Botswana
Population
1,639,833 peopleCapital
GaboroneCurrency
PulaLanguages spoken in Botswana
English, SetswanaMap of Botswana
Area in square kilometers
581,726 km2Gross domestic product per capita
$ 11,400
Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) is consolidating its role
as the sole national trade union centre in the country.
Contents
-
* 1 Overview
* 2 Trade
Botswana's impressive economic record has been built on a foundation
of diamond mining, prudent fiscal policies, international financial
and technical assistance, and a cautious foreign policy. It is rated
the least corrupt country in Africa, according to an international
corruption watchdog, Transparency International
Since independence, Botswana has had the highest average economic
growth rate in the world, averaging about 9% per year from 1966 to
1999. Growth in private sector employment has averaged about 10% per
annum over the first 30 years of independence. The relatively high
At 231,788 mi² (600,370 km²), Botswana is the world's 45th-largest
country (after Ukraine). It is comparable in size to Madagascar, and
it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas. It is
predominantly flat, tending toward gently rolling tableland. Botswana
inhabitants of Botswana and Ndebele tribes who were migrating into the
territory from the Kalahari Desert. Tensions also escalated with the
Boer (European) settlers from the Transvaal. After appeals by the
Batswana leaders Khama III, Bathoen and Sebele for assistance, the
The Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana) is a
landlocked country in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are called
"Batswana" (singular: Motswana), regardless of ethnicity. Formerly a
British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name
after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September
Botswana has three numbers equivalent to the “911” emergency line. For
police assistance, dial “999.” For an ambulance, dial “997.” In the
event of a fire, dial “998.”
See our information on Victims of Crime.
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COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Botswana map Botswana map Botswana is a country
in southern Africa with a stable democratic government and a
market-based economy. Facilities for tourism are widely available.
Read the Department of State Background Notes on Botswana for
additional information.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Since February 2008, Botswana has experienced
occasional periods of rolling electric power outages that have left
many areas without power for several hours each week. This situation
is likely to continue. Visitors are urged to carry flashlights.
Botswana is a land-locked country located in Southern Africa and
bordering on Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Formerly the
British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name
upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the
Botswana's main airport is Sir Seretse Khama in Gaborone. Most flights
arriving in Botswana are from Johannesburg in South Africa. (There are
no international flights besides South Africa and Zimbabwe.) The
airport in Maun can also be reached via Johannesburg or Gaborone. The
Kalahari desert falls within Botswana's borders and Botswana is home
to most of the world's San (bushman) population.
Regions
-
* Kalahari - The sparsely populated Kalahari Desert and its fringe.
Although Botswana's mineral wealth has made it one of the wealthiest
nations of S Africa, high unemployment remains a problem. The
government is attempting to diversify the economy by building up other
sectors, including safari-based tourism and financial services.
Botswana is a republic with one legislative body; its head of state
and government is the president. The region's earliest inhabitants
were the Khoekhoe and San. Sites were settled as early as AD 190
during the southerly migration of Bantu-speaking farmers. Tswana
Botswana is essentially a sand-filled basin, with a mean elevation of
about 3,300 ft (1,000 m). Part of the Kalahari Desert is in the
southwest and west, while the Okavango Swamp is in the north. The only
Botswana is a country where desert and delta co-exists in unison and
this is evident when traveling to the immense inland delta of the
Okavango. Here in the watery wilderness the Chobe and Moremi Game
Diverse, undisturbed and intriguing, Botswana is a land full of
mystery, legend, and a deep spiritual essence.
Most popular accommodation in BotswanaTop accommodation types:Bed &
Breakfast Game Lodges Hotels Self Catering Top regions in Botswana:Central
Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is the continent's
longest continuous multi-party democracy.
It is the world's largest producer of diamonds and it protects some of
Africa's largest areas of wilderness.
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Jan 15, 2009 President Ian KhamaA premiere of a Documentary
Film on Botswana: The President's Tour
News Archive
funds to cover stay in Botswana is required by all visitors.
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Entry Requirements
Before you board your flight to Botswana, make sure you have your
passport, proper funds, and all your return tickets and documentation.
Located near the Tropic of Capricorn, Botswana remains hot year round,
and relents only for crisp nights between May and September. It's a
good idea to book flights to Botswana around the rainy season, between
October and April holds steady an average daily temperature of 77F.
under the stars and open sky in a Makgadikgadi Lodge Botswana is a
treat for the soul. The seemingly endless space in every direction
makes one feel that this is the center of the universe. The silence is
significant. The stars are awesome, and at full moon one gets the
Botswana is a vast dry land with over 80% of the country being
semi-desert (sand with thorn and scrub bush), so there are many remote
areas to visit, with abundant wildlife. All national parks and game
Botswana is bordered to the south and east by South Africa, to the
northeast by Zimbabwe, to the north and west by Namibia and touches
Zambia just west of the Victoria Falls. The tableland of the Kalahari
Desert covers most of Botswana
the University of Botswana Library which has a 'Botswana Room' devoted
solely to publications on the country. There are good craft shops and
markets in the town, where pottery, basketwork, leatherwork and
handwoven objects may be bought.
