South Africa & Botswana Tour booklet TLF
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YARM SCHOOL RUGBY TOUR
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South Africa and Botswana 2013 |
CONTENTS
PAGE
| 2 | Table of Contents |
| 3 | Code of Conduct |
| 4 – 8 | Rugby Tour Final Information |
| 9 | Flight Information |
| 10 – 22 | Tour itinerary |
| 23 – 26 | Hotel Information |
| 27 – 3738 – 45 | South Africa Fact SheetsBotswana Fact Sheets |
| 46 – 50 | Team Sheets |
Code of Conduct
Throughout the tour it is important for the entire tour party to remember that at all times they will be acting as ambassadors for Yarm School during the whole trip. Naturally, this includes time spent at airports, on the journeys, with host families, during free time as well as during games. People will judge the school and England more generally, on our appearance, demeanour and attitude.
We expect pupils to be smartly turned out at all times, to be proud to be on tour with the School and to be keen to make a favourable impression. Normal School rules will apply. That is to say that we expect no foul language; alcohol, smoking, drugs and pornography remain banned as they are in School and pupils should remember that they are on a School trip with their teachers.
It is important that pupils and parents understand that any serious transgression of these expectations and rules will result in disciplinary consequences. We hope very much that it will not be necessary to discipline tourists, either on the trip or when the party returns to School. Very serious misbehaviour could result in a pupil being sent back at parental expense. It goes without saying that nobody on the trip wants to exercise this right.
Let’s have a happy, enjoyable and successful tour and be proud of our high standards and what our School stands for.
Rugby Tour Final Information
As the tour is now only a few weeks away I can give you the final information, which should help in your preparation for the trip. Please read the following pages carefully, going through relevant points with your son. He will find it useful to take this information on the trip so please make sure that you keep a copy of things such as contact numbers and return times etc. You will find all this information on the tour web site.
Packing
The following is a rough checklist for items required when packing: –
|
Provided |
Required |
| Playing Kit | Rugby kit to train in other than Zoo kit |
| 2 x Zoo Playing Shirt | |
| 2 x Zoo Playing Shorts | Boots — MUST be clean to enter South Africa |
| 2 x Zoo Playing Socks | Pads/Head guards (if worn) |
| Zoo Track Pants | Training Shoes |
| Zoo Waterproof | Gum Shield |
| Water Bottle (clearly named) | |
| Other Items | |
| Zoo Polo Shirt x 2 | Swimming Shorts / Towel |
| Zoo T Shirt x 2 | Casual Clothing |
| Zoo Leisure Shorts | Underwear (as required!) / socks |
| Zoo Hoodie | Washing kit / camera / reading book / binoculars |
| Zoo Holdall (large size) | Smart Shoes & Socks |
| Uno cards or other similar games of chance | |
| No 1’s | |
| Chinos | |
| Blue Shirt | |
| Tour Tie | |
| Blue jumper |
Clothing
At various times on the tour tourists will be required to wear different items of clothing depending on the occasion. As outlined above number 1 kit will be chinos, shirt, tie and shoes. If number 2 kit is called then a polo shirt and chinos will be worn. Number 3 kit will be tracksuit, t – shirt and training shoes. I would like all boys to meet on the 21st in number 3 kit with the red Zoo polo shirt. I would advise boys to pack their leisure shorts in their hand luggage to change in flight along with their soap bag (see note below regarding sharp objects) and their track suit jacket.
May I remind all tourists that they are representing Yarm School at all times and that the casual clothing they bring must reflect this. Items of clothing with offensive logos / phrases etc. will not be tolerated. They will be wearing tour kit for the majority of the time, so not much casual clothing is required. Billets are a good time to try and get some washing done! If this is not possible then other arrangements will be made.
Insurance
We are using the school’s policies to cover us whilst we are away, a copy of which you have previously been sent, which I am sure you will admit is very comprehensive. Please feel free to take out any further insurance you feel appropriate.
Note – MP3 players etc may be brought at the pupils own risk but items that require external speakers are discouraged. Any items with a value greater than £500 such as Camcorders will require personal insurance.
Luggage Allowance
20kgs hold luggage allowance per person (Zoo kit bag) + 5kgs hand luggage (Gullivers cabin bag). These are to be used for all luggage. No other baggage is required.
All tourists are responsible for paying their own excess luggage.
Note – Hand luggage should contain no sharp objects such as scissors, nail clippers, knitting needles! Liquids must not exceed 100ml and must be carried in a single transparent, resealable plastic bag.
Luggage Labels
All luggage should be securely labeled (provided) with the person’s name, the name of the school party and the address: –
YARM SCHOOL RUGBY TOUR
(LEADER — MR. S.P. HARDY)
Town Lodge
Menlo Park
Pretoria
Passports
All members of the touring party need to have their own passports. A member of staff will look after passports when they are not required and only give them out for check-in and immigration. If boys bring traveller’s cheques they will usually require their passport to cash them so they should plan to change money in advance and let the member of staff know they will require their passport. It is helpful if a sticky label is attached to the back cover with the holder’s name written on the label.
Airport Groups
For the purposes of moving a large group through the airports and checking numbers at various points throughout the tour you are assigned a group with a particular member of staff to report to when required.
| AJM | CACW | CT | TLF | |
| Alexander | Fuat | Knaggs | O’Brien | |
| Bonavia | Gray B | Lawson | Peddada | |
| Booth | Gray M | Mahmoud | Phellas | |
| Collantine | Guthrie C | Mavin | Robinson | |
| Croft M | Guthrie W | McCullagh | Stockdale | |
| Croft R | Harrison | McGregor | Teague | |
| Duggleby | Hartigan | Melville | Thompson H | |
| Elston | He | Mughal | Thompson S | |
| Foster | Henderson | Nargol A | Wilson | |
| Fox | Jones | Nargol M | Yetman | |
Gifts
In recent years a number of parents have experienced hosting boys on tour and have received gifts from them as a thank you. Consequently the issue of gifts has been raised for our tour. The boys are scheduled to be in billets on 2 occasions and as I do not know if they will be on their own or in pairs at this stage each boy will be given 2 tour brochures and 2 balls to present to their hosts as gifts. I would suggest that you look to provide an additional personal gift for your hosts.
Web
We will be taking a digital camera with us on tour and the images produced will be published on the web whilst we are away at the following address: –
https://yarmschoolrugby.wordpress.com
This will be updated on a regular basis so you can follow the boys’ exploits from the comfort of your own home. You can use it to send messages to your son or the whole squad by inserting comments on the pages. This proved to be very popular with the parents of the previous tour. There will also be a link from the school web site.
Specific Areas of Staff Responsibility
Any of the Tour Management Team are available to help you whenever needed and at any time of the day. Although all members of staff are there to help you with any difficulties you should endeavour to see the appropriate person according to the list below: –
Mr S. P. Hardy Tour Manager
1st XV Coach
Mr C. A. C. Webb 1st XV Coach
Transport
Mr T. L. Foggett Media
Bank
Mr C. Thomas First Aid
Hotel / Meals
Mr A. Morrison 2nd XV Coach
Passports
Pupil Responsibility
Tour Captain Josh Jones
1st XV Captain Tom Mavin
1st XV Vice Captain Tom Lawson
2nd XV Captain Matthew Bonavia
Each day a number of boys will be on duty to carry out what ever tasks are required e.g. Photography, tour diary / match reports, kit preparation etc.
Emergency Contact
If during the course of the tour you need to contact a member of staff then the following number may be used in emergency circumstances only: –
Pocket Money
All the major trips and excursions mentioned on the itinerary have already been paid for, so the only other money required is for meals, evening entertainment and any gifts they wish to purchase while they are away.
