Country Guide • Botswana
Botswana is a land-locked country dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert. The country is situated in the southern African region and about two-thirds of Botswana lies within the Tropics; it is bisected by the Tropic of Capricorn. Although Botswana has no mountain ranges to speak of, the almost uniformly flat landscape is punctuated occasionally by low hills, especially along the south eastern boundary and in the far north west.
Official Name | Republic of Botswana |
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Area | 600,370km² (231,803mile²) |
Population | 1,573,000 |
Continent | Africa |
Population per mile² | 7 |
Capital City | Gaborone |
Religions | Indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 49% |
Language | English, Setswana |
Government | Parliamentary Republic |
Currency | Pula |
GDP | $15.1 billion |
GDP per Head | $9,500 |
Natural Resources | Diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash |
Land Use | Arable Land 1% |
Agriculture | Beans, cowpeas, groundnuts, (peanuts), maize, livestock and sunflowers |
Industry | Diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing and textiles |
Tourism | 17% of Botswana has been set aside as national parks and game reserves. There are numerous safari lodges and camps established for you to enjoy the wildlife and explore the unspoilt countryside |
Natural Hazards | Periodic droughts and in August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility |
Health Risks | Malaria |
Climate | Botswana has a subtropical climate. Winters are cool with frost common in the desert. The summer season is from September to April with rain in the north and east falling almost totally between October to April. The country often suffers long periods of drought. Average annual rainfall is 18 inches with average temperature ranges from 5 to 23°C in July to 18 to 31°C in December or January |
Time | GMT/UTC+2 hours |
National Days | September 30 |
Visas | A visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days for citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries, Israel, Japan, South Africa and the USA |
British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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