Botswana is a landlocked African country known for the Kalahari Desert. It was a protectorate of the UK until 1966. Mining, especially diamond mining, is important to its economy, as is tourism. Environmental problems and high unemployment rates are challenges. The citizens have high literacy rates and two official languages. Popular tourist destinations include game reserves and national parks.
The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked African country, located north of South Africa, but also borders Namibia and Zimbabwe. Home to the massive Kalahari Desert, Botswana is a semi-arid place, with very hot summers and mild winters. The country is mostly flat, with some rolling hills.
In the late 1800s, Botswana existed as The Bechuanaland Protectorate, a protectorate of the United Kingdom. When disagreements arose between the Tswana people of Botswana and the Ndebele people of the Kalahari Desert, the British government divided Bechuanaland in two, with the northern part becoming Botswana in 1966. The first president, Seretse Khama, served three terms. Today the government continues as a parliamentary republic.
Mining, especially diamond mining, is an essential part of Botswana’s economy. Besides diamonds, the country is rich in copper, salt, nickel, coal, silver, iron ore, potash, and coal. Considered a middle-income country, Botswana’s GDP was over $11,000 US Dollars (USD) in 2006. Tourism is also becoming a large contributor to the economy, but unemployment rates are still high – exact figures are controversial but is thought to be between 23% and 40% unemployment.
Like many sub-Saharan African nations, Botswana is facing some serious environmental problems due to drought, overgrazing, limited fresh water, and desertification. Food-, water- and vector-borne diseases are common, including malaria, typhoid and hepatitis A. The share of the HIV-positive population in Botswana is controversial, with figures ranging from 21% to nearly 40%, depending the source.
The citizens of Botswana, known collectively as Batswana – Motswana being the singular – have over 81% literacy and boast a university: the University of Botwana, located in the city of Gaborone; and six technical colleges spread across the country. The country has two official languages: Setswana, also known as Tswana, and English.
Tourism in Botswana is growing in popularity, in part due to its game reserves and national parks. The most popular destinations are Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Wildlife includes hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and antelopes. Botswana was the setting for Mark and Delia Owens’ best-selling book, The Cry of the Kalahari, as well as The Gods Must Be Crazy gambit.
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