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THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA:
Botswana is Africa’s best kept secret. Here you will find the greatest diversity of authentic safari experiences on the continent. The Okavango Delta, at 18,000 square kilometers (7,000 mi2) is the largest inland delta on earth. The wildlife viewing is unique. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve, part of the Kalahari Desert, covers an area of 53,000 square kilometers (about 20,000 mi2). It’s the size of Slovenia or the U.S. state of West Virginia and second largest game reserve in Africa. At Chobe National Park and the Linyanti Swamp you will find the highest concentration of elephants anywhere on the planet. These are just some of the places you can visit – each unique and each a life-changing adventure.
At 581,730 km2 (224,607 sq mi) The Republic of Botswana is similar in size to France or the U.S. state of Texas. The country is landlocked and topographically flat. 70% of the country consists of the Kalahari Desert. The population is about 2.3 million people, making Botswana 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. The official language is English. The major religions are: Christian 77%, Badimo (traditional religion) 6%, Islam and Hinduism about 1%, no religion 15%.
Formerly named the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, on 30 September 1966 independence was granted and the name was changed to Botswana – “Place of the Tswana” (indigenous people). At that time the entire new country had only 12 kilometers (7 miles) of paved road. The average annual per capita income was US$70(€60), one of the lowest per capita incomes of any country at that time. Then things got better. You’re not going to believe this, but for the past 35 years Botswana has realized the highest growth rate of any country. Today, the per capita income is US$18,200 (€15,250), the third highest per capita income of any nation in Africa, just behind the tiny countries of the Seychelles and Mauritius and highest Human Development Index of Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, this is a higher per capita income than any country in South America and about the same as Mexico.
This growth is even more remarkable when compared to Botswana’s neighbor Zimbabwe, which used to be among the richest countries in Africa and is now the poorest. What happened? If you have a few minutes, Google “Botswana Success Story”. There are a number of interesting economic analyses done on the matter. The short story is that basically Botswana enacted the opposite to political and economic policies every other sub-Sahara nation.