Whilst the boys are in billets it is reasonable to expect breakfasts and evening meals to be provided. Obviously after matches the boys will be provided with a meal. I have looked at the itinerary and I would expect the boys to have to provide their own lunch on 10 occasions, with all evening meals covered either in billets, at schools after matches or in hotels. I would anticipate that a figure of between £5 – £10 per lunch will easily cover these costs. Obviously if your son would require additional food/meals then please budget accordingly.
When travelling anywhere abroad, it’s safer to keep the bulk of your money in an alternative form to cash such as traveller’s cheques or cards, but it would be as well to have some local currency when you arrive so that you aren’t caught short the first day you arrive in South Africa. Either sterling or SA Rand cheques will be acceptable.
Mr. Foggett will hold and distribute money / travellers cheques, as they are required. Most major credit cards are honoured in South Africa but visitors are advised to check with their own banks before leaving home and not rely on machines for cash withdrawals.
Botswana does have its own currency – the Pula and you will require this whilst there. We have included all meals in Botswana and therefore the boys should only require money for gifts, snacks and drinks.
At time of producing this document, the exchange rates are : –
1GBP = ZAR15.25 (South Africa) and 1GBP = 13.07 PULA (Botswana)
(Monday 8th July 2013)
Flight Details
OUTWARD JOURNEY
Sun 21 Jul Newcastle / London Heathrow / In Flight
1155 hours BA Flight No. BA1327 is scheduled to depart for LHW
1315 hours BA Flight No. BA1327 to arrive in LHW
19100 hours BA Flight No. BA055 is scheduled to depart for Johannesburg
Overnight: In flight
Mon 22 Jul In flight / Johannesburg
0700+1 hours BA Flight No. BA055 is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg
INTERNAL FLIGHTS
Mon 05 Aug Gaborone / Johannesburg
1310 hours SAA Flight SA1768 is scheduled to depart from Gaborone to Johannesburg
1405 hours SAA Flight SA1768 is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg from Gaborone
RETURN FLIGHT
Mon 05 Aug Johannesburg / London Heathrow
1920 hours BA Flight No. BA 056 is scheduled to depart from Johannesburg to LHW
Tue 06 Aug In flight / London Heathrow
0515+ 1hrs BA Flight No. BA 056 is scheduled to arrive in LHW from Johannesburg
London Heathrow / Newcastle
0720 hours BA Flight No. BA1324 is scheduled to depart from LHW to Newcastle
0825 hours BA Flight No. BA1324 is scheduled to arrive in Newcastle
Yarm School Rugby Tour
South Africa & Botswana
July 2013
Sun 21 Jul NEWCASTLE/ INFLIGHT
0855 hours Meet at Newcastle Airport, Terminal 3 for your flight to Johannesburg with British Airways via London Heathrow.
A representative from Servisair will be on hand to assist with the check-in procedure.
1155 hours Depart on flight BA1327 – Flying time: 1 hour 10 mins
1315 hours Arrive at London Heathrow
1910 hours Depart on flight BA055 – Flying time: 10 hours 45 mins
Overnight: In flight
Mon 22 Jul JOHANNESBURG / PRETORIA
0700 hours An early morning arrival in Johannesburg O.R. International Airport, where you will be met and escorted to your coach. You will then depart on your excursion.
Included Excursion – Voortrekker Monument & Nature Reserve
The majestic Voortrekker Monument is situated in the northern part of South Africa in the Pretoria (Tshwane) region in a nature reserve. It is a unique Monument which commemorates the Pioneer history
of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikaner and is situated in a beautiful setting. Today it is the most visited heritage site of its kind in Gauteng and one of the top ten cultural historical visitor attractions in the country.
1600 hours This afternoon transfer Sutherland High School and students will meet their hosts for two night’s billets. Staff will make their way to the Town Lodge Menlo Park for four nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis.
Overnight: Players: Billets Staff: Town Lodge Menlo Park
Tue 23 Jul PRETORIA
This morning, after breakfast, staff will transfer to host school to pick up players.
Included Excursion – Lion Park
Visit Lion Park in Johannesburg and enjoy a self-drive with guide where you can see the huge cats, and also entry in to the walk- in section where you can see and pet the cubs. Please note Walking with the Cheetah’s is an additional cost of approximately.
This afternoon transfer to the first fixture of the tour.
MATCH DAY 1 VS SUTHERLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Enjoy a post match function with your hosts
Players depart with host families and staff make their own way back to the hotel.
Overnight: Players: Billets Staff: Town Lodge Menlo Park
Wed 24 Jul PRETORIA
This morning, after breakfast, staff will transfer to host school to pick up players and enjoy some sightseeing.
Included Excursion – Soweto Tour with lunch & Apartheid Museum
Soweto, South Africa’s largest township, was where the struggle for freedom was given
form. Soweto township tours are the best way for the first time visitor to immerse themselves
in the urban vibe of the place that was at the
heart of the freedom struggle. A township tour of Soweto explains the history of how many black people gravitated to the cities, especially Johannesburg, where they were housed in single-sex hostels attached to mines and factories.
In the museum there is a series of 22 individual exhibition areas which takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a state- sanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny.
This afternoon, transfer to Wonderboom High School and meet your new hosts for two nights billets. Staff will make their own back to the Town Lodge Menlo Park Hotel.
Overnight: Players: Billets Staff: Town Lodge Menlo Park
Thu 25 Jul PRETORIA
This morning, after breakfast, staff transfer to host school to supervise players whilst hosts in classes.
This afternoon you will return to host school.
MATCH DAY 2 VS WONDERBOOM HIGH SCHOOL
Enjoy a post match function with your hosts
Players depart with host families and staff make their own way back to the hotel.
Overnight: Players: Billets Staff: Town Lodge Menlo Park
Fri 26 Jul PRETORIA
This morning, after breakfast, staff will check-out of your hotel transfer to host school to pick up players and transfer to the HPC where you will be accommodated for two nights on a half-board basis.
The University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre (HPC) is Southern Africa’s first elite performance sports facility. Launched in May 2002, the centre is the training ground for tomorrow’s sporting champions and the venue of choice for sports professionals and enthusiasts alike. The HPC’s unique combination of world- class training facilities, medical services, accommodation, nutritional food, scientific
expertise, research and hospitality has established its local and international reputation for excellence and success.
Included Activity: Training facilities at the HPC
Dinner at the HPC.
Overnight: Pretoria High Performance Centre
Sat 27 Jul PRETORIA
After breakfast you will have some time at leisure before your next fixture. Transfer to Soweto RFC for your third set of fixtures.
MATCH DAY 3 VS SOWETO RFC
Enjoy a post match function with your hosts
Return to the HPC for your evening meal and make use of the training and leisure facilities available
Overnight: Pretoria High Performance Centre
Sun 28 Jul PRETORIA / PILANESBURG – CHARTER COACH
After breakfast, staff check out and transfer to host school to pick up players and be transferred to Bakgatla Camp in the Pilanesburg where you will stay for two nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
Included Excursion: Late Afternoon Game Drive. Optional: Bush Braai (additional cost) Go on a three hour guided game drive through the Pilanesburg Game Reserve. As well as the Big 5 you may see hyena, cheetah, hippo and croc!
Overnight: Bakgatla Camp
Mon 29 Jul PILANESBURG – CHARTER COACH
This morning you will depart on an early morning Game Drive before breakfast and checking out of the hotel.
