Area Code 29 – Letlhakane/Orapa

Overview of Botswana Area Code 29

Area code 29 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Letlhakane and Orapa region in Botswana. This area is located in the central-eastern part of the country, within the Central District. Letlhakane is a significant mining town, while Orapa is renowned for hosting one of the world's largest diamond mines, operated by Debswana. The code serves both residential and business subscribers within these towns and their immediate surroundings.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 29 code covers the administrative and commercial centers of Letlhakane and Orapa, as well as nearby settlements. These towns are situated along the A14 highway, approximately 300 kilometers north of the capital, Gaborone. The region's economy is heavily driven by diamond mining, which influences the local telecommunications demand. The code is administered under Botswana's national numbering plan, which follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations.

Dialing Formats

Botswana's national numbering plan uses a closed dialing system, meaning the full national number must be dialed even for local calls. The national significant number (NSN) for geographic areas consists of the area code followed by a subscriber number. For area code 29, subscriber numbers are typically 6 digits long, resulting in a total NSN length of 8 digits.

• Local calls (within Botswana): Dial the full NSN: 29 123456 (example). No trunk prefix is used.
• International calls from abroad: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), then Botswana's country code 267, followed by the NSN without the leading zero (Botswana has no trunk prefix): +267 29 123456.

For example, to call a business in Orapa from the United States, you would dial: 011 267 29 123456. From the United Kingdom, you would dial: 00 267 29 123456.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T operational bulletin, there are no overlay codes for the 29 area. The numbering capacity is sufficient for the region's population and business needs. However, with the growth of mining operations and associated services, demand for numbers may increase, and future adjustments could be considered by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA).

Caller Instructions

For callers within Botswana, simply dial the 8-digit number starting with 29. For international callers, always include the +267 country code and drop any leading zero if present (though none exists). Ensure you have the correct subscriber number, as numbers are not portable across geographic areas in Botswana; they are tied to the physical location of the line.