Botswana

Botswana is an African success story. After three of the world’s largest diamond formations were discovered in 1966, the economy boomed and it now has good healthcare and education systems. Botswana is an African travel destination with a difference. The Okavango Delta and the Chobe River provide a year-round water supply and guarantee that Botswana is blessed with a wealth of wildlife – including the endangered African wild dog, birds, lions, elephants and most other mammals endemic to Africa. Over 17% of Botswana’s land is protected as national parks, making this country one of the best safari destinations in Southern Africa.

Geography: Botswana is famous for the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world, as well as the Makgadikgadi salt pan. This landlocked country is semi-arid, with over 70% of the land covered by the Kalahari Desert. The capital, Gaborone, is in the south of the country, close to the South African border. Botswana also shares borders with Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola and Zambia.

Climate: Botswana experiences extremes in temperature and weather. Summertime (October to April) is very hot and humid with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. Summer is also particularly rainy – making travel on the sandy roads a problem and spotting wildlife more challenging.

Culture: Botswana has a handful of ethnic groups, the largest being the Tswana people, who make up 79% of Botswana’s population. The remaining 21% is made up of the Kalanga, Basarwa and white ethnic groups. English and Setswana are both official languages and both are spoken widely.

Fast facts

Currency: The pula (P) and major credit cards are accepted but only on a limited basis.

Electricity voltage: 220/240 V AC, 50 Hz.

Time difference: GMT +2

Tipping: 10% is customary.