BOTSWANA
It is important to remember that, although the country is well developed, its infrastructure is not perfect, which means your Botswana holiday will most likely take you off-road at times. Plan your African holiday in a manner that will allow you sufficient time to explore the country - most places of interest are far between and it takes time to get from one location to the next.
Botswana is landlocked and runs approximately 1100km from north to south and 960km from east to west, which makes it similar in size and area as Kenya, France and Texas. The average elevation is about 1000m above sea level and the land is largely comprised of a level sand-filled basin covered by savannah and scrubland. Around 85% of the country is given over to the semi-arid sandy valleys of the Kalahari, including the entire central- and south western regions. The northern part of the country forms part of the Okavango Delta, fed by the Okavango River that flows in from the neighbouring country of Namibia.
The Delta is one of the country’s major tourist attractions as it provides a source of water for the vast herds of wildlife that roam its plains. As an interesting side note, the country’s currency unit (the Pula) is the same word used for ‘rain’ - which just goes to show how incredibly valuable their dwindling water sources are.
Travel in Africa is epitomised by vast open spaces and great herds of animals, and if this is what you want to experience then Botswana cannot be beaten as a holiday destination. Nearly all large mammal species are present and accounted for in both the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and the Chobe National Park; while the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Park boasts herds of wildebeest and zebra, which take part in the annual migration.
Capital: Gabarone
Population: 1.36m
Literacy: 23%
Life Expectancy: 59 years
Per Capita Income: US$ 2 040.00
Currency: Pula (P)
Botswana travel packages:
Overlanding
Safaris
