Everything you need to know about Botswana: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Botswana: The Land of Okavango Delta and African Safari
Botswana, erstwhile Bechuanaland is a poor British province and its present name comes from its dominant inhabitants, the Botswana ethnic group. Tracing back the history, it is known that the earliest inhabitants of the country were the Bush people. They inhabited the major parts of the country and thereby the relics of the tribal history are still evident in some places. The remnants of the Iron Age are still vivid as that of Bantu farming culture in Limpopo valley and some remains of iron smelting furnace in Tswapong hills are also found. Botswana with it untamed bush-veld and wildlife offers the ultimate African Safari experience for the tourists in the Okavango Delta, Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park.
Botswana Fast Facts:
Bostwana is a landlocked African country. The climate of Botswana is partially dry and it remains dry for most of the year. In the summer months, the weather of Botswana undergoes little change and the land receives irregular rainfall. The rainy season is not regular. The summer season at Botswana starts in the month of November and continues till March. The winter season begins in May and continues till August.
Botswana Economy:Botswana is the diamond mine of the world and the diamond mining industry of Botswana has catapulted the country into one of the most affluent in Africa. However Botswana has also a raging AIDS pandemic and the Country had the highest prevalence of AIDS for many years.
Culture and Cuisine of Botswana:
The Botswana Culture is largely diversified and varies according to different regions. As in Okavango Delta, which represents the Botswanian culture as a whole. The early natives of the country were known for their great artistic skills as they crafted unique implements in the form of pottery, fabrics and different household tools. Also the beautifully woven baskets are known exquisitely for having unique names such as Forehead of the Zebra, Tears of the Giraffe and many others. Moreover, the natives commonly speak Setswana, which depicts their Bantu culture.
Botswana’s unique cuisine is Seswaai, which is heavily salted mashed meat. Some of the popular foods include Pap, Samp, Vetkoek and Mopane worms along with homemade ginger beer. Also some of the primary crops include Sorghum, maize, cowpeas, ditloo and lethodi that are the different types of peas grown here.
Tourist Attractions in Botswana:
This unique country offers a lot more in terms of ecological wonders, exhilarating safaris and exceptional San rock art. The Kalahari National Park in Botswana is home to some endangered species of Rhino besides Zebra, wild beast, Gemsbok, Leopard and others. Besides this, there is an old hollow baobab tree belonging to 20th century, which is preserved till date. Botswana offers many exhilarating Safaris to tourists who travel year each year; this includes African Safaris in the Okavango Delta, Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park, none of which are to be missed.
Some other popular sites in Botswana include:
Washington, May 23 (IANS) Twelve-year-old Indian-origin boy Sathwik Karnik won the 2013 National Geographic Bee by correctly naming Chimborazo, a peak in Ecuador, as the farthest point on earth from the centre of the earth.
Washington, May 23 (IANS) Twelve-year-old Indian-origin boy Sathwik Karnik won the 2013 National Geographic Bee by correctly naming Chimborazo, a peak in Ecuador, as the farthest point on earth from the Equator.
Gaborone (Bostwana), May 22 (IANS) The president of the world motorsport governing body, Federation Internationale de I' Automobile (FIA), Jean Todt is scheduled to visit Botswana in August, Botswana Motorsport Association (BMSA) has confirmed.
Lusaka (Zambia), May 14 (IANS) The Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) named a 14-member squad for the ICC Africa U-19 World Cup Qualifiers (CWCQ) Division 1 tournament Tuesday.
Gaborone (Bostwana), May 8 (IANS) Botswana's national team coach Stanley Tshosane says he is aiming for glory at the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Association's (COSAFA) regional tournament to be hosted by Zambia from July 6-20.
Gaborone (Botswana), May 6 (IANS) Kenyan runners were in a class of their own dominating and winning in both men's and women's categories in the Gaborone City Marathon here.
Gaborone (Bostwana), May 4 (IANS) Botswana national football team coach Stanley Tshosane has announced a provisional squad in preparation for a friendly against former African champions Egypt June 4.
Marrakech, April 21 (IANS) The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria lashed Congo 7-0 here to qualify from Group B for the semi-finals of the ongoing 10th African Under-17 Football Championship.
Gaborone (Bostwana), April 19 (IANS) Botswana is set to play 2012 African champions Zambia in the first round qualifiers of the 2014 African National Championships (CHAN) football tournament.
Tunis, April 17 (IANS) Tunisia's U-17 team defeated Gabon 4-2 in Round 2 of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tournament in Morocco.
Casablanca, April 17 (IANS) Morocco beat Botswana 3-0 in their second Group A match here at the ongoing CAF Under-17 Championship.
Marrakesh (Morocco), April 15 (IANS) Nigeria defeated Ghana 6-1 here in their opening group B match at the ongoing 10th Confederation of African Football (CAF) Under-17 championship.