Included Excursion: Morning Pilanesberg Game Drive
Enjoy another opportunity to spot the Big 5.
This afternoon, you will transfer to Sun City where you have entry paid for Sun City & The Valley of the Waves
Included Excursion: Sun City & The Valley of Waves
Located in South Africa’s North West Province, but only 2- hours drive from Johannesburg, Sun City is a
vibrant mix of entertainment, watersports, golf, and
family fun – a lush and tropical fantasyland deep in the African bushveld. This, combined with
exhilarating game viewing at the adjacent
Pilanesberg National Park makes for a truly memorable holiday experience.
Overnight: Bakgatla Camp
Tue 30 Jul PILANESBURG / GABORONE – CHARTER COACH
Depart Pilanesburg and transfer to Gaborone, in Botswana.
ON arrival you will enjoy lunch at the Oasis.
Check in to the Oasis Motel for six nights on a bed and breakfast basis. However, all other meals in Botswana are included in local restaurants.
Later this afternoon, you will transfer to a local school/club for a training session
1500 hours Included Activity: Training Session at Wharic Parc GRFC for 1 hour
1630 hours This evening, you will transfer to Mokolodi Game Reserve restaurant for your evening meal Bush Braai and traditional Dance at the Boma.
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Wed 31 Jul GABARONE
After breakfast, you will transfer to Garbone National Museum, followed by a Botswana craft centre.
0830 hours Included Excursion: Gaborone Museum Tour
Gaborone houses the National Museum and Art Gallery, which shows a collection of traditional crafts and paintings by indigenous and regional artists.
Included Excursion: Local Craft Centre
1200 hours Included Excursion: Mmankgodi Cultural Village with lunch
Proceed to Bahurutshe cultural village in Mmankgodi Village, approximately 40
minutes drive. Upon arrival proceed to the
village meeting place (Kgotla in Setswana). Here you will be taught and shown how Bahurutshe people used to live during the olden days. They will show case to you how their traditional weddings used to be conducted, traditional dancers will perform
for you and you will learn how to cook traditional food and play traditional games. After all the activities a traditional lunch will be served
1900 hours Transfer to Riverwalk-Rodizio for the “All you can Eat” Meat Challenge at Rodizio.
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Thu 1 Aug GABARONE
This morning is at leisure to prepare for the next matches of the tour. 1200 hours Lunch is served at your hotel.
Transfer to Garbone Rugby Club for your fixture.
MATCH DAY 4 vs SELECT SIDE AT GARBONE RFC
(GRFC-Wharic Park)
1500 hours 2nd team fixture starts (U17s)
1600 hours 1st team fixture starts (U19s)
Informal post match function with your hosts – please note that it is unlikely that food will be provided.
1900 hours After the match you will enjoy dinner at Oasis Motel.
Optional Movie night excursion (additional cost – approximately £4.50 per movie ticket) TBC
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Fri 2 Aug GABORONE
0630 hours This morning, before breakfast you will depart on the Kgale Hill breakfast climb.
Included Excursion: Climb Kgale Hill
The Kgale Hill, Gaborone is located on the western side of the city. Visitors can go for some great climbing at the Kgale Hill to get some breath-taking views of the Dam and the city. The Kgale Hill, Gaborone also provides some excellent bird- watching. It is one of the popular Tourist Attractions in Gaborone.
0800 hours Enjoy breakfast at the Oasis.
After breakfast spend some time relaxing at your hotel and make use of the swimming pool for some recovery sessions. Please note that the swimming pool is not manned by a life guard and there are no depth markings. Safety/first aid equipment is located at the bar.
After lunch at the motel you will enjoy a full day at Tlamelo Rugby Pilot Project where you will present your kind donations.
1400 hours Included Excursion: Tlamelo Project
The Tlamelo Project in Gaborone began in 1999, in response to a growing need to support vulnerable children in the surrounding area. The project itself represents the determination of local volunteers fully committed to improving the lives of young people, developing individuals as they mature and helping them to overcome the challenges faced by so many
communities in Africa.
The centre first started with 50 children, with ages ranging from 1 year old babies to young adults, aged 17.
Today more than 180 children attend the centre, coming from schools in the surrounding area. Many
now orphaned, the vision at Tlamelo is to personally
develop every individual, addressing the child’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs, and improve self esteem
Included Activity: Training Session at Wharic Parc GRFC for 1 hour
1900 hours Evening meal at Obama Restaurant
Return transfer back to your accommodation.
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Sat 3 Aug GABORONE
After breakfast you will depart for a morning excursion at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre.
0900 hours Included Excursion: Thapong Visual Arts Tour
The aims of the trust are to foster Creativity and professionalism among
artists. To overcome any disadvantages
such as lack of training, poverty, and isolation through Residencies, Networking and Workshops. For artists to meet and stimulate each other whatever their background, stressing our common human heritage over cultural and
ideational boundaries. To create dialogue and discussion on the dynamic nature of culture, to build a sense of individual and chauvinistic identity.
Return to your hotel for lunch
Depart for your final match of the tour
MATCH DAY 5 vs SELECT SIDE AT GARBONE RFC
(GRFC-Wharic Park)
1400 hours 2nd team fixture (U17s)
1530 hours 1st team fixture (U19s)
Informal post match function with your hosts – please note that it is unlikely that food will be provided.
1900 hours After the match you will enjoy dinner at Oasis Motel.
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Sun 4 Aug GABORONE
This morning, after breakfast you will return to the Tlamelo Project.
0900 hours Included Excursion: Tlamelo Project
1300 hours After a morning at Tlamelo you will enjoy lunch at Nando’s.
Free afternoon to return to your motel and relax
1600 hours Included Excursion: David Livingstone Memorial
Enjoy a last night of cultural history, where you will enjoy a tour of the ruins around the Kumakwane area. You will visit the old house and church of David Livingstone, which he built in 1840.
1900 hours Enjoy your final evening meal at Iketlo Lodge-Kumakwane.
Overnight: Oasis Motel
Mon 5 Aug GABORONE / JOHANESBURG / INFLIGHT
1000 hours This morning, after breakfast, you will check out of your hotel.
1030 hours Transfer to Gaborone Airport for your flight to Johannesburg.
1310 hours Flight SA1768 departs – Flying time: 1 hour 10 minutes
1405 hours Arrive into Johannesburg Airport. Collect your luggage and check in with British Airways for your return flight back to Newcastle, via London Heathrow.
1920 hours Flight BA056 departs – Flying time: 10 hours 55 minutes
Overnight: In Flight
Tue 6 Aug ARRIVAL IN UK
0515 hours Arrive into London Heathrow and make your way to your connecting flight to Newcastle.
0720 hours Flight BA1324 departs for Newcastle – Flying time: 1 hour 5 minutes
0825 hours Flight arrives at Newcastle Airport
Early morning arrival into Newcastle Airport. Pass through immigration, collect your luggage and proceed through customs to make your own way home.
Tour arrangements terminate.
Hotel Information
Room Allocations
When staying in hotels consideration for other guests is expected at all times as well as excellent standards of behaviour. On arrival at a hotel you will go straight to your allocated room and inspect it carefully, any damage is to be reported to the person in charge of hotels at once. Any damage that occurs during your stay MUST be reported immediately. Rooms are to be kept tidy at all times and this will be checked frequently.
General Guidelines
Bedtimes assigned by the Party Leader must be strictly adhered to.
No person should leave his room after bedtime unless there is an emergency (in which case they should alert the nearest staff member). Take note of fire instructions / exits when staying in each hotel.
