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Previously a British Protectorate, Botswana became an independent republic in
1966. It has a population of more than one million, concentrated mainly in
the catchment area of the Limpopo and the eastern part of the country.
Botswana has three diamond mines, and diamonds are the main export.
Tourism is very important, but the remoteness of the terrain makes it difficult
for independent, individual tourists. Wildlife is of vital importance and
17 per cent of the country has been proclaimed as either National Parks or Game
Reserves.
The
Okavango Delta
is created by the Okavango River, the third largest in Southern Africa,
spreading out on reaching Botswana. After passing through the Popa Rapids,
the river creates an enormous delta of over 15 000 km˛. This consists of a
network of channels, ox-bow lakes, flood plains and islands. The main
attraction of the Delta is its beauty and solitude. Safaris centre on
fishing, walking and bird-watching or gliding through the clear water on a
“mokoro” (wooden dug-out).
Chobe
is one of the richest wildlife areas in Africa. There is an abundance of
game, in particular great herds of buffalo and elephant. Boating can be
undertaken on the Chobe River, which offers an ideal opportunity for
bird-watching and viewing game. The
Chobe National Park
has one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, estimated at over 35 000
(more than five times the entire elephant population of South Africa).
Linyanti
lies in the furthest corner of the Chobe National Park. Secluded and
uncrowded, this short trip of swampy river frontage is reminiscent of
the Okavango's permanent waterways with papyrus-lined lagoons, reed-beds
and a towering canopy of trees. The Linyanti Swamp covers an area of
almost 900 km˛, to which follows the river and fills the area between
the converging courses of the Kwando and Linyanti rivers.
The
Moremi Wildlife
Reserve lies entirely on
tribally owned land, which was set aside in 1962 to be protected for future
generations. Extended in 1970, the reserve now covers most of the
north-eastern and central Okavango Delta and supports a vast range of animals,
including cheetah and wild dog, and an abundance of bird life. Moremi
includes both the Delta and the desert. There are a number of public camp
sites within the reserve. Lodges offer game-drives and boating on the
Okavango waterways.
Savuti
is located at the southern end of the enormous Chobe National Park. The
expanses of uninhabited land contain an abundance of wildlife, particularly
predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal and wild dog.
Nearly 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Savuti during the summer
season. Accommodation is offered in private game lodges and tented camps.
Makgadikgadi
Pans
was in
pre-historic times, the largest inland sea in Africa - 80,000 km˛ in
extent, and up to 30 metres deep. Now, in the wet season, this vast area
of salt pans interspersed with low-lying grass islands is the
destination of herds of migrating Zebra. It has an unspoilt beauty
unlike that of any other part of Botswana.
The Kalahari Desert is a semi-desert area comprising
almost two-thirds of Botswana. Best known as the home of the Bushmen or
San people, the area has low vegetation, bare pans and vast open spaces.
There are three game reserves in the Kalahari: Khutse Game Reserve - opened in
1971 on Bakwena tribal land and covering an area of 2,500
km˛.
The extensive mineralised pan system within Khutse provides an important habitat
for wildlife attracting herbivores to graze on the grasses of the pans, drink
the mineralised water in the rainy season and to lick salt in the dry season;
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- the second largest game reserve measuring 52,800
km˛.
Situated right in the middle of Botswana , this reserve is characterised by vast
open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds. Varying from sand dunes with many
species of trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area,
the reserve is more heavily wooded in the south with mophane forests; and
the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- situated in the south-western area of Botswana. This is a dry area with
high sand dunes and deep fossil river beds. The park is known for its huge
herds of springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and also the various
predators, lion, cheetah, hyena and jackal.
Tuli Block
is about 350 km long, stretching from the corner where the Shashe and
the Limpopo Rivers meet in the east, right down to the Notwane River
north of Olifants Drift in the South West. The Tuli Block consists
mainly of privately owned farms, but the eastern section has been
declared a game reserve, known as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve.
Gaborone
is Botswana's capital. Dating back to 1887 when a village was built on the
banks of the Ngotwane River, Gaborone now has a population in excess of 150 000.
Nearby places of interest include the Kolobeng Ruins, Oodi Weavers - 18 km north
of Gaborone, Pelegano Village Industries in the Gabane Village, the Mokolodi
Crafts - 15 km south of Gaborone on the Lotatse Road, and the Manyelanong
Sanctuary.
Francistown,
dating back to the gold rush in 1860, is the second largest town after Gaborone.
It is well positioned and is a main stop-over point to the Okavango, Moremi and
Chobe Game Reserves.
Maun
is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve. Air
Botswana flies regularly to Maun.
Kasane
is a small border town in the northern area of Botswana, bordering Zimbabwe.
The new international Airport is a gateway for visitors to the Chobe National
Park.
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