Directions

Another one of the quirks about living in Botswana is that addressing seems non-existent.  Why couldn’t the good old 9-1-1 system come to Botswana??

Thus, trying to find a friend’s house or a business with any accuracy is a hit or miss proposition.

In theory, every property, residential, commercial, industrial, etc. is supposed to have a plot number.  Something akin to Plot 130.  However, there is no requirement to have a standardized sign out front that is visible and legible that states your plot number.  As a result, you crawl along a road looking for any sort of indication of the number.

Secondly apart from the major roads and streets in a village no other laneway, trail or roadway is signed posted.  Thus, when you are looking for an intersection or turn-off, good luck!!

This problem is compounded by the fact that especially in the villages, roads and laneways head off and split in the most random fashion you could conceive.  No grid pattern; no spaghetti pattern; no new urbanism, no method of how to get to where you want to go.

A perfect example is that last Friday we ordered a large sheet of wood (6’ by 9’) from the local hardware store with which to cut down into shelves.  Given the size of wood we asked it to be delivered.  The address on the receipt when it was delivered on Saturday was “Kootilane Ward, across from Councillor Sebalo’s house”!

Try giving someone that address for our house.

Consequently, we are working on getting an entrance sign made for one of the pillars beside the front gate.  Something that ties this house to Botswana and Canada.  So at least in the future, if giving instructions we can say, look for the house with the sign that says, “Great White North, eh!” or the words “double-double” meaning two countries, two houses.

The lack of signage means that most people resort to using their cells phone or text messages, to continuously ask for directions.  We are at the “T-junction”, which way?  We passed the “pink house”, where is the next turn?

Two days ago, we were in Gaborone and had to meet up with the guy who we were renting our car from.  He gave Binnie instructions and we proceeded to that part of Gaborone.  It took a further three telephone calls and driving in an ever-shrinking circle until we ended up face to face. 

It is like some form of hide and seek for adults.  I am at my office, come and try and find me!!  Great if you have time for playing a game, frustrating if you are trying to run a number of errands.