General remarks about living in Botswana

Spoiler alert, it’s mostly about cars.

Coming from SA a couple of things caught our attention right away, that's a little different than what we're use to. It seems that in Botswana a lot of things are like the Pirates’ code: “mere guidelines” for those of you who hasn't seen the movie.

http://pirates.wikia.com/wiki/File:JackBarbossa.jpg

Number 1. If there is no centre line anything goes. More so on dirt roads, but you drive wherever you feel the corrugations are the least or the pools are the shallowest. It all works in an Ubuntu kind of fashion and nobody honks… unless you’re a taxi.

Number 2. Taxi drivers, the pimps of the road. Unlike SA minibus taxis, these are normal sedans: Toyota Corolla or Honda Fit are the preferred models to provide taxi services. They don't necessarily operate from a central point, but try to solicit anyone and everyone along the side of the road. Or 500 m from the road they are their driving on for that matter: the rule seems to be if they can see you, you would want a ride. Usually by honking. Thus they are prone to sudden stopping and worse maneuvers. And the cacophony begins at 06:00… watch out.

Number 3 reverse parking. Always and everywhere. Apparently it comes from the mines where a quick getaway is preferable in case of an accident. OK, not everywhere: you get told off if you reverse park in front of the bank.

Number 4 Batswana drivers are friendly people. Whenever they come across a driver going slower than they are, they feel obliged to stay behind him because the driver in front is obviously a stand-up guy who may just pull over and give them the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Apparently 80 km/h in the 120 km/h sections of the highway is customary. So you'll easily find queues of eight to ten cars deep on the open road. It may have something to do with the copious amount of livestock along the highway and the fact that when you run something over you will get fined and have to compensate the owner (or so I have been told). So patience, patience, patience. 

The above does not apply to bus drivers. They do between 120 and 130 km/h all the way irrespective of the actual speed limit.  Thus you can expect a Scania/ Volvo badge to appear out of nowhere and fill your rear view mirror. Solid lines on a blind rise are definitely within the pirates’ code. You have been warned.

Our local connecting road.

Number 5 pedestrians also use the (gravel)roads.  Many suburban areas still have only gravel roads without any side walk or pavement for anyone (pedestrian, bicycle, donkey cart) to use.  It often happens that you are negotiating your way up the road in your car, trying your best to miss the badly corrugated areas and to navigate through the smallest pool of the latest rain water, when two or three pedestrians do the same...  Yes, pedestrians in the middle of the road, merely going where they need to be on foot. This is where the Pirates' Code is mixed with some understanding and tolerance of your fellow road users who prefer to walk in the road and not through the veld/bushes where thorns, tics, dung and nettles are abound.  

Number 6. Chickens are the dogs of the village. The racket usually lasts for ten minutes and get passed around the neighborhood. Around midnight, then at 02:30 and again at 05:00. Like clockwork. 

In the village people like to be tight with their neighbours. Especially to know what they do in their houses. Therefore, despite the plots being huge all the houses are built right at the back of the plot, up against the wall or fence. So you and your neighbour can have a face off/conversation through your respective kitchen windows.  As far as building regulations go, also see the pirates’ code.