Botswana

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Botswana is an African success story. A long-neglected British protectorate, Botswana achieved its independence in 1966 and immediately thereafter, in a mad stroke of luck, discovered three of the world's richest diamond mines. Today the country enjoys a relatively enlightened government, and its health, educational and economic standards are rivalled on the African continent only by South Africa's.

Beyond the narrow eastern corridor where the majority of population is concentrated, Botswana is a largely roadless wilderness of savannas, deserts, wetlands and salt pans. To ensure the country's natural assets are preserved, Botswana's government has embraced a policy of courting only high-cost, low-impact tourism. Skinflints and softies beware: this is a destination for the intrepid, well-heeled traveller.

Full country name: Republic of Botswana
Area: 600,370 sq km (231,800 sq mi)
Population: 1.6 million
Capital city: Gaborone (pop 138,000)
People: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, Kgalagadi
Languages: English, Setswana
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Government: parliamentary republic

GDP: US$5.25 billion
GDP per head: US$3600
Annual growth: 3%
Inflation: 9%
Major industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda, ash, potash, livestock processing, sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed, livestock
Major trading partners: EU, Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Zimbabwe

 

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*The above information was obtained from www.lonelyplanet.com and Youth International
wants to acknowlege all due credit to the source of the information.