Botswana

Botswana is Africa at its very best - renowned for its vast areas of unspoilt wilderness, its prolific wildlife and its cultural diversity all of which combine to make it one of the most sought after safari destinations.
This 581,000 sq km, landlocked country is a land of contrasts - its landscapes range from rolling dunes in the southwest to wetlands in the north. Most of Botswana is covered by the Kalahari Desert only being broken up in the northwest by the well-known Okavango Delta whose water provides sustenance for much of Botswana's wildlife before it soaks in to the thirsty Kalahari sands.

Location and Climate

Situated in Southern Africa, straddling the Tropic of Capricorn and bordering South Africa (to the south), Namibia (to the west), Zambia (to the north) and Zimbabwe (to the east), most of Botswana is in the tropics and therefore has hot summers and dry winters. The rainy season runs from September - March with electric thunderstorms common during these months though not always bringing the much needed rain. The best time to visit Botswana is between April and October as this is the dry season and wildlife viewing is especially profitable during these months as the animals are drawn to the permanent water sources in the North and Southeast. These months are also the coolest months of the year with temperatures rarely rising above 25°C.

Culture and Economy

With a population of only 1.6million (1999) Botswana is a sparsely populated country with the population concentrated in the south and east of the country. Traditionally Batswana depended on the land for a living and still today each family has its 'lands' which are cultivated to grow sorghum, maize and water melons. The family has always been an important part of traditional Botswana life which has resulted in the large sprawling villages that occur throughout Botswana however these are slowly decreasing in size as the younger people seek employment in the towns and cities.
The economy in Botswana is strong though it is heavily dependent on South Africa for imports. Since diamond mining began in 1971 it has had one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. The diamond industry accounts for 50% of government revenue - Botswana is the largest producer of diamond's by value in the world - with the rest coming mainly from the tourism industry as well as from beef exports.

Wildlife

Without doubt Botswana is most famous for its spectacular wildlife, in particular its Elephant population - some estimates put the number at over 100,000. With over 550 bird species and over 160 mammals Botswana is one of the finest safari destinations in Africa.
The government has recognised the importance of this natural resource and has taken numerous steps to conserve it - 17% of Botswana has been set aside for Game Reserves and a further 20% for wildlife management areas. Botswana has a policy of high income, low volume tourism which has kept the numbers of tourists to a sustainable level and maintained the wilderness feel of the majority of Botswana's Reserves.

For the best places to see the most sought after of Botswana's wildlife click here.

Places of Interest

At the moment I only have the following webpages up and running on this site. In the near-future I hope to have a page on Gaborone as well as other areas of interest in Botswana so please check back for updates.
Click on the images below to explore Botswana.

Palapye Serowe Khama Rhino Sanctuary Phothophotho Gorge
Palapye Serowe Khama Rhino Sanctuary Tswapong Hills

Facts and Figures

  1. Head of State: President Festus Mogae
  2. Capital City: Gaborone
  3. Other centres: Serowe, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Maun
  4. Language: Setswana (English official); also iKalanga in the north
  5. Currency: 100 Thebe = 1 Pula
  6. Independence: 30th September, 1966
  7. Map: Click here for a map of Botswana.
  8. Distances: Click here for a distance chart.

Paypal