Botswana is one of the landlocked countries in the southern part of the continent with a land mass of 581, 730 square Kilometers. The country of more than 2 million people is bordered by Namibia, Zambia, Angola, and South Africa.
Running the length and breadth of this country that was once known as Bechuanaland when it was a British colony are many captivating facts that you should know.
Facts About Botswana That Will Blow Your Mind
1. It is One of the World’s Most Sparsely Populated Countries
Botswana’s land mass is covered 80% by the Kalahari Desert and it is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. Its land mass has been compared to Madagascar or France.
With a population density placed at 4 people per square kilometer, fewer people are found per kilometer. This shows that it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
Regarding why the population is low, it has been linked to the harsh climate of the Kalahari desert.
2. Botswana Changed Its Name From Bechuanaland
Long before this Southern African country got the name it bears now, it was known as Bechuanaland. The British named it after it declared a protectorate in the area in 1885. According to sources, Bechuanaland is an older name used to refer to the Tswana people.
Thankfully, gaining independence on September 30 1966 meant the people were free to choose a name that they found more suitable, hence the name change to Botswana. The people refer to themselves as Batswana or Motswana(singular).
3. Bostwana’s Official Language is English
Though Botswana has many indigenous languages, it adopted English as its official language as a result of its colonial history under the British. It is spoken in official settings as well as in written communication while Setswana which is an indigenous language spoken by most of the population is considered a national language.
Notably, Setswana is regarded as the first language of most people. Other widely spoken indigenous languages spoken in the length and breadth of the country are Sekelanga and Shekgalagadi.
Aside from these major languages, Botswana has more than 20 other small languages spoken in the country including Ndebele, and Shona.
4. The San People of Botswana are One of the Oldest People in the World
Also known as Bushmen, the San people are found in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Zambia, and Angola. They are some of the oldest people to have lived on the planet and are a hunter-gatherer group that is said to have lived in Southern Africa for thousands of years.
Through oral traditions and culture they’ve passed down, the San are traced to be the descendants of early stone age ancestors.
Despite such a rich history, it is sad that their population has been greatly reduced and they are now found only found in Botswana, Angola, and Namibia due to modernization and climate change.
5. The Country Uses The Pula
In Botswana, the national currency is the Pula which means rain or blessing in the local dialect. It is unclear why they chose to name it Pula, however, it may be due to the low rainfall that is generally experienced in the country, hence making the currency a valuable substance.
While the Pula is in notes, it is broken down into the Thebe which is coins. Also, the Pula is a closed currency, meaning it can not be obtained outside the country.
6. Botswana is One of the Main Producers of Diamond Worldwide
Despite being covered by mostly desert lands, underneath this lies one of the world’s prized mineral resources, Diamond. Diamonds were first discovered in Botswana in 1967 and since then, it increased the volume of production to become a leading producer in Africa and second in the world after Russia.
Due to the vast deposits of this mineral resource, four of the world’s richest mines operate in the country. Through this, they are able to produce 17,000 carats per annum.
Considering its diamond mining operations, some of the world’s largest diamonds were discovered in the country. In 2015, the second largest diamond in the world named Lesedi La Rona was discovered in the country. This was followed by another discovery of the 1,098-carat diamond by a mining company named Debswana in 2021. According to the mining company, this diamond is the third largest diamond. Also, diamond mining has now placed the country’s capital, Gaborone on the list of diamond hubs in the world.
7. Botswana is One of Africa’s Wealthiest Countries
Despite the poor economy that it witnessed during British colonial rule, in the years after it gained independence, the country grew to become one of Africa’s wealthiest countries due to its stable economy. This is a result of its mining and tourism sectors which are the primary source of revenue. Notably, the government maintains a 50:50 sharing policy with mining companies.
Through its five-year terms of office, Botswana’s political stability has also led to economic stability. With a GDP of $15.78 billion, Botswana is a good spot for investors.
8. Africa’s Big 5 Land Animals are Found in Botswana
Aside from being one of the best safari destinations in the world, Botswana also boasts of having the continent’s big 5 animals-elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rare rhino. These animals which are considered difficult to hunt on foot by gamers are found in the Okavango Delta of the country where many rivers find an outlet into the Kalahari desert.
The tigers in Botswana are noticeably the largest on the continent due to the availability of prey in the Okavango Delta. Aside from this, Botswana has the largest population of elephants Their presence is noticeable as they often slow down cars while they cross the road in their numbers.
Of interest are the large populations of meerkats that can be found in Botswana and other parts of the Kalahari.
9. Botswana is Alleged to Be the Location of the Biblical Garden of Eden
Botswana’s charm is not lost on nature lovers. Added to this, there are speculations that it may have once been the location of the garden of Eden to be somewhere north of the country close to the Zambezi river. This claim was made due to major scientific DNA studies.
The research traced the maternal DNA material of the people living in the area to predecessors that were forced out of the area due to climate change. While some left the area, many more were forced to adapt forcing a change in their cultural and genetic differences.
See Also: 10 Safest African Countries In 2023
10. Botswana Meets with Three Countries to Form the Four Corners of Africa
In a rare occurrence, Botswana’s border meets with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to form what is called a quadripoint. This unique occurrence is also referred to as the four corners of Africa and is the only internationally recognized one.
Notably, the four countries meet on the Zambezi river. Due to its proximity to Zambia with a distance of 150 meters, this has made the two countries have the shortest border in the world.
Aside from this, there are 150 tripoints which is the meeting point of three countries in the world.
