BTO Accommodation Booklet 2013
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20 12/13 species, including Wild Dog, Cheetah, Brown Hyena, Cape Vulture, Wattled Crane, Kori Bustard, and Pel’s Fishing Owl. This makes your safari experience even species,more memorable, including Wild and Dog,at times Cheetah, you will Brown feel simply Hyena, surrounded Cape Vulture, by Wattledwild animals.Crane, The Kori first Bustard, - and mostand lastingPel’s Fishing impressions Owl. This – makeswill be yourof vast safari expanses experience of uninhabitedeven more wilderness memorable, stretching and at times from you horizon will feelto horizon, simply surroundedthe sensation by wild of limitlessanimals. space, The firstastoundingly - and most rich lasting wildlife impressions and bird viewing, – will be night of vast skies expanses litteredof uninhabitedwith stars and wilderness heavenly stretchingbodies of an from unimaginable horizon to horizon, brilliance, the and sensation stunningof limitless sunsets space, of unearthly astoundingly beauty. rich wildlife and bird viewing, night skies As well,littered with withmore stars and andmore heavenly cultural bodiestourism of options an unimaginable on offer, you brilliance, will be and charmedstunning by the sunsets people of of unearthly Botswana, beauty. visiting their villages and experiencing first-handAs well, their with rich more cultural and moreheritage. cultural But tourismperhaps optionsmost of onall, offer,Botswana’s you will be greatestcharmed gift is itsby abilitythe people to put of us Botswana, in touch withvisiting our their natural villages selves. and It offersexperiencing that vitalfirst-hand link so theirkeenly rich felt cultural by inhabitants heritage. of But the perhaps developed most world, of all, a Botswana’s pervasivegreatest void gift we is feel its abilitybut often to put cannot us in name touch – with our connectednessour natural selves. with It offers Naturethat and vital the link astonishing so keenly diversityfelt by inhabitants of plants and of the animals developed to be explored.world, a pervasive void we feel but often cannot name – our connectedness with Nature and the astonishing diversity of plants and animals to be explored. 1 2 2 CONTENTS FOREWORD FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 4 MAP OF BOTSWANA 6 BOTSWANA AT A GLANCE 8 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON GRADING 9 GRADING STANDARDS 10 CALENDAR 2013 12 GABORONE 14 EASTERN REGION 38 MAKGADIKGADI AND NXAI PANS REGION 52 CHOBE REGION 62 FRANCISTOWN 77 NORTH EAST AND CENTRAL REGION 97 KGALAGADI & GHANZI REGION 124 MOREMI AND OKAVANGO REGION 148 TRAVEL AGENTS AND MOBILE OPERATORS 201 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 205 BOTSWANA BORDERS, AIRPORTS AND GAZETTED PLACES OF ENTRY AND EXIT 208 CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS & REGIONAL OFFICES 212 BOTSWANA TOURISM ORGANISATION CONTACTS 218 EMBASSIES, HIGH COMMISSIONS & CONSULATES 220 BOTSWANA’S HONORARY CONSULS 224 LIST OF GRADED TOURIST ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES 228 3 Foreword from the Chief Executive Officer t is with pleasure that we publish yet another booklet for Botswana’s graded Itourist accommodation facilities. This grading and classification of accommodation facilities is done in accordance with the developed and approved Botswana Bureau of Standards specifications, which are briefly described under Grading Standards on this issue. The results of graded accommodation establishments stand as confirmation that Botswana offers travellers accommodation options of quality and repute. The results further indicate a general improvement on the level of service quality offered by our facilities since the last grading exercise, with more facilities using the mentorship programme offered by Botswana Tourism Organisation to improve on their facilities further. Some facilities do not appear in this publication due to various factors such as on-going refurbishments and/or upgrading, or pending re-assessment. This accommodation guide is both essential and useful to all visitors, local or international. The results of graded facilities are also found on our website, www.botswanatourism.co.bw, where there is an opportunity to view all graded establishments on an interactive Map of Botswana. In order to assist the industry to improve further, kindly give us feedback by completing the Questionnaire/ Feedback form posted on the website. I hope you will take time to experience the beauty that Botswana has to offer, the flora and fauna, culture, heritage, and other fascinating beauties found nowhere else but in Botswana. I trust you will find this publication very useful. Thank you, kea leboga. Myra T. Sekgororoane Chief Executive Officer 4 5 N N Botswana at a glance Location: Botswana is a land-locked country situated in southern Africa. It borders South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Approximately