Botswana Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Botswana – country information

Country name	Botswana
Official name	Republic of Botswana
Capital	Gaborone
Continent	Africa
Area	581,730 km²
Population	2,024,904 (2011)
Foundation of a state	9/30/1966
The highest mountains	Tsodilo Hills 1375 m
Longest rivers	Limpopo 1600 km (about 500 km in the country)
State system	a presidential-type pluralistic republic with a unicameral legislative assembly
The biggest cities	Gaborrone (capital) 155,000, Francistown 75,000, Selebi-Pikwe 45,000
Official language	Tswana and English
Ethnicity/National Composition	groups Tswana 77%, Shona 12.5%, San (Bushmen) 3.5%, Khoikhoi (Hotentot) 2.5%, Ndebele 1%, others 3.5%
Religious affiliation	traditional African faith 50%, Protestants 29%, African Christians 12%, Roman Catholics 9%
Currency	1 pula (P) = 100 thebes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$15,706 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	33.74 years (2006)

Botswana – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
South Africa – JAR	Pretoria	1,221,040 km²	52,981,991
Namibia	Windhoek	824,292 km²	2,113,077
Zambia	Lusaka	752,618 km²	14,580,290
Zimbabwe	Harare	390,757 km²	12,973,808

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Botswana is a landlocked country in South Africa. It forms a customs union with the Republic of South Africa and is economically dependent on it.

Botswana is a state in South Africa. Common borders with South Africa in the south, with Namibia in the west and north, with Zambia in the northeast, with Zimbabwe in the east. The capital is Gaborone.
The state has no access to the sea. The Kalahari Desert covers 70% of the country.

The climate is subtropical. The temperature in winter is +30*С, in summer +20*С.

Reserves – Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve.

Resorts and attractions of Botswana

In order to get acquainted with Africa – you need to visit Botswana. We all know the story of Dr. Ai-Bolit-e, where the Limpopo River and the Clahari Desert are mentioned. They are located in Botswana. The country attracts tourists with its diverse landscapes, wild fauna, national culture and the opportunity to look at the life of traditional tribes. There are no beach resorts here, and the main part of the territory is covered with savannas.

Botswana is located in southern Africa. A significant part of the territory of the state is occupied by national parks and reserves, attracting hunters of all stripes from amateur photographers to thirsty for real trophies. It is here in the Okavango Delta that Cho-be Park is located – a popular place for organizing safaris. And thousands of tourists from all over the world flock here for adventure.

What is a safari. Safari was first called hunting in East Africa, later this word was used in other parts of Africa, and its meaning has changed significantly. Now the concept of Safari means completely peaceful and relatively cheap excursions into the wild, during which animals are photographed. But the original meaning of the word has not lost its meaning even now.

Interesting facts

National parks and reserves of the country, Kalahari desert, Tsodilo hills are the most popular among tourists.

The Botswana Football Association joined FIFA in 1978.

Botswana is a great example of the African dream – a true success story. After coming to democratic rule in 1966, three of the richest diamond deposits were discovered in this country. And so today’s country can be proud of a high level of economic stability, health and education, which, with the exception of South Africa, are unmatched in other states of this sub-Saharan continent.

Country data

Location: South Africa

Time zone: CET + 1 (during summer time: CET)

Total area: 581,730 km²

Land area: 566,730 km²

Water area: 15,000 km²

Length of the state border: 4,347.1 km

Bordering countries:
Namibia: 1,544 km
Zambia: 0.1 km
Zimbabwe: 834 km
South Africa: 1,969 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Gaborone

Districts: 16
Central, Chobe, Francistown, Gaborone, Ghanzi, Jwaneng, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe, South East, Southern, Sowa Town

Telephone code: 00 267 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Population

Population: approx. 2.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 4

Life expectancy: 56 (male), 52 (female)

Official language: Setswana, English

Religions:

71% Christian
6% Badimo
23% other

Climate

The seasons are shifted by about 6 months compared to the European ones. There is generally a hot and dry desert climate.

Summer (December – March) corresponds to the rainy season and is very hot with frequent downpours and heavy thunderstorms. Several flood disasters have already occurred!

In winter (May – September) it is dry and much cooler. At night, the temperatures sometimes drop to the frost line. The amount of precipitation decreases towards the southwest of the country.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Pula (BWP)

Classification: 1 pula = 100 Thebe

ATMs: Occasionally available in large cities. Usually only VISA cards are accepted.

International credit cards: are accepted by larger hotels and some shops.

Regulations: National and foreign currencies can be imported in unlimited amounts, but must be declared upon entry (including travelers’ checks!).

The export is allowed in the amount of the declared import.

A very high fee is often charged when cashing travelers checks.

Since there are hardly any exchange offices where you can exchange foreign currencies, you should do this on arrival at the airport or in one of the banks in the center of the capital.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250 g of tobacco
1 liter of alcoholic beverages
small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

The duty exemption is granted once per person within 30 days. A renewed duty-free import after this period is only possible after a stay of at least 48 hours outside the customs union ( Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland ).

When entering the country, a declaration of the photo / film equipment is required.

Important:
Married couples traveling together are treated as ONE person for customs purposes !

Travel advice

The average exposure for tourists is pickpocketing and car break-ins. Otherwise Botswana is safe as a travel destination.

Behavioral advice

It is pointed out that when traveling to the national parks a healthy degree of caution is exercised when encountering and handling the wild animals living there.

Photography of public buildings, military facilities and uniformed people is prohibited.

Economy

Livestock farming and the cultivation of basic foodstuffs (maize, millet) are the main branches of income in which a large part of the population is employed.

Severe periods of drought and floods have reduced agricultural yields in recent years.

Mining is mainly focused on the extraction and export of diamonds.

Industries: mining, livestock

Natural resources: diamonds, iron, coal, copper, salt, silver

Land use: