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Botswana is unique in African terms in that it has a democratic and stable government, which is committed to conservation - this makes for a unique and interesting safari destination.

Botswana game reserves are amongst the most breathtaking in Africa, whether you are camping under the stars or staying in 5 star luxury lodges, your journey will be awe inspiring and never forgotten, awaken your senses and take a safari through our world - Botswana – Africa’s finest success story.

Botswana is home to the Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari, Chobe National Park and the salt pans of the Makgadikgadi. Botswana remains for the most part untouched and unspoilt, home to some of Africa's most diverse wildlife and stunning scenery. Discover one of the few natural contrasts on earth where the Kalahari Desert meets the natural miracle of the Okavango Delta.

Hundreds of elephants, in numbers unrivalled throughout Africa can to be seen on the banks of the Chobe River in the Chobe National Park. Botswana has some of the most prolific wildlife in Southern Africa while National Park and Game Reserves/ concession have remained untouched and unchanged for hundreds of years.

Botswana is a safe and welcoming destination, it has a democratically elected government, the Botswana people are friendly and unlike many other tourist destinations in Africa – there is very little crime.

Botswana has one of the lowest population densities in the world and with the stated tourism policy of low volume low impact this ensures an unrivalled wilderness experience.

Botswana has the highest concentration of elephant in the world, estimated at over 150 000 head. Game viewing is fantastic and depending on the areas visited, there is a good chance of finding lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and many other animal species. The Botswana government is committed to their conservation and the protection of this valuable resource.

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world and over two thirds is protected as a wildlife refuge. The crystal clear waterways and the myriad of channels that cover the 17000 square kilometre delta make for an unrivalled wildlife experience

The wind blown sand covering two thirds of the country is called the Kalahari Desert. Sometimes up to 300m deep this is the largest deposit in the world.

With over 600 species of birds, the summer months make Botswana a birders paradise. The summer months tend to be more productive, with many of the migrants taking up temporary residence over this natural time of plenty.

Botswana has a rich cultural history that dates back many thousands of years. The mystical Tsodilo Hills are rich in rock paintings and a sacred site of the Bushmen.

	Botswana at a Glance
	History
	Useful Information
	When to Visit
	Geography and Climate
	Politics and Economy
	Health and Security

Botswana at a Glance

The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country situated in southern Africa whose neighbours are Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It was formally called Bechuanaland until such time that it received its independence from Britain on the 30^th September 1966. The country is named after its largest tribe – the Tswana

• Present President – Festus Mogae

• Population 1765 000 (2005)

• Population density 1 person per 3km2

• GDP Total $18.068 billion

• GDP per capita $11,410

• Currency Pula

• Time Zone CAT

History of Botswana

The original inhabitants of Botswana are the San or Bushmen. They have made the Kalahari their home for the past 30,000 years surviving there since the Bantu or early Tswana arrived nearly two millennia ago. The san or bushmen number about 60,000 today with the Tswana now constituting the majority of the population.

The discovery of gold in the late 19^th century in what was then considered a hot and inhospitable country attracted the attention of the Boers, this led to the Tswana people petitioning England for protection. This was granted in 1885 and Bechuanaland came into being. In 1964 Britain accepted proposals for democratic self governance and the 1965 constitution led to the first General Elections and to independence on the 30^th of September 1966. The “Republic of Botswana” was born.  Seretse Khama was elected as the first president and again re-elected four years later, he died of cancer when in office in 1980. The sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire followed (again being re-elected) he retired from office in 1998 and was succeeded by Festus Mogae who was again re-elected in 2004.   

In 1966 diamonds were discovered and almost overnight the poorest country in Africa became one of the wealthiest

Useful Information

Botswana is suitable destination for all ages, however some lodges have a minimum age limit of 12 years and under. They generally do not have an upper limit but it must be remembered that places that are famed for their remoteness and wilderness experience are just that – remote with no medical facilities - it is therefore recommended that only fit, healthy people undertake the rigours of the bush.

