Botswana

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region – The Republic of Botswana is one of the African continent’s landlocked countries and is located in southern part of Africa.
• Currency symbol of Botswana –The Pula is the currency of Botswana and its symbol is P
• Capital City – Gaborone is capital
• Official languages –The official languages of Botswana are English and Tswana
• Population – 2,363,614 (2020)
• Country dialling code  –  (+267)
• Official website –Botswana
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Mining Industry, Agriculture, Manufacturing
• Google Maps link –Botswana
• Where is it? –Botswana, country in the centre of Southern Africa. The territory is roughly triangular approximately 600 miles (965 km) from north to south and 600 miles from east to west. 

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Botswana In Pictures

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Botswana History

• How did the country get its first name? -Before its independence in 1966, Botswana was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland. It was also one of the poorest and least-developed states in the world. The country is named after its dominant ethnic group, the Tswana (“Bechuana” in older variant orthography).
• How did the country get its current name? -Formerly Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after Britain gave independence on 30 September 1966. The country’s name means “Land of the Tswana”, referring to the dominant ethnic group in Botswana. The term Batswana was originally applied to the Tswana, which is still the case.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? – Some researchers believe Botswana was the birthplace of all modern humans about 200,000 years ago. Evidence left by modern humans such as cave paintings are about 73,000 years old. The original inhabitants of southern Africa were the Bushmen (San) and Khoi peoples. 
• Who were the first Inhabitants? -The San were the original inhabitants of Botswana after they were driven out of the Cape area. It should be remembered that they were at one point spread over most of Africa, as evidenced in the rock paintings found across the continent.
• When it was first recognized as a country? – Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. 
• Who was the first leader of the country? -Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama , GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was the first President of Botswana, in office from 1966 to 1980, after the former Bechuanaland protectorate gained independence from Great Britain.

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Five significant events 

1. 1966 Independence: Bechuanaland gains independence from England, becomes Republic of Botswana. (https://www.onthisday.com/countries/botswana)
2. 1885 Bechuanaland: British proclaim a protectorate called Bechuanaland.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13041658)
3. 2015 Discovery of Diamond: Largest diamond discovered in more than a century, a 1,111 carat stone found in the Karowe mine, Botswana.(https://www.onthisday.com/countries/botswana)
4. 1986 South Africa Occupy on Botswana: South African army occupies Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia. (https://www.onthisday.com/countries/botswana)
5. 1980 Foundation of SADCC: Botswana is founder member of Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), grouping which aims to reduce region’s economic reliance on South Africa.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13041658)

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Five Places to Visit in Botswana

1. Chobe National Park: Chobe National Park lies in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and covers four distinct eco-systems. Chobe boasts around 120,000 elephants. The park’s vast herds are best seen from the water on a sundown river cruise. (http://www.chobenationalpark.com/)
2. Okavango Delta: The Okavango River cuts through the centre of the Kalahari Desert, creating a unique inland water system that gives life to a huge variety of birds and animals. The Okavango Delta is a unique safari destination because you can view much of its wildlife from a traditional canoe, or mokoro. (https://www.okavangodelta.com/)
3. Tsodilo Hills: Tsodilo Hills is a spiritual outdoor art gallery, showcasing more than 4,000 ancient San Bushmen rock paintings. There are around 400 sites depicting hunting scenes, ritual dances and typical safari animals. (https://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/explore/tsodilo-hills)
4. Nxai Pan National Park: The Nxai Pan National Park is a spectacular destination for a safari. The scenery is the main draw here, with wonderful sand dunes, towering baobab trees, and of course the salt pans themselves. When flooded, the pans also offer tremendous birding and game-viewing opportunities. (https://www.info-botswana.com/activities-and-places-of-interest/makgadikgadi-nxai-pans/nxai-pan-national-park)
5. Tuli Block: The Tuli Block is a wildlife rich area in eastern Botswana that borders South Africa and Zimbabwe at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. It was once an area of private farms, but a few decades ago it made more economic sense to transform the land into a wildlife sanctuary. (https://www.tulilodge.com/)

References: 

• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/ecological-regions-of-botswana.html
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-capital-of-botswana.html
• https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/botswana-population/
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-botswana.html
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Botswana
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Botswana
• https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/botswana/history