Laundry in the Hotels will probably be expensive so it is advisable to make sure kit is washed when staying with hosts (it may be necessary to practice this before departure). Telephones should not be used in Hotels for internal or external calls.
The rooming allocation is as follows: –
HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTRE
Arrival: Fri 26 July 2013
No. Nights: 2
Departure: Sun 28 July 2013
PLAYERS
10 Quad share rooms
| Room No. | Name | Name |
| 1 | Michael Alexander | Matthew Bonavia |
| Nathan Booth | Jonathan Collantine | |
| 2 | Martin Croft | Robert Duggleby |
| Robin Croft | James Elston | |
| 3 | Matthew Foster | Tamer Fuat |
| James Fox | Ben Gray | |
| 4 | Max Gray | Will Guthrie |
| Charles Guthrie | Max Harrison | |
| 5 | Adam Henderson | Conor Hartigan |
| Josh Jones | Jason He | |
| 6 | Richard Knaggs | Tom Mavin |
| Tom Lawson | James McCullagh | |
| 7 | Connor McGregor | Scott Melville |
| Saief Mahmoud | Fezan Mughal | |
| 8 | Alex Nargol | Alex O’Brien |
| Matthew Nargol | Akshay Peddada | |
| 9 | John Phellas | Tom Stockdale |
| Connor Robinson | Jonathan Teague | |
| 10 | Sam Thompson | Ian Wilson |
| Harry Thompson | Jack Yetman |
BAKGATLA RESORT
Arrival: Sun 28 July 2013
No. Nights: 2
Departure: Tue 30 July 2013
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
2 |
Michael Alexander |
Jonathan Teague |
|
Matthew Foster |
John Phellas |
|
|
Adam Henderson |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
3 |
Nathan Booth |
Saief Mahmoud |
|
James Fox |
Connor Robinson |
|
|
Sam Thompson |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
4 |
Matthew Bonavia |
Scott Melville |
|
Tamer Fuat |
Tom Stockdale |
|
|
Conor Hartigan |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
5 |
Jonathan Collantine |
Tom Lawson |
|
Ben Gray |
Fezan Mughal |
|
|
Harry Thompson |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
6 |
Martin Croft |
Tom Mavin |
|
Max Gray |
Alex Nargol |
|
|
Josh Jones |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
7 |
Robin Croft |
James McCullagh |
|
Charles Guthrie |
Alex O’Brien |
|
|
Ian Wilson |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
8 |
Robert Duggleby |
Connor McGregor |
|
Will Guthrie |
Akshay Peddada |
|
|
Jason He |
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
|
9 |
James Elston |
Matthew Nargol |
|
Max Harrison |
Jack Yetman |
|
|
Richard Knaggs |
OASIS MOTEL
Arrival: Tue 30 July 2013
No. Nights: 6
Departure: Mon 04 Aug 2013
|
Room No. |
Name |
Name |
Name |
Name |
|
1 |
Michael Alexander | Tamer Fuat | Richard Knaggs |
Alex O’Brien
2
Matthew BonaviaBenjamin GrayThomas Lawson
Akshay Peddada
3
Nathan BoothMax GrayThomas Mavin
John Phellas
4
Jonathan CollantineWilliam GuthrieJames McCullagh
Connor Robinson
5
Martin Croft
Charles GuthrieConnor McGregor
Tom Stockdale
6
Robin CroftMax HarrisonSaief MahmoudJonathan Teague
7
Robert DugglebyConor Hartigan
Scott MelvilleHarry Thompson
8
James ElstonJason HeFezan MughalSam Thompson
9
Matthew FosterAdam HendersonAlexander NargolMark Wilson
10
James Fox
Josh Jones
Matthew NargolJack Yetman
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa Flag
The national flag of the Republic of South Africa is still relatively new, having first been used on 27 April 1994. The country did have an old flag which was used long before this but it was somewhat symbolic of the old South Africa and the many injustices that were suffered in times gone by. The new flag of South Africa is much more striking and whereas much of the old flag was based on the flags of other countries, the new flag is very unique – a fitting symbol of this unique and diverse country. Most South Africans are very proud of the colorful new flag.
The colors used in the flag have come from both the previous national flag and the African National Congress flag and though some have assigned them meaning – such as representing the multi-ethnicity of the country – they have no official meaning. The only item with some meaning is that of the converging V-shape with the horizontal band which is generally taken to be symbolic of ‘facing the future in unity’ and is in harmony with the National Coat of Arms, ‘Unity is Strength’.
Passports & Visas
A full passport is required and we recommend it should be valid for six months after the intended date of return. Currently, 30 days is the legal requirement but this can change at short notice and is out of our control. Equally important please note that visitors to South Africa must have at least two free adjacent pages in their passport for endorsements. Holders of a full EU passport do not require a visa for a holiday visit to South Africa. It is advisable to check with the South African High Commission / Embassy before departure. A sports visa is needed for all nationalities except British or Irish citizens. Travellers must have a return ticket.
Health
No vaccination certificates are required from visitors from Europe entering South Africa. However visitors from yellow fever zone must have a valid certificate. Immunisation against Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended.
Spending Money
To help you plan your budget here is the average cost of some holiday items. This list is a guide only; prices may vary depending on the service provided and the location. A typical three course meal £5-£8. A Crayfish dinner £14. Bottle of wine in a restaurant £3- £5. A beer 60p. A Gin & Tonic 70p. Cup of tea/coffee 40p. Hamburger £1.50. 35mm roll of film (36 exposures) £3.20. Theatre Ticket £2.40-£6. Cinema Ticket £2. Litre of Petrol 36p.
Currency
1.00 GBP = 15.25 ZAR
United Kingdom Pounds South African Rand
(as at 8th July 2013)
The currency is the Rand (SAR), based on the decimal system with 100 Cents to the Rand. Paper currency is issued in 5, 10, 20, and 50. Coins are issued in 1 and 2 Rand and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Cents. All currency must be declared on entry. The amount of cash you can bring into the country in South African Currency is restricted to SAR 5000.
Most major credit cards are honoured in South Africa, but visitors are advised to check with their own banks before leaving home. When travelling anywhere abroad, it’s safer to keep the bulk of your money in the form of traveller’s cheques. South African Rand traveller’s cheques are recommended.
Clothing
During the South African summer lightweight clothing is the norm. Warmer clothing is required for winter, a jumper or jacket may be needed, particularly in the evenings. Rainwear is required in the Northern Provinces during summer and in the winter months in the Cape Provinces. Please ensure that upon entry into the country that all sports/walking shoes are clean and free of mud as they may be confiscated to be disinfected which may take several days and will incur a charge to the owner.
General information about South Africa
Capital Cape Town (legislative) Pretoria (administrative) Bloemfontein (judicial)
Area 1,221,037 sq km
Population 52.9 million
Local Time GMT+2
Inter’l dial 00 27
Flying time Approx 11 hours from the UK
Language Afrikaans, English, many African languages inc. Xhosa, Zulu
Electricity 250V AC50HZ Pretoria 220/230 V AC50 Hz elsewhere
Water Tap water is quite safe to drink in the major cities.
Currency South African Rand (ZAR)
Passports Must be valid for 30 days beyond departure from SA. Require two adjacent pages for visa issue on arrival.
Driving Driving is on the left. Full licence required.
Tipping Most restraints do not add a service charge to bills – thus a it is customary to leave a 10 – 15% tip.
Embassy Addresses
South African High Commission
South Africa House
Trafalgar Square
London WC2N5DP
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 7299 (except Consular Section)
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7451 7284 (except Consular Section)
British High Commission in South Africa
Consular Section
256 Glyn Street, Hatfield, Pretoria
Phone: (27) (12) 421 7800
Gauteng
Gauteng (/xaʊˈtɛŋ/; Sotho pronunciation [xɑ́.ú.ˈtʼè.ŋ̀]) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa’s first all-race elections on 27 April 1994. It was initially named Pretoria–Witwatersrand–Vereeniging (PWV) and was renamed “Gauteng” in December 1994.
Situated in the heart of the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa, with only 1.5% of the land area, but it is highly urbanised and Johannesburg and Pretoria are located therein.
Gauteng Province is home to 12.2 million people (2011 South African National Census), almost 25% of the total South African population. Gauteng Province is also the fastest growing province, experiencing a population growth of over 33% between the 1996 and 2011 censuses, thus Gauteng now has the largest population of any province in South Africa, though the smallest area.
The name Gauteng comes from the Sesotho word meaning “Place of Gold”, the Sesotho name for Johannesburg and surrounding areas. This referred to the thriving gold industry in the province following the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg. The Sesotho word is a locative derived from the Afrikaans goud (gold) plus the locative suffix “-ng”.
History
The history of the area that is now Gauteng can be traced back to the early 1800s when settlers originating from the Cape Colony defeated chief Mzilikazi and started establishing villages in the area. These settlers or Boers (Dutch/Afrikaans for “farmers”) were known as the Voortrekkers (Afrikaans and Dutch for pioneers, literally “those who pull ahead”, “fore-trekkers”). They were undertaking the Great Trek (Afrikaans: Die Groot Trek) which consisted of a number of mass movements under a number of different leaders including Louis Tregardt, Hendrik Potgieter, Sarel Cilliers, Pieter Uys, Gerrit Maritz, Piet Retief and Andries Pretorius. This involved an eastward and north-eastward migration away from British control in the Cape Colony, in search of a better life.
The Boers were descended from settlers from western mainland Europe, most notably from the Netherlands, northwest Germany and French Huguenots. The Great Trek itself led to the founding of numerous Boer republics, the Natalia Republic, the Orange Free State Republic and the Transvaal being the most notable.
Trekboers in the Karoo
After the discovery of gold in 1886, the region proceeded to become the single largest gold-producer in the world. The older city Pretoria was not subject to the same attention and development. Pretoria grew at a slower rate and was highly regarded due to its role in the Second Boer War. However, the Cullinan Diamond which is the largest diamond ever mined was mined near Pretoria in a nearby town called Cullinan in the year 1905.
Gauteng has only been properly documented since the 1800sand as a result, not much information regarding its history predating the 1800s is available. However, at the Sterkfontein caves, some of the oldest fossils of hominids have been discovered, such as Mrs. Ples and Little Foot.
Many crucial events happened in present day Gauteng with regards to the anti-apartheid struggle, such as the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, the Rivonia Trial in 1963 and 1964 and the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Today, the Apartheid Museum stands testament to these struggles in Johannesburg.
Climate
The climate is mostly influenced by altitude. Even though the province is at a subtropical latitude, the climate is comparatively cooler, especially in Johannesburg, at 1,700 m (5,577 ft) above sea level (Pretoria is at 1,330 m or 4,364 ft). Most precipitation occurs as brief afternoon thunderstorms; however, relative humidity never becomes uncomfortable. Winters are crisp and dry with frost occurring often in the southern areas. Snow is rare, but it has occurred on some occasions in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.
- Johannesburg averages: January maximum: 26 °C (78.8 °F) (min: 15 °C or 59 °F), June maximum: 16 °C (60.8 °F) (min: 4 °C or 39.2 °F), annual precipitation: 713 mm (28.1 in)
- Pretoria averages: January maximum: 29 °C (84.2 °F) (min: 18 °C or 64.4 °F), June maximum: 19 °C (66.2 °F) (min: 5 °C or 41 °F), annual precipitation: 674 mm (26.5 in)
Centurion
Centurion (previously known as Verwoerdburg) is an area with 279,430 inhabitants in Gauteng Province of South Africa, located between Pretoria and Midrand (Johannesburg). Formerly an independent municipality, with its own town council, it forms part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality since 2000. Its heart is located at the intersection of the N1 and N14 highways. The R21 also passes through Centurion. From 1825 to 1826 the Matabele peoples defeated the Bakwena tribe and settled along the banks of the Magalies River under the leadership of Mzilikazi.
In 1841 the Erasmus family arrived and settled in the area that would much later (circa 1995) become Centurion. Daniel Jacobus Erasmus settled on the farm Zwartkop, Daniel Elardus Erasmus on the farm Doornkloof and Rasmus Elardus Erasmus developed the farm Brakfontein. Several of the suburbs like Erasmia, Elardus Park, Zwartkop and Doornkloof were named after these 19th-century owners of the land and their properties.
In 1849 Rev Andrew Murray visited the farm Doornkloof and christened 129 babies, heard the confession of their faith of 29 new members of the Reformed Church and the next day, 29 December 1849, celebrated communion.
In 1889 Alois Hugo Nelmapius bought the northern and north-eastern portions of the farm Doornkloof and named it after his daughter Irene (who died 1961).
First Anglo-Boer War
As part of the First Boer War, the battle for Rooihuiskraal (Afrikaans for “Red House Kraal“) took place in 1881 here. A Boer commando under the leadership of D.J. Erasmus Jr defeated Colonel Gildea, or “The Blasted Colonel” as they called him, the British Officer Commanding of the Pretoria Garrison. After the cornered British garrison tried to escape to Natal to join General George Pomeroy Colley, the Boers entrenched themselves behind a stone wall surrounding the animal stockade, and wounded the colonel in the backside, who was standing upright in his stirrups.
Second Anglo-Boer War
During the Second Boer War the Irene Concentration Camp was established in 1901 on the farm Doornkloof, as part of the British scorched earth policy, where Boer women and children were housed under extremely poor conditions. At its peak the camp had 5,500 inhabitants, mostly women and children. Between February 1901 and the end of the war in 1902, 1249 lost their lives here, about 1000 of them children. The Irene Camp Cemetery is well preserved and contains 576 of the original slate tombstones that were carved by hand in the camp.
20th century
The town of Irene was established in 1902 when 337 plots were laid out on the farm Doornkloof. Jan Smuts later owned this farm, and died there in 1950. The original Smuts House is a museum today, and regularly hosts open air fleamarkets on its grounds.
Centurion developed from the initial Lyttelton Township that was marked out on the farm Droogegrond in 1904. Lyttelton Manor Extension 1 was established in 1942. These two townships initially resorted under the Peri Urban Board in Pretoria. Centurion was granted City Council status in 1962 as Lyttelton. It was formed by combining the areas of Doornkloof, Irene and Lyttelton. In 2000, the Centurion local government became part of the newly-created City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Pretoria, and the town ceased to have its own Town Council.
Name changes
Lyttelton was renamed Verwoerdburg in 1967, after Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, the former prime minister of South Africa who was assassinated the previous year. The surrounding areas, as they grew, came under the same name and Lyttelton became known as one of the suburbs of Verwoerdburg. Others included Clubview, Eldoraigne, Wierdapark, Zwartkop and their extensions.
The political neutral name Centurion has no significance, and was chosen by residents in 1995, soon after the end of apartheid, to match the name of the Centurion Park (now called SuperSport Park) cricket stadium which is located in the area.
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Following the end of apartheid, the Indian township of Laudium and surrounding suburbs including Erasmia and Claudius, which were formerly a part of Pretoria, were made part of Centurion. A black township, called Olievenhoutbosch, was created in Centurion at around the same time.
