BOTSWANA

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on September 30, 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is predominated by mining, cattle, and tourism. The country is named after its largest ethnic group, the Tswana.

Location

South central Africa. Botswana is a landlocked country. Zimbabwe and Zambia are to its north-east, South Africa to the South and  south-west Africa to the west and north. A large part of Botswana forms Kalahari Desert.

Geography

Landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country.

Capital

Gaborone

Population

1,639,833

Climate

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Language

English, Setswana

Monetary Unit

Pula

Largest Cities

Gaborone, Francis Town, Selebi-Pikwe, Lobatse

Principal rivers

Chobe, Shashi

Places to Visit

Gaborone, Francis Town, Selebi-Pikwe, Lobatse

Air Ports

Gaborone International Air Port