Bangalore, March 25 (IANS) Millions of street vendors in cities and towns across India will soon be empowered to run their micro level business by law, union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken said Monday.
Gaborone (Botswana), March 12 (IANS) Botswana national football team "The Zebras" play Malawi at home next Tuesday in an international friendly match that forms part of their preparations for their upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia.
Gaborone (Botswana), March 9 (IANS) Botswana's national team head coach Stanley Tshosane announced his 22-man squad for a 2014 World Cup football qualifying clash against Ethiopia later this month.
Johannesburg, March 9 (IANS) Cameroonian Issa Hayatou will be re-elected unopposed in Morocco Sunday for a final four-year term as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president.
Gaborone, Feb 21 (IANS) Botswana's cricket national team will depart for Uganda Thursday to compete in the International Cricket Council (ICC) - Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Twenty 20 Division One tournament that starts Sunday.
Kampala (Uganda), Feb 19 (IANS) Uganda has named an 18-man squad that will defend its title when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa T20 tournament kicks off here Feb 23.
Gaborone, Feb 15 (IANS) The value of Botswana's rough diamond exports dropped by 20 percent in 2012, according to data released by the central Bank of Botswana.
Gaborone, Feb 12 (IANS) Australian miner Hodges Resources has announced it has approved feasibility phase studies for its Morupule South coal project in central east Botswana, with a start up of between two to three million tonnes per annum.
Gaborone (Bostwana), Feb 10 (IANS) FIFA president Joseph Blatter urged that African countries should improve their professional leagues, so as to maintain young players in their own countries.
Gaborone (Botswana), Jan 24 (IANS) Botswana Football Association (BFA) confirmed that world football governing body FIFA president Sepp Joseph Blatter will be in the country for a three-day visit from Feb 9.
London, Jan 16 (IANS) Internet giant Google has denied reports that a donkey was run over by one of its "Google Street View" teams in Botswana.
Bangalore, Jan 13 (IANS) About 30 firms signed an expression of interest (EoI) with the Karnataka government to invest a whopping Rs.52,000 crore in diverse sectors across the state at the sixth edition of Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar, a senior official said Sunday.
Washington, Dec 20 (IANS/RIA Novosti) If you're one of the people across the globe worried about Friday's so-called "Mayan apocalypse" and what some say will be the end of the world, you can keep watch over the heavens online for impending signs of doomsday.
Harare, Dec 5 (IANS) Zimbabwe has lost at least 190 elephants owing to water shortage at Hwange National Park, the largest in the country, during the dry season this year, said authorities.
Madrid, Dec 3 (IANS) Spanish king Juan Carlos left hospital Sunday nine days after his third hip operation this year.
Moscow, Nov 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian race walker Elena Lashmanova has had her world record set at the London Olympic ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Gaborone, Oct 5 (IANS) Bostwana's chief football coach Stanley Tshosane named a 25-member squad that will face Mali in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) third round, second-leg qualifier slated for Oct 13.
New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) Speakers from six African nations are among 12 women presiding officers in the capital to attend a meet on gender-sensitive parliament.
London, Aug 26 (ANI): One of Prince Harry's long-serving protection officers, who was in charge of his security during the naked frolic in the Las Vegas, has raised concerns over his "overfriendly" relationship with the royal.
Mumbai, Aug 23 (IANS) The government is considering steps to ensure that SEZs remain attractive destinations for investment, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Thursday.
Washington, Aug 13 (IANS) Jeffrey Roy, a University of California, Los Angeles, student has won a State Department Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship to study music of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in India.
London, Aug 13 (IANS) The following is the final medal table at the 2012 London Olympic Games which concluded here Sunday. India finished 55th.
London, Aug 12 (IANS) The following is the medals tally of the 2012 London Games here Saturday.
London, Aug 11 (IANS) The following is the medals tally of the 2012 London Games here Saturday.
London, Aug 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Kenyan runner David Rudisha set a searing pace as he won Olympic 800 metres gold in world record time Thursday.
London, August 7 (IANS) From being non-existent at the first modern Olympics to being nearly half of the total competitors in current edition, women athletes have come a long way and the London Games are surely abuzz with women power.
Madrid, July 22 (ANI): The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Spain has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president after going on an elephant-hunting trip in Botswana.
Washington, July 15 (ANI): Despite its large size and fast-operating digestive system, the African elephant does not eat just anything, it selectively chooses species and parts of the woody plants that comprise its diet, a new study has revealed.
Paris, July 8 (IANS/CMC) American Tyson Gay has declared the 100 metres at the London Olympics an open affair after winning the event at the Paris Diamond League.
