The Country Called Botswana – Facts

1. Botswana Contains One Of The World’s Largest Salt Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pan, a salt pan situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana, is one of the largest salt flats in the world.

The pan is all that remains of the formerly enormous Lake Makgadikgadi, which once covered an area larger than Switzerland, but dried up tens of thousands of years ago.

• Botswana Is Nature-Friendly

Botswana is an outstanding place to witness the real wonders of the African natural world.

The Wildlife Of Botswana Refers To The Flora And Fauna Of This Country.

Botswana is around 90% covered in savanna, varying from shrub savanna in the southwest in the dry areas to tree savanna consisting of trees and grass in the wetter areas.

• The Name Of Botswana’s Currency Means “Rain”

Pula literally means “rain” in Setswana, because rain is very scarce in Botswana—home to much of the Kalahari Desert—and therefore valuable and a blessing.

The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

• Botswana Is One Of The World’s Biggest Diamond Producers

Botswana, where four of the world’s richest deposits are located, was Producing Around 24.2m Carats Of Diamonds Until 2019, thus making Gaborone the second-largest producer globally, behind Russia.

• Botswana Is The Best Place To See Meerkats In The Wild

Arguably the best place to see meerkats in Botswana, indeed anywhere in Africa, is around the Makga-dik-gadi Pans in the Kalahari Desert.

This vast complex of salt pans covers around 10,000km2 and is home to numerous meerkat families – known as clans or mobs.

• Botswana Is Africa’s Oldest Continuous Democracy

Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and, since its liberation, has had free and fair elections.

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi Is The Fifth And Current President Of Botswana, Serving Since 2018.

He served as the 8th Vice President of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018.

• One Of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders Of Is In Botswana

The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. It’s known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat.

The Okavango Delta Is Arguably Botswana’s Most Famous Area, Popular For Its Rich Wildlife, water-based safaris and commitment to low-impact tourism. The delta is just a fascinating region to discover.

• Over 70% Of Botswana’s Total Area Is Desert

Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of the land surface of the country.

Kalahari Is Derived From The Tswana Word Kgala, Meaning “The Great Thirst”, Or Kgalagadi, Meaning “A Waterless Place”

The Kalahari has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water.

• Botswana Has Africa’s Highest Concentration Of Elephants

According to the organisation’s elephant census, Botswana hosts the biggest number of African savanna elephants with about 130,000 Elephants, more than triple the size of Tanzania’s elephant population and almost eight times that of South Africa.

1. Botswana Has Less Than 3 Million People

The Current Population Of Botswana Is 2,448,355 As Of Monday, July 18, 2022.

Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

About 11.6 percent of the population lives in the capital and largest city, Gaborone.