In many instances it is possible to organise private or tailor made itineraries for the “little folk” to ensure their safety and to ensure that other people who may not be used to children - are not disturbed. If you are in any doubts about which kind of safari may be suitable for your age groups, contact us and we will help you choose the right options

When to Visit

The main tourist season is from June until October, the African winter and which is dry season. Temperatures are moderate, Game viewing is excellent and the Okavango Delta is ‘in flood’ with plenty of channels to explore!

November to May is considered low season but we think of it as our best kept secret, with the rains starting in November through to March, the scenery is lush and green, birdlife is at its best. Places like the Magadikgadi Pans and Central Kalahari are particularly good in low season.

The majority of areas tend to be a lot quieter at this time of year with less tourist traffic, most companies offer “Green Season Specials” over this time - so this is worth considering if you want to pick up a bargain!

Geography and Climate

Geographic co-ordinates 22S 24E between the equator and Tropic of Capricorn which dissects the south of the country

• Area 600370 km2

• Boundary 4 013km

• Lowest point 513m above sea level

• Highest point 1489m above sea level

• Mean height above sea level 1000m

Botswana is the world’s 45th largest country being almost the same size as Texas. The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta and the Makgadigadi salt pans are so big they can be seen easily from space. Apart from The Okavango Delta, the country is mostly dry and is dominated by the Kalahari Desert which covers two thirds of the country. Towards the north and west the vegetation is more lush, with riverine forest in the Chobe National Park – although now severely damaged by the over population of elephants. The main tourist areas are served by the towns of Kasane and Maun, forming hubs that are well placed to start or end your safari.

• Rainfall

Botswana’s climate can be described as semi arid, rains are variable and unpredictable, often very localised with some areas receiving huge cloud bursts while areas only a few kilometers away remain dry.

 

Rainfall is so critical and of such importance for the livelihood of the people that the name of the Botswana currency “The Pula” is named after it.

 

The rainy season falls over the summer months November through to March whilst the heaviest rainfall tends to be in January and February. The south of the country tends to be the driest with a mean of 250mm, while the north and east tend to get slightly more with a mean of up to 650mm.Incredibly though there are huge swings in the annual rainfall with some years getting more then double that of the season preceding it. There is very little rainfall between the months of May – October, accounting for less then 10%of the total. 

• Temperatures

Winter months from May – September tend to be mild with warm days and cool and sometimes cold evenings. During the mid winter months of July and August some night frosts are possible. Skies during this time tend to be clear with very little cloud.

 

Summer months are extremely hot and often humid; temperatures reaching the mid 40’s are not uncommon in October and November prior to the arrival of the rains.

Politics and Economy

Diamonds were discovered the year after independence and since this time Botswana has had one of the world’s fastest growths per capita income in the world where economic growth averaged just about 9% from 1967 to the present. Botswana has the highest credit rating in Africa and through diligent governance has stock piled foreign exchange reserves of over USD 5billion or two and a half years of current imports.

Botswana’s impressive record has been achieved through the discovery of diamonds but equally important has been the well thought out fiscal policies that diamonds have generated. Debswana, which owns all Botswana’s diamond mines, is 50% owned by Debeers and 50% owned by the government and helps generate approximately half of all government revenues. Botswana is ranked as Africa’s least corrupt country (Transparency international 2004) and an A grade credit rating thereby ranking Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa and on par with many countries in Europe.     

Botswana’s currency, the Pula is fully convertible and without exchange control restrictions – meaning profits and direct investment can be repatriated without restriction.

Diamonds make up nearly 50% contribution to the economy however in recent years tourism has become the second biggest revenue earner, surpassing cattle and agriculture in the late 90’s Tourism has become a major source of foreign currency, employment and training. More and more tourism ventures are opening every year with the government actively promoting citizen empowerment and joint ventures.

Politics

There are two main parties that contest general elections held every 4 years. The President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The Botswana Democratic Party has held power since independence in 1966 with the Botswana and Botswana National Front forming the main opposition. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislator.

Health

As with all African countries, normal health vaccinations and precautions should be taken. We suggest that you consult your doctor or specialist clinic for up to date details.

As Botswana is in a malaria area, especially in the northern region during the rainy season – we strongly advocate the use of prophylactics, these are updated frequently  and suggest you contact your doctor in plenty of time before you travel