Gaborone, June 30 (IANS) Sixteen workers were trapped when the walls of a diamond mine collapsed in Botswana. Fifteen of them were rescued.
Cape Town, June 20 (IANS) The Interpol seized nearly two tonnes of elephant ivory in an operation involving 14 African countries, including South Africa, it was announced here Tuesday.
New Delhi, June 18 (ANI): India and Botswana on Monday decided to actively collaborate and share experiences in the field of human settlements.
Melbourne, June 18 (ANI): If you are planning for a holiday and want to ensure it a happy one, Costa Rica could be the best place to go.
Washington, June 13 (ANI): Since 1990, annual maternal deaths have declined by almost one half and the deaths of young children have declined from 12 million to 7.6 million in 2010, according to a new report.
Madrid, May 25 (IANS) Controversy surrounds the celebration of Friday's Copa del Rey final between Athletic Club Bilbao and FC Barcelona in the Spanish capital of Madrid following declarations by Esperanza Aguirre, president of the Madrid Regional Authority (Comunidad de Madrid.)
New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India is exploring possibilities of entering into free trade pacts with regional groupings of African countries such as the 19-nation Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said Tuesday.
Johannesburg, May 4 (ANI): Expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema has claimed the ANC used him for its own purposes before throwing him away.
Madrid, April 19 (IANS/EFE) "I'm very sorry. I made a mistake. It won't happen again," Spain's King Juan Carlos said Wednesday regarding a hunting trip to Botswana that became headline news after he was injured in a fall.
New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The World Trade Organisation (WTO) said Friday it has appointed Pradeep S. Mehta, secretary general of Jaipur-based Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), on a high-level panel set up to identify 21st century trade challenges.
Gaborone (Botswana), April 12 (IANS) Botswana's diamond exports bounced back from a four-month slump in February, rising to 2.23 billion pula (nearly $306 million) or three times their level in January, the Bank of Botswana has said.
New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Once ostracised and stigmatized, eleven HIV-affected people rubbed shoulders with football teams from various embassies in the The Football4Hope - "United Cup 2012" here to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Cape Town (S.Africa), Jan.20 (ANI): Proteas Test captain Graeme Smith and fellow players Faf du Plessis, Alviro Peterson, Wayne Parnell and members of the coaching staff, on Thursday met a group of children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS.
Cape Town (S.Africa), Jan.20 (ANI): Proteas Test captain Graeme Smith and fellow players Faf du Plessis, Alviro Peterson, Wayne Parnell and members of the coaching staff, on Thursday met a group of children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS.
Washington, Sept 26 (ANI): Birds are far from feather-brained, when it comes to building nests, a new research has shown.
London, Sept 20 (ANI): India is one out of nine developing nations where progress is being made to meet the Millennium Development Goals of improving the health of women and children, analysts have said.
New Delhi, Aug 12(ANI): Five envoys presented their credentials to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.
New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): Envoys of five nations presented their credentials to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Friday.
London, July 9 (ANI): Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff's wife is not happy that he is taking part in ITV4's 'Freddie Vs The World'.
Washington, June 27 (ANI): US First Lady Michelle Obama said her meeting with former South African president Nelson Mandela was a "surreal experience".
London, Jun 18 (ANI): Andrew Flintoff, whose heroics against Australia at Lord's in 2009 helped England clinch the Ashes, is set for his toughest innings yet-living with a remote tribe in Botswana.
London, June 4 (ANI): Michelle Obama will be visiting Africa with her daughters and mother later this month to continue her work of encouraging young people around the world to become active in their countries.
Surat, June 2 (ANI): Diamond manufacturers have started the online trading of rough diamonds for the first time in Surat.
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), May 23 (ANI): While the West continues to project and pit India against China in Africa, India has rejected reports that it is competing with China.
Washington, May 13 (ANI): HIV-infected people with relatively healthier immune systems can dramatically reduce the transmission of the virus to their sexual partners if they are treated immediately with oral antiretroviral drugs, says a large-scale clinical study.
Dubai, Apr 17(ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the 14-man squads for the six teams - Nigeria, Japan, Norway, Germany, Kuwait and Botswana - participating in the World Cricket League Division 7 (WCL Div. 7) next month in Botswana.
London, April 8 (ANI): Prince William and Kate Middletown have received an invitation to honeymoon in Spain from the mayor of tourist mecca Benidorm.
London, Nov 20 (ANI): Botswana's president has turned to his aides to help him find a 'tall and slim' wife in a country of 'traditionally built' ladies.
Washington Oct 13 (ANI): Scientists are using an unusual resource to investigate ancient climates-prehistoric animal urine.
Washington, Oct 1 (ANI): Scientists have discovered a new tuberculosis (TB) species in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, a group of pathogens that have adapted by using mammals as hosts.
