback can be purchased for around 25,000 Pula and the ex-pat should have little difficulty selling it on at the end of his or her posting for around 20,000 Pula.  Helpfully there is a perception that ex-pat owned vehicles are better maintained than locally-owned vehicles - even if the ex-pat has only owned for vehicle for a fraction of its life. 

A 5,000 Pula drop over 6-months is a small price to pay for the convenience of having your own vehicle during your stay and not have to rely on lifts, combis and taxis.   And you may even get all of your money back or make a profit!

Registration is hassle-free and there is very little else in the way of costs to worry about apart from a very modest annual fee for road tax. 

Sourcing a car is fairly easy.  Vehicles can be found advertised in the local free newspaper the Botswana Advertiser and there are a plethora or car dealers stationed along the Mogodishane & Tlokweng roads leading out of town.  Outgoing housemates will occasionally sell vehicles on to incoming housemates.

Hantom House is a shared house in central Gaborone that provides furnished, serviced accommodation to ex-pats on assignment to Gaborone at a cost much lower than other alternatives.

Most ex-pats have the idea that Botswana is a very expensive place to live. This is probably because most foreigners visit Botswana as tourists, and as the country’s tourism industry is aimed at the higher end of the market, things can get very expensive indeed. However normal life in Gaborone is not too expensive at all and you will find that your dollar/pound/euro goes quite a long way.  Here are a few examples of day to day costs, recorded in Jan 2011.  We will add to the list over time (including items other than beer & chips!):

• Draught beer at a bar in a shopping mall - 22 Pula.
• Chicken & chips at a sit down restaurant in a shopping mall  - 65 Pula.
• Hamburger & chips at a local place (non-chain) - 30 Pula.
• 2 pieces of chicken & chips at KFC – 35 Pula.
• Coffee at a shopping mall (Mugg & Bean etc) – 15 Pula.
• Point to point taxi fare around Gaborone - 40 Pula.
• Admission to a cinema at a shopping mall - 45 Pula.
• Litre of Petrol – 8.60 Pula.

To obtain the current exchange rate simple type BWP into Google.

Hantom House is a shared house in central Gaborone that provides furnished, serviced accommodation to ex-pats on assignment to Gaborone at a cost much lower than other alternatives.

Just about everyone in Gaborone speaks English, so you don’t really need to take any classes or borrow language tapes in advance of your posting.  “Please” and “Thank You” can be said in English.  But it is only polite to learn a few phrases of the local language. Fortunately there is only one local language to learn – Setswana. 

“Dumela Rra” – Hello Sir.  Response – “Dumela” 
“Dumela Mma” – Hello Madam.  Response – “Dumela”
(Mastering the timing of the Dumela is essential.  Usually it is the job of the person entering the shop/house/situation to kick the Dumela chorus off & say the greeting first.)

“Le Kae?”—How are you?
“Re Teng Rra/Mma” – I am well, Sir/Madam.
“Sharp!” - Bye
“Ke A Legoga Rra/Mma” – Thank you Sir/Madam
“Ke Rata ……”  - I like ……
“Ga Ke Rate ……” - ”I don’t like……
“Ke Batla …..” – I want……
“A Re Ssamaye” – Let’s Go.
“…………Ke Eng Ka Setswana?” – What is ………in Setswana?
“Bobala Sentle” – Sleep well.
“Boroko”- Good night.
“Tsamaya Sentle” — Go well 
“Sala Sentle” – Stay well.

Hantom House is a shared house in central Gaborone that provides furnished, serviced accommodation to ex-pats on assignment to Gaborone at a cost much lower than other alternatives.