Rapid growth
Centurion has come a long way from being a sleepy southern suburb of Pretoria, with smallholdings and large open spaces. Having experienced stupendous growth since 1994, like the rest of urban South Africa, many businesses have relocated there, and property development is boosting the ever expanding city limits. This development has meant there is now little break between the outskirts of Pretoria to the north, and Midrand and Johannesburg to the south. The Gauteng Provincial Government envisages that, according to current growth trends, much of the Gauteng province will be a megalopolis by 2015.
Pretoria
Pretoria from Union buildings
Pretoria is a city in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country’s three capital cities, serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital. Pretoria is sometimes regarded as being divided into three sections: West, East and north, relative to the CBD (Central Business District). Pretoria is contained within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality as one of several constituent former administrations (among which are also Centurion and Soshanguve). Pretoria itself is sometimes referred to as “Tshwane” due to a long-running and controversial proposed change of name, which has yet to be decided, as of 2013. It is popularly known as The Jacaranda City due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees planted in its streets, parks and gardens.
History
The Southern Transvaal Ndebele occupied the river valley, which was to become the location of the city of Pretoria, by around 1600. During the difaqane (a period of widespread chaos and warfare among indigenous ethnic communities in southern Africa during the period between 1815 to about 1840) in Natal, another band of refugees arrived in this area under the leadership of Mzilikazi. However, they were forced to abandon their villages in their flight from a regiment of Zulu raiders in 1832.
Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius. The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River. Andries Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which Britain acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal. It became the capital of the South African Republic (ZAR) on 1 May 1860. The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers’ settlement movements of the Great Trek.
Statue of Andries Pretorius (27 Nov 1798 – 23 July 1853) in Pretoria
Boer Wars
During the First Boer War, the city was besieged by Republican forces in December 1880 and March 1881. The peace treaty which ended the war was signed in Pretoria on 3 August 1881 at the Pretoria Convention.
The Second Boer War (1899 to 1902) resulted in the end of the Transvaal Republic and start of British hegemony in South Africa. During the war, Winston Churchill was imprisoned in the Staats Model School in Pretoria but escaped to Mozambique. The city surrendered to British forces under Frederick Roberts on 5 June 1900 and the conflict was ended in Pretoria with the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902.
A number of forts were built for the defence of the city just prior to the Second Boer War. Though some of these forts are today in ruins, a number of them have been preserved as national monuments.
Union of South Africa
The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange River Colony were united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to become the Union of South Africa. Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town the legislative capital. Between 1860 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal, superseding Potchefstroom in that role.
On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved official city status. When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital. Gauteng, formerly known as Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging (PWV), was carved out of the old Transvaal province in 1994.
After Apartheid
After the creation of new municipal structures across South Africa in 2000, the name Tshwane was adopted for the Metropolitan Municipality that includes Pretoria and surrounding towns.
Beginning in 2005, portions of the African National Congress wished to change the name of the city to match the name of the Tshwane municipality, however this met with stiff opposition, particularly from Afrikaner civil rights groups and political parties since it denies the history of the city as founded by Pretorius.
In 1994 Peter Holmes Maluleka was elected as transitional mayor of Pretoria, until the first democratic election held later that year, making him the first black mayor of this capital of South Africa. Maluleka later became the chairman of the Greater Pretoria Metropolitan City Council (later City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality), then was elected Speaker of the Tshwane Metro Council and in 2004 was chosen to be a member of the South African Parliament for the Soshanguve constituency.
Geography
Pretoria is situated approximately 55 km (34 mi) north-northeast of Johannesburg in the north-east of South Africa, in a transitional belt between the plateau of the Highveld to the south and the lower-lying Bushveld to the north. It lies at an altitude of about 1,350 m (4,500 ft) above sea level, in a warm, sheltered, fertile valley, surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range.
Climate
The city has a moderately dry subtropical climate, specifically a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cwa), with long hot and rainy summers and short cool and dry winters. The average annual temperature is 18.7 °C (65.7 °F). This is rather high considering its relatively high altitude of about 1350 metres and is due mainly to its sheltered valley position, which acts as a heat trap and cuts it off from cool southerly and south-easterly air masses for much of the year. Rain is chiefly concentrated in the summer months, with drought conditions prevailing over the winter months, when frosts may be sharp. Snowfall is an extremely rare event; snowflakes were spotted in 1959, 1968 and 2012 in the city, but the city has never experienced an accumulation in its history. During a countrywide heatwave in November 2011, Pretoria experienced temperatures that reached 39 °C (102 °F), extraordinarily unusual for that time of the year. Again in December to January 2013, Pretoria experienced temperatures exceeding 37 °C (99 °F) on several days. The all-time high recorded in Pretoria was 42 °C (108 °F) on 25 January 2013.
BOTSWANA
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana), is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens refer to themselves as “Batswana” (singular: Motswana), but many English-language sources use “Botswanan” instead. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It has held free and fair democratic elections since independence.
Botswana is flat, and up to 70% is covered by the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its border with Zambia to the north near Kazungula, Zambia is poorly defined but at most is a few hundred meters long.
A mid-sized country of just over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, with a GDP per capita of about US$70. Botswana has since transformed itself, becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world to a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $14,000. The country also has a strong tradition as a representative democracy.
History
In the 19th century, hostilities broke out between Tswana inhabitants of Botswana and Ndebele tribes who were making incursions into the territory from the north-east. Tensions also escalated with the Dutch Boer settlers from the Transvaal to the east. After appeals by the Batswana leaders Khama III, Bathoen and Sebele for assistance, the British Government put “Bechuanaland” under its protection on 31 March 1885. The northern territory remained under direct administration as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and is modern-day Botswana, while the southern territory became part of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest province of South Africa. The majority of Setswana-speaking people today live in South Africa.
When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 out of the main British colonies in the region, the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Swaziland (the “High Commission Territories”) were not included, but provision was made for their later incorporation. However, their inhabitants began to be consulted by the UK, and although successive South African governments sought to have the territories transferred, the UK kept delaying; consequently, it never occurred. The election of the Nationalist government in 1948, which instituted apartheid, and South Africa’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 1961, ended any prospect of incorporation of the territories into South Africa. An expansion of British central authority and the evolution of tribal government resulted in the 1920 establishment of two advisory councils to represent both Africans and Europeans. Proclamations in 1934 regulated tribal rule and powers. A European-African advisory council was formed in 1951, and the 1961 constitution established a consultative legislative council.
In June 1964, the UK accepted proposals for a democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved in 1965 from Mafikeng in South Africa, to the newly established Gaborone, which sits near its border. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence on 30 September 1966. Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant to the Ngwato chiefship, was elected as the first president.
In 2008 the presidency passed to Ian Khama (son of the first president), who had been serving as Vice President since resigning his position in 1998 as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force to take up this civilian role.
Map of Botswana
Ecology
Botswana has diverse areas of wildlife habitat. In addition to the delta and desert areas, there are grasslands and savannas, where Blue Wildebeest, antelopes, and other mammals and birds are found. Northern Botswana has one of the few remaining large populations of the endangered African Wild Dog. Chobe National Park, found in the Chobe District, has the world’s largest concentration of African elephants. The park covers about 11,000 km2 (4,247 sq mi) and supports about 350 species of birds.
The Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve (in the Okavango Delta) are major tourist destinations. Other reserves include the Central Kalahari Game Reserve located in the Kalahari desert in Ghanzi District; Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Nxai Pan National Park are in Central District in the Makgadikgadi Pan. Mashatu Game Reserve is privately owned: located where the Shashe River and Limpopo River meet in eastern Botswana. The other privately owned reserve is Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone. There are also specialised sanctuaries like the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (for Rhinoceros) and Makgadikgadi Sanctuary (for Flamingos). They are both located in Central District.
Environmental problems
Botswana faces two major environmental problems: drought and desertification. The desertification problems predominantly stem from the severe times of drought in the country. Three quarters of the country’s human and animal populations depend on groundwater due to drought. Groundwater use has eased the effects of drought but has taken a toll on the land. Groundwater is retrieved through drilling deep boreholes which leads to the erosion of the land. Surface water is scarce in Botswana and less than 5% of the agriculture in the country is sustainable by rainfall. Due to this 95% of the country raises cattle and livestock as a means for an income. Approximately 71% of the country’s land is used for communal grazing, which has been a major cause of the desertification of the country.
Since raising livestock has proven to be profitable for the people of Botswana, the land continues to be exploited. The animal populations have continued to dramatically increase. From 1966 to 1991 the livestock population has increased from 1.7 million to 5.5 million. Similarly, the human population has increased from 574,000 in 1971 to 1.5 million in 1995, nearly a 200% increase. “Over 50% of all households in Botswana own cattle, which is currently the largest single source of rural income”. “Rangeland degradation or desertification is regarded as the reduction in land productivity as a result of overstocking and overgrazing or as a result of veld product gathering for commercial use. Degradation is exacerbated by the effects of drought and climate change”. Environmentalists report that the Okavango Delta is drying up due to the increased grazing of livestock. The Okavango Delta is one of the major semi-forested wetlands in Botswana and one of the largest inland deltas in the world; it is a crucial ecosystem to the survival of many animals.
The Department of Forestry and Range Resources has already begun to implement a project to reintroduce indigenous vegetation into communities in Kgalagadi South, Kweneng North and Boteti. Reintroduction of indigenous vegetation will help with the degradation of the land. The United States Government has also entered into an agreement with Botswana, giving them $7 million US dollars to reduce Botswana’s debt by $8.3 million US dollars. The stipulation of the US reducing Botswana’s debt is that Botswana will focus on more extensive conservation of the land.
A baobab tree (Adansonia digitata)
The United Nations Development Programme claims that poverty is a major problem behind the overexploitation of resources, including land, in Botswana. To help change this the UNDP joined in with a project started in the southern community of Struizendam in Botswana. The purpose of the project is to draw from “indigenous knowledge and traditional land management systems”. The leaders of this movement are supposed to be the people in the community, to draw them in, in turn increasing their possibilities to earn an income and thus decreasing poverty. The UNDP also stated that the government has to effectively implement policies to allow people to manage their own local resources and are giving the government information to help with policy development.
Economy
The Bank of Botswana serves as a central bank in order to develop and maintain the Botswana pula, the country’s currency. Since independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world. Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country. By one estimate, it has the fourth highest gross national income at purchasing power parity in Africa, giving it a standard of living around that of Mexico and Turkey.
According to the International Monetary Fund, economic growth averaged over 9% per year from 1966 to 1999. Botswana has a high level of economic freedom compared to other African countries. The government has maintained a sound fiscal policy, despite consecutive budget deficits in 2002 and 2003, and a negligible level of foreign debt. It earned the highest sovereign credit rating in Africa and has stockpiled foreign exchange reserves (over $7 billion in 2005/2006) amounting to almost two and a half years of current imports.
Gemstones and precious metals
Debswana, the largest diamond mining company operating in Botswana, is 50% owned by the government. The mineral industry provides about 40% of all government revenues. In 2007, significant quantities of uranium were discovered, and mining was projected to begin by 2010. Several international mining corporations have established regional headquarters in Botswana, and prospected for diamonds, gold, uranium, copper, and even oil, many coming back with positive results. Government announced in early 2009 that they would try to shift their economic dependence on diamonds, over serious concern that diamonds are predicted to dry out in Botswana over the next twenty years.
General Information about Botswana
Capital Gaborone
Area 581,730 sq km
Population 2.02 million
Local Time GMT + 1 hour
Inter’l Dial + 267
Flying Time Approx 12 hours from UK.
Language English and Tswana
Electricity 250 volts AC 50 Hz. Adapter needed.
Water Do not drink tap water. Bottled only
Driving Left hand of the road. International driving permit required
Passports 6 months validity. Require two adjacent pages for visa issue.
Currency Botswana Pula (BWP)
Tipping Most restaurants do not add a service charge to bills – thus it is customary to leave a 10 – 15% tip.
Embassy Addresses
Botswana Embassy UK
6 Stratford Place
London W1C 1AY.
Tel: 020 7499 0031
British High Commission
Plot 1079-1084 Main Mall
off Queens Road
Private Bag 0023
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: 395 2841
Gaborone
Gaborone skyline
Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 231,626 based on the 2011 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census. The town is colloquially nicknamed Gabz.
Gaborone is situated between Kgale and Oodi Hills, on the Notwane River in the southeastern corner of Botswana, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the South African border. The city is served by the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Because the city had no tribal affiliation and was close to fresh water, the city was planned to be the capital in the mid-1960s when the Bechuanaland Protectorate became an independent nation. The center of the city is a long strip of commercial businesses, called the Mall, with a semicircle-shaped area of government offices to the west of the Mall. The city is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and this has created problems with housing and illegal settlements. The city has also dealt with conflicts spilling into the country from Zimbabwe and South Africa during the 1980s.
The city is the government capital as well as the economic capital; the city is headquarters to numerous companies and the Botswana Stock Exchange. Gaborone is also home to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a supranational organization, hoping to increase economic unity.
History
In 1965, the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate moved from Mafeking to Gaberones. When Botswana gained its independence, Lobatse was the first choice as the nation’s capital. However, Lobatse was deemed too limited, and instead, a new capital city would be created next to Gaberones. The city was chosen because of its proximity to a fresh water source, its proximity to the railway to Pretoria, its central location among the central tribes, and its lack of association with those surrounding tribes.
The city was planned under Garden city principles with numerous pedestrian walkways and open spaces. Building of Gaborone started in mid-1964. During the city’s construction, the chairman of Gaberones Township Authority, Geoffrey Cornish, likened the layout of the city to a “brandy glass” with the government offices in the base of the glass and businesses in the “mall”, a strip of land extending from the base.
Most of the city was built within three years. Buildings in early Gaborone include Assembly buildings, government offices, a power station, a hospital, schools, a radio station, a telephone exchange, police stations, a post office, and more than 1,000 houses. Because the city was built so quickly, there was a massive influx of labourers who had built illegal settlements on the new city’s southern industrial development zone. These settlements were named Naledi. Naledi literally means the star, but could also mean under the open sky or a community that stands out from all others. In 1971, because of the growth of illegal settlements, the Gaborone Town Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands surveyed an area called Bontleng, which would contain low-income housing. However, Naledi still grew, and the demand for housing was greater than ever. In 1973, the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) built a “New Naledi” across the road from the “Old Naledi”. Residents from Old Naledi would be moved to New Naledi. However, the demand for housing increased yet again; moreover, the residents who relocated to New Nadeli disliked the houses. The problem was solved in 1975 when Sir Seretse Khama, the president of Botswana, rezoned Naledi from an industrial zone to a low-income housing area.
On 30 September 1966, Bechuanaland became the eleventh British dependency in Africa to become independent. The first mayor of Gaborone was Reverend Derek Jones. The old Gaberones became a suburb of the new Gaborone, and is now known as “the Village”.