two-thirds of the country lies within the Tropics. Country Size: Botswana covers an area of 581730 square kilometres – about the size of France or Kenya. Topography: Most of the country is flat, with some small hills in the eastern areas. Kalahari sands cover 84 percent of the surface area. With the exception of the northern areas, most of Botswana is without perennial surface water. Capital: Gaborone Urban centres: Francistown, Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe Tourism centres: Maun, Kasane Independence day: 30 September 1966 Government: Multi-party democracy Head of State: His Excellency Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama Population: 2 million, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4 % (2010 statistics) National language: Setswana Official language: English Currency: Pula Main exports: Diamonds, copper nickel, beef, soda ash, tourism Major crops: Maize, sorghum, millet 8 Botswana Star Grading System Introduction The grading system serves as a useful tool in indicating to travel agents, tour operators and tourists the general quality levels of accommodation facilities in an area as a basis for deciding which facilities to select before tourists start a journey to any particular destination. The system also provides a framework to industry investors in designing their facilities to attract the desired market groups. Basically, the role of grading is to protect the consumer and for the accommodation establishment to benchmark their performance against set standards. The Botswana Star Grading System is used to differentiate the various quality levels of accommodation establishments, it provides judgements on the amenities, facilities and services of particular accommodation in a way that enables travellers to choose the quality of accommodation they want. The system is mandatory for all types of enterprises. The system applies objectivity obtained from the Grading standards and subjectivity obtained from the Grading Criteria. It is the combination of these two documentations that evaluate whether the establishment is fit for purpose as intended, thus ensuring an accommodation establishment qualifies for a Star Grading having achieved an acceptable average score. The guiding principles for the establishment of the Botswana Star Grading System are : • A marketing and quality assurance tool based on international recognised ratings. • Aids accommodation establishments to benchmark their performance against set Standards. • Serves as a pledge to commitment to quality, standards and service. • Allows for consumer confidence and choice. Benefits of Graded Facilities • Recognised both nationally and internationally, for their commitment to standards and service within the hospitality industry, hence, assisting establishments in positioning their products. • Displaying of plaques issued by the Botswana Tourism Organisation. • Displaying of grading certificates issued by the Organisation inside their establishments. • Listed on the Botswana Tourism Organization’s website with a hyperlink to the individual property. • Listed on the annual accommodation guide by location and star rating. • Participation at the marketing fairs through Botswana Tourism Organisation. 9 Grading standards FACILITIES TO BE GRADED All tourist enterprises licensed under the Tourism Act of 2009 shall be graded in accordance with the provisions of the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Act, 2009. These include all facilities throughout the country such as hotels, guesthouses, lodges and self catering establishments. Facilities therefore have to meet minimum licensing requirements. The grading system is compulsory and it is conducted bi-annually. The system consists of a rating from 1 to a 5 star facility. • One Star facility offers fair to good (acceptable/modest) quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care. • Two Star facility offers good quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care. • Three Star offers very good quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care. • Four Star offers superior (excellent) comfort and quality with a high standard of furnishings, service and guest care. • Five Star facility offers an exceptional quality and luxurious accommodation with highest standard of furnishings, flawless service and meticulous guest care. • Grade Pending includes facilities which may have no award, new facilities, or those whose certificates have expired and are due for re-grading. GRADING ASSESSORS Botswana Tourism Organisation has employed a team of trained grading assessors who have undergone internationally recognized training in the principles and etiquette of grading. Refresher courses are conducted intermittently. The grading assessors are Joyce Bose Morontshe, Richard Mafila Malesu, Tshepho F. Mmokele, Kegomoditswe Onyana Modikwe, Ferdinand Sebinyane,