BOTSWANA
Botswana is home to some of the most extensive and
unspoiled wilderness areas in Africa. The Okavango
Delta, one of this diamond-producing country’s precious
gems, is among the world's most spectacular wetlands.
Landlocked
and a slightly larger than France, and with an average
elevation of 1000 metres, much of Botswana is
semi-desert. To the north, the Okavango River flows into
the country from Angola, opening up to form a massive
delta of almost 15 000km. The delta is a complex series
of channels, lagoons, floodplains and islands, entirely
surrounded and flowing over the Kalahari sands. The area
is alive with wildlife and to explore it by dugout canoe
(makoro) is the ideal way to experience its beauty and
tranquility firsthand.
Many of
Botswana's national parks and game reserves, including
Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park, are
world famous. Teeming with wildlife, here some of the
largest herds in southern Africa roam free. Keen birders
will delight over some of the continent's most
spectacular and varied birdlife. Other highlights
include the wild Kalahari – with its vast spaces and
breathtaking night skies, Makgadikgadi and Nxai salt
pans offering superb wild life viewing, Tsodilo Hills
bushman art gallery, and the Kgalakgadi Trans Frontier
park – a 4x4 experience in search of its enigmatic wild
life.
A wide
variety of fish populate the waterways. The main fishing
season in Botswana is between September and April .The
best areas are the Delta and the Chobe river.
Botswana is
renowned for its basketry, wood carvings and bushmen
craft. Visitors are afforded many opportunities to
purchase unusual and attractive souvenirs worthy of a
visit to this exciting country.
Capital:
Gaberone
Population: 1,6-million
Time Zone: GMT+2
Language: English and Setswana
Climate: Very high temperatures of up to 40
degrees Celsius in the dry season and occasional low
night temperatures, falling below zero in some areas.
Winter days are usually clear, warm and sunny, while
nights are quite cold. Rainfall occurs mainly in the
winter, Oct – April, mainly in the east and the northern
tropical region.
Accommodation: Gaberone, Francistown and Maun have
various grades of accommodation. Country areas outside
of tourist resorts offer very limited choices.
Safety:
There’s relatively little crime even in urban areas, but
visitors are advised to take normal precautions with
valuables.