Excursions:
Although this area of Botswana is only sparsely inhabited by humans,
it is one of the richest wildlife regions in all of Africa.
Botswana's two largest parks, the Central Kalahari Game reserve and
Gemsbok National Park, are found in this region.
Botswana is one of the few remaining destinations in Africa that still
provides a good sense of the adventure of safari. Its expansive game
parks and preserves, while offering wildlife as diverse and abundant
Botswana was granted protectorate status (as Bechuanaland) in 1885,
though local authority was maintained with determination by the Tswana
chiefs. In 1966, in the same wave of change that brought independence
to much of the continent, Bechuanaland became the independent Republic
Botswana luxury lodges - but availability is often limited so you need
to book in advance.
You'll also need to think about when to go to Botswana as there are 2
simple but distinctive seasons each with their own personality.
One of the best ways to appreciate what a Botswana safari holiday has
to offer is on one of our recommended Botswana journeys. Experience
the essence of the country on our Migration Routes mobile safari, a
fabulous itinerary taking in all the wildlife hotspots or cut out the
What makes Botswana such a special destination is that it offers
travellers a wonderfully varied range of natural, unspoilt
environments and classic safari adventures that will convince you that
there really are wild places still left in the world today.
Botswana is the largest exporter of gemstone diamonds in the world as
well as a large beef exporter to the European Union.
© 2009 The Government of Botswana (Disclaimer)
Report problems on this web site to webmaster@gov.bw
The Republic of Botswana is situated in Southern Africa, nestled
between South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The country is democratically ruled, boasts a growing economy and a
stable political environment. Botswana has some of Africa's last great
Although Botswana is rich in diamonds, it has high unemployment and
stratified socioeconomic classes. In 1999, the nation suffered its
first budget deficit in 16 years because of a slump in the
international diamond market. Yet Botswana remains one of the
Although Botswana's economic outlook remains strong, the devastation
that AIDS has caused threatens to destroy the country's future. In
2001, Botswana had the highest rate of HIV infection in the world
(350,000 of its 1.6 million people). With the help of international
Twice the size of Arizona, Botswana is in south-central Africa,
bounded by Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Most of the
country is near-desert, with the Kalahari occupying the western part
of the country. The eastern part is hilly, with salt lakes in the
north
Botswana has a semiarid subtropical climate. The average annual
rainfall varies from about 635 mm (about 25 in) in the north to less
than 230 mm (less than 9 in) in the Kalahari. Rainfall is concentrated
in the summer months (December to April)
mid-1980s Botswana's primary schools had an annual enrollment of about
235,900, and secondary schools enrolled about 36,000 annually.
Specialized education was provided by teacher-training schools and
vocational-training schools. About 2300 students were enrolled in the
University of Botswana (1976), in Gaborone.
Most of Botswana is a tableland with an average elevation of
about 1000 m (about 3300 ft). The Kalahari Desert covers most of the
southwestern portion of the country. The principal stream is the
Okovango River, which flows southeast from the Angola highlands into
Botswana is an African success story. After achieving democratic rule
in 1966, three of the world's richest diamond-bearing formations were
discovered within its borders. Today, the country enjoys a high
standard of economic stability, education and health care, which, with
With vast open savannas teeming with wildlife, Botswana is truly the
Africa of your dreams. Because the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River
provide a year-round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal
species are present in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National
Park
Botswana has a flourishing multiparty constitutional democracy. Each
of the elections since independence has been freely and fairly
contested and has been held on schedule. The country's small white
minority and other minorities participate freely in the political
process.
The Botswana page was last modified on: Friday, 03-Apr-2009 09:09:23
CEST
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Botswana has a flourishing multiparty constitutional democracy. Each
of the elections since independence has been freely and fairly
contested and has been held on schedule. The country's minority groups
participate freely in the political process. There are three main
enforced by the courts, and Botswana has a good human rights record.
Local government is administered by nine district councils and five
town councils. District commissioners have executive authority and are
appointed by the central government and assisted by elected and
Flag of Botswana is light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center.
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of Botswana
Geography
Area: 582,000 sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas.
Botswana's economy is given a serious boost by being the
world's third-largest producer of diamonds, and a large exporter of
beef to Europe. In addition, it has a solid level of tourism,
The first known inhabitants of present day Botswana were nomadic
foragers, Khoe & San speakers, who lived, passed through and hunted
here in small, egalitarian families for millennia prior to the arrival
of the Tswana and Bantu people.
the Tropic of Capricorn, Botswana is in both the eastern and southern
hemispheres. This landlocked country is positioned in southern Africa,
and bordered by the countries of Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South
Africa.
Land Statistics
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth
rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to about 5%
annually in 2006-08. Through fiscal discipline and sound management,
Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in
Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS
infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive
programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography
Botswana
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