In Botswana, many people in the community use public transportation to get around. As a Peace Corps volunteer, we try to integrate into the community by following their example. This means that I use the same public transport, meeting many helpful and friendly people along the way!
People mostly get around using public transportation like coach buses, combis (16-seater vans) and taxis for shorter distances. For buses and combis, there are usually designated stops, but in rural areas, you can flag them down to stop for you. If you need to get off at a designated stop, you can tell the conductor to make a stop for you. To get a taxi in villages, you can flag one down to pick you up (similar to New York City!). The majority of people don't tend to own their own private vehicle, so it is very common to find more taxis on the streets than personal vehicles.
At first I was a bit nervous because I didn't know where to go or how to navigate the public transportation system. As soon as you walk into a bus rank (a bus station, connecting buses from all over the country in the larger villages/towns), there are many people looking to help you find your way to the bus you need.
