Botswana
- Botswana
General Information
Capital City: Gaborone
Population: ~2.6 million
Official Language: English (Setswana is widely spoken)
Time Zone: Central Africa Time (CAT, GMT+2)
International Dialing Code: +267
Driving Side: Left
Size of the Country
Total Area: 581,730 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Borders: Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
Size of the Country
Total Area: 581,730 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Borders: Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
Must-Visit Places
Okavango Delta – A UNESCO-listed wetland paradise, best explored by mokoro (traditional canoe).
Chobe National Park – Home to the largest elephant population in Africa, famous for boat safaris.
Moremi Game Reserve – Pristine game-viewing area with diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife.
Makgadikgadi Pans – One of the world’s largest salt pans, offering surreal landscapes and seasonal zebra migrations.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve – Remote, vast wilderness with desert-adapted wildlife and the indigenous San people.
Tuli Block – Dramatic rock formations, historical ruins, and abundant wildlife, known as the “Land of Giants.”
Economic Activity
Botswana’s economy is heavily reliant on diamond mining, contributing over 30% to GDP. Tourism is a major industry, driven by luxury safaris, conservation, and ecotourism. Agriculture is limited due to arid conditions, with cattle farming being the main activity.
Currency
Botswana Pula (BWP)
Insight for Travellers
Self-drive safaris are an excellent way to explore Zimbabwe’s wilderness, but a 4×4 vehicle is recommended for certain areas.
While Victoria Falls is accessible from both Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Zimbabwean side offers the best panoramic views of the falls.
Power outages can occur, particularly outside major cities, so higher-end hotels and lodges often have generators to ensure uninterrupted service.