Wild nature safaris and nights in luxury tented camps (perhaps even from an eco-friendly perspective) are not contradictory concepts when traveling in Botswana, a small gem of southern Africa, famous for the Kalahari desert and the unique landscapes of the Okavango Delta.
If Botswana is the next destination on your atlas, here are some interesting facts and information about this magnificent and little known country.
1. An oasis of peace
Botswana is the most lasting African democracy. It's an independent state since 1966 and since then it has always enjoyed a relative political stability, without clashes between ethnic groups nor coups unlike in many other African states. The government also initiated environmental protection policies, for which 17% of the territory is natural reserve, imposing limits on tourism to preserve intact its natural landscapes, of which the most spectacular and the most famous example is the Okavango Delta.
2. The land of diamonds
Botswana is probably the world's largest diamond producer. The discovery of a diamond mine in the Orapa area in 1967 gave great impetus to the economy of the country. Desbwana is the largest diamond mining company in the country. 50% is DeBeers' property, while the remaining half belongs to the government of Botswana. Finally, Jwaneng mine in the south of the country is among the richest in the world.
3. A bizarre language
Some interesting facts about Botswana's language: the word "lekgoa", translated more or less as "foreigner", originally meant "spit from the sea". The pula, the national currency, in Setswana language also means rain (perhaps because the abundance of both involves wealth and prosperity?). Batswana is the plural term that indicates the inhabitants of Botswana, while the singular is Motswana.
4. Botswana on the table
Botswana cuisine is strongly influenced by British culture, a legacy of past colonization. The morning breakfast is typically English, just like the habit of drinking tea in the afternoon. While traveling in Botswana, however, we also recommend to taste meat, especially wild game, antelope, ostrich or kudu cooked as roast beef. There are also excellent wines, which come from South Africa.
5. Souvenirs from Botswana
Do you want to take home with you a typical souvenir of your trip to Botswana? You will be spoiled for choice, thanks to the richness and variety of local craft. You will find mopane wood carved objects, statues of animals, traditional masks and baskets. You will probably be enchanted by the Bushmen products, including arrows and bows, necklaces and bracelets, made with shells of ostrich eggs or stones and bones, all different according to the different ethnic groups they come from.
Feel like leaving for Botswana now?
