Welcome to Botswana, a unique gem in Southern Africa!
Nestled in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana presents itself as a business landmark and a dream destination for travellers seeking adventure and authenticity.
Situated between Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe to the east and South Africa to the southeast, Botswana is a former British protectorate formerly called Bechuanaland. It adopted its current name after its independence on September 30, 1966.
The country which is preparing to host the 15th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) has Gaborone as its capital. DBS - Department of Broadcasting Services is Botswana's public service media. DBS is an active member of the AUB and chaired the Union from 2018 to 2022, notably under the leadership of Ms. Keitirele Mathapi and Mr. Raymond Tsheko.
Botswana is distinguished by its beautiful landscapes, where green savannahs, arid plains and lush deltas coexist in perfect harmony. It covers an area of 581,730 km² and has a little more than 2.6 million inhabitants, according to the 2023 report from the World Bank (WB). Its delta called Okavango, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a unique natural gem, while the Kalahari Desert offers extraordinary panoramas of glowing sand dunes.
The Botswana political system is recognized for its stability and transparency in Africa and around the world. Elected by direct universal suffrage, the current Head of State, Mokgweetsi Masisi has led the country since 2019 after his victory in the general elections. Botswana is a parliamentary democratic republic. It has a national assembly made up of 63 seats, 57 of which are filled every five years by one-round ballot.
Botswana is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. It is also one of the least corrupt countries on the continent, according to regular indices from Transparency International. It derives its wealth from the exploitation of its mining resources: diamond, copper and nickel.
Tourism plays an important role in its economy, attracting visitors from all over the world to admire its wildlife consisting of elephants, zebras, lions, hippos, among others. Its GDP per capita is one of the highest in Africa. In 2022, Botswana was ranked 5th in the Mô Ibrahim Foundation's good governance index.
Botswana's culture is influenced by the different ethnic groups that make up its population. It is home to a large community of San, the first inhabitants of the country, with ancestral customs dating back thousands of years. The Baswana (majority ethnic group) have a culture rich in music, dance and crafts.
Botswanans are big fans of cricket, netball, rugby and athletics. The country hosted the African Youth Games in 2014 and several international competitions.
Although football is the national sport, the Botswana national team has no track record on the international stage. In 2012, the Zebras achieved the feat of qualifying for the final phase of the African Cup of Nations, but the adventure ended in the first round. The country still cherishes the dream of one day participating in a football World Cup.
Useful Information
-Visa:
-Required for entry into Botswana. https://www.gov.bw/visa-applications/visa-application-visitors-visa.
-Currency:
Botswana Pula (BWP). 1 Euro is equivalent to 14.73 BWP.
-Languages:
English (official language), Setswana (national language).
-Transport: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, located 15km from the South African border.
It is possible to reach Gaborone by bus from Johannesburg, with agencies offering one connection per day between the two capitals with 7 hours of travel time.
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