Botswana

Home - Independent Countries - Botswana
Botswana

The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country in the center of Southern Africa. The area is roughly triangular in shape, 600 miles north-south and east-west, with the eastern side of the area extending into a sharp peak. Botswana is rich in wildlife, including several species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Prior to independence in 1966, Botswana was a British protectorate under the name Bechuanaland. At the time it was one of the poorest and least developed states in the world, but since independence the Republic of Botswana has achieved international prestige as a peaceful and thriving democratic state. In Botswana there are diverse areas for wildlife. Besides the delta and desert areas, there are also grasslands and savannahs, home to Blue Wildebeest, antelope and other mammals and birds. One of the few remaining large populations of the endangered African Wild Dog is found in northern Botswana. The Chobe National Park in the Chobe district has the largest concentration of African Elephants in the world. The park covers some 11 000 km2 and is home to around 350 species of birds. The Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve are the most important tourist destinations, but there are many other reserves in the country. There are also special sanctuaries, such as the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, for rhinos. And the Makgadikgadi Sanctuary, for flamingos.