New Delhi, Sep (ANI): As many as 850 athletes and officials are expected to arrive in Delhi today to showcase their talent at the 2010 Commonwealth Games from October 3-14.
New Delhi, Sept.27 (ANI): Around 550 athletes and officials are expected to arrive in Delhi today to participate in the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.
London, Aug 4 (ANI): A documentary, which followed Prince William during an official trip to Africa, will debut later this year.
Johannesburg, July 5(ANI): South African Home Affairs Department has said that the number of foreign visitors entering the country during the World Cup period has now risen to a million.
London, July 01 (ANI): American singer Joe Jonas has promised to devote himself to charity work following a life-changing humanitarian trip to Africa.
New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): Botswanaian Vice-President M S Merafhe on Thursday invited Indian industries to invest in the African country.
New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): The Vice President of Botswana, Lieutenant General Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe, met President Pratibha Devisingh Patil here on Thursday.
Maun (Bostwana), June 17 (ANI): Britain's Prince William has given the Royal seal of approval to the popular plastic horn Vuvuzela at a football stadium in Maun, Botswana.
London, June 17 (ANI): AIDS-fighting antiretroviral drug combinations given to pregnant and breastfeeding women in Botswana, Africa, prevented 99 percent of the mothers from transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to their infants, scientists found.
New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): Visiting Botswana Vice President Lt. General Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe will interact with Captains of Indian Industry and attend a state banquet at Hyderabad House here today.
New Delhi, June 15 (ANI): The Vice President of Botswana, Lieutenant General Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe, will arrive New Delhi on Tuesday on a four-day visit.
London, June 2 (ANI): Elizabeth Taylor has made public a series of never-before-seen love letters she received from Richard Burton which gives new insight into their passionate but turbulent romance.
New Delhi, Mar 11(ANI): Indian pugilists are confident of a title-winning show at the fifth Commonwealth Boxing Championship, to be organized at the Talkatora Stadium in national capital New Delhi from Friday.
Washington, Feb 19 (ANI): A new study by scientists has described how extracts from seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree can be used for water purification.
Washington, Feb 5 (ANI): In a new study, scientists have suggested that dams, along with reservoirs, might trigger more frequent fierce storms.
London, Jan 21 (ANI): Acyclovir, a drug widely used as a safe and effective treatment taken twice daily to suppress herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), does not reduce the risk of HIV transmission when taken by people infected with both HIV and HSV-2, a new study has found.
Onboard Air India One, Jan.12 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said Tuesday that his visit to the three African states of Zambia, Malawi and Botswana not only reflected the goodwill these countries had with India, but also highlighted their keenness to enhance the level of bilateral cooperation with New Delhi.
Gaborone (Botswana), Jan.10 (ANI): Indian Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, his wife Salma Ansari and some members of the delegation accompanying him on his tri-nation tour of southern Africa, left this morning for Kasane, about 1200 kilometers from here, for a day and night jungle safari and boat cruise.
Gaborone (Botswana), Jan.10 (ANI): India and Botswana on Saturday signed two Memorandum of Understanding to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and education. The two sides also agreed to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to review the progress in these agreements and ensure they were implemented.
Gaborone (Botswana), Jan.9 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammmad Hamid Ansari arrived in Botswana capital Gaborone this afternoon on a three-day official visit.
Gaborone (Botswana), Jan.9 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammmad Hamid Ansari arrived in Botswana capital Gaborone this afternoon on a three-day official visit.
Lilongwe (Malawi), Jan.9 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammmad Hamid Ansari left Malawian capital Lilongwe this morning after completing a fruitful three-day official state visit. Malawian Vice-President Joyce Banda and senior ministers and officials of the Malawian saw Ansari off from the Kamuzu International Airport.
Onboard Air India One, Jan.5 (ANI): Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Tuesday said he would use his weeklong visit to Zambia, Malawi and Bostwana to emphasize India's intent to "re-engage" with countries in Africa in tune with modern-era requirements and considerations.
New Delhi, Jan 4 (ANI): Vice-President Hamid Ansari will embark on a three-nation official visit to Africa from Tuesday.
London, December 06 (ANI): Morgan Freeman has bought a private plane.
Washington, Nov 20 (ANI): A large number of pregnant women in Uganda, Africa deliberately avoid being tested for HIV, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission, says a study.
London, July 29 (ANI): In a new research, scientists have shown that the tactic of insects to squirt toxic blood out of gaps in their body to avoid being eaten by predators really does work.
Washington, July 16 (ANI): Kim Kardashian almost got stranded in South Africa after she misplaced her passport.
Washington, July 4 (ANI): Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine say that the hair sheep, a less-hirsute version of the familiar woolly barnyard resident, may be key to better diagnostic tests in developing world.