In the mid-1980s, South Africa attacked Botswana and conducted raids on Gaborone and other border towns. The Raid on Gaborone resulted in twelve deaths.
After the 1994 General Elections, riots started in Gaborone because of high unemployment and other issues.
Today, Gaborone is growing very rapidly. In 1964, Gaborone only had 3,855 citizens; seven years later, the city had almost eighteen thousand residents. The city originally planned on 20,000 citizens, but by 1992, the city had 138,000 people. This has led to many squatter settlements on undeveloped land. Former mayor Veronica Lesole has stated that Gaborone’s development problems were caused by the original city planners.
Geography
Gaborone is situated at 24°39′29″S 25°54′44″E / 24.65806°S 25.91222°E / -24.65806; 25.91222 between Kgale and Oodi Hills, on the Notwane River in the southeastern corner of Botswana, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the South African border. The city lies at an elevation of 1,010 metres (3,310 ft) above sea level.
Climate
Gaborone has a hot semi-arid climate. Most of the year, Gaborone is very sunny. The summers are usually hot. The nights are cool. Usually, the summers with little rainfall are warmer than summers with regular rainfall. If there is a drought, the hottest temperatures of the year are usually in January or February. If there is normal rainfall, the hottest temperatures are usually in October, right before the rain starts. During the winter, days are still warm, and the nights are cold.
Precipitation in Gaborone is scanty and erratic. Most of the rainfall in Gaborone falls during the summer months, between October and April. There are on average forty days of thunderstorms per year, most of them happening during the summer months, and four days of fog, usually happening during the winter months.
The highest humidity occurs in June at 90% while the lowest humidity is in September at 28%.
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___________________________ | |||||||
|
7 |
___________________________ |
22 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
8 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
9 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
10 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
11 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
12 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
13 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
14 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
15 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
| Scorers | ||||||||||
|
T |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
C |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
P |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
DG |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
| Report of Game | ||||||||||
| Man of Match | ||||||||||
| Moment to Remember | ||||||||||
| Tuesday 23rd July, 2013 | ||||||||||
| Yarm _______ v Wonderboom HS_____ | ||||||||||
|
1 |
___________________________ |
16 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
2 |
___________________________ | 177 | ___________________________ | |||||||
|
3 |
___________________________ |
18 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
4 |
___________________________ |
19 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
5 |
___________________________ |
20 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
6 |
___________________________ |
21 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
7 |
___________________________ |
22 |
___________________________ | |||||||
|
8 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
9 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
10 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
11 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
12 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
13 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
14 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
|
15 |
___________________________ | |||||||||
| Scorers | ||||||||||
|
T |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
C |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
P |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
|
DG |
________________________________________________________ | |||||||||
| Report of Game | ||||||||||
| Man of Match | ||||||||||
| Moment to Remember | ||||||||||
| Saturday 27th July, 2013 | ||||
| Yarm _______ v Soweto RFC | ||||
|
1 |
___________________________ |
16 |
___________________________ | |
|
2 |
___________________________ |
17 |
___________________________ | |
|
3 |
___________________________ |
18 |
___________________________ | |
|
4 |
___________________________ |
19 |
___________________________ | |
|
5 |
___________________________ |
20 |
___________________________ | |
|
6 |
___________________________ |
21 |
___________________________ | |
|
7 |
___________________________ |
22 |
___________________________ | |
|
8 |
___________________________ | |||
|
9 |
___________________________ | |||
|
10 |
___________________________ | |||
|
11 |
___________________________ | |||
|
12 |
___________________________ | |||
|
13 |
___________________________ | |||
|
14 |
___________________________ | |||
|
15 |
___________________________ | |||
| Scorers | ||||
|
T |
___________________________________________________________________ | |||
|
C |
___________________________________________________________________ | |||
|
P |
___________________________________________________________________ | |||
|
DG |
___________________________________________________________________ | |||
| Report of Game | ||||
| Man of Match | ||||
| Moment to Remember | ||||
| Thursday 1st August, 2013 | |||||||
| Yarm _______ v ______ Select XV | |||||||
|
1 |
___________________________ |
16 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
2 |
___________________________ |
17 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
3 |
___________________________ |
18 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
4 |
___________________________ |
19 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
5 |
___________________________ |
20 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
6 |
___________________________ |
21 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
7 |
___________________________ |
22 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
8 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
9 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
10 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
11 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
12 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
13 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
14 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
15 |
___________________________ | ||||||
| Scorers | |||||||
|
T |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
C |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
P |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
DG |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
| Report of Game | |||||||
| Man of Match | |||||||
| Moment to Remember | |||||||
| Saturday 3rd August, 2013 | |||||||
| Yarm _______ v ______ Select XV | |||||||
|
1 |
___________________________ |
16 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
2 |
___________________________ |
17 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
3 |
___________________________ |
18 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
4 |
___________________________ |
19 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
5 |
___________________________ |
20 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
6 |
___________________________ |
21 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
7 |
___________________________ |
22 |
___________________________ | ||||
|
8 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
9 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
10 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
11 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
12 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
13 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
14 |
___________________________ | ||||||
|
15 |
___________________________ | ||||||
| Scorers | |||||||
|
T |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
C |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
P |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
|
DG |
___________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
| Report of Game | |||||||
| Man of Match | |||||||
| Moment to Remember | |||||||
Tour List
|
1 |
Alexander | Michael | |||||||||
|
2 |
Bonavia | Matthew | |||||||||
|
3 |
Booth | Nathan | |||||||||
|
4 |
Collantine | Jonathan | |||||||||
|
5 |
Croft | Martin | |||||||||
|
6 |
Croft | Robin | |||||||||
|
7 |
Duggleby | Charles | |||||||||
|
8 |
Elston | Elston | |||||||||
|
9 |
Foster | Matthew | |||||||||
|
10 |
Fox | James | |||||||||
|
11 |
Fuat | Tamer | |||||||||
|
12 |
Gray | Benjamin | |||||||||
|
13 |
Gray M | Maxwell | |||||||||
|
14 |
Guthrie C | Charles | |||||||||
|
15 |
Guthrie | William | |||||||||
|
16 |
Harrison | Max | |||||||||
|
17 |
Hartigan | Conor | |||||||||
|
18 |
He | Jason | |||||||||
|
19 |
Henderson | Adam | |||||||||
|
20 |
Jones | Joshua | |||||||||
|
21 |
Knaggs | Richard | |||||||||
|
22 |
Lawson | Thomas | |||||||||
|
23 |
Mahmoud | Saief | |||||||||
|
24 |
Mavin | Thomas | |||||||||
|
25 |
McCullagh | James | |||||||||
|
26 |
McGregor | Connor | |||||||||
|
27 |
Melville | Scott | |||||||||
|
28 |
Mughal | Fezan | |||||||||
|
29 |
Nargol | Alexander | |||||||||
|
30 |
Nargol | Matthew | |||||||||
|
31 |
O’Brien | Alexander | |||||||||
|
32 |
Peddada | Akshay | |||||||||
|
33 |
Phellas | John | |||||||||
|
34 |
Robinson | Connor | |||||||||
|
35 |
Stockdale | Thomas | |||||||||
|
36 |
Teague | Jonathan | |||||||||
|
37 |
Thompson | Harry | |||||||||
|
38 |
Thompson | Samuel | |||||||||
|
39 |
Wilson | Mark | |||||||||
|
40 |
Yetman | Jack |
Notes
Yarmschool Rugby 