Population:

The current total population of Botswana is estimated at 1.85 million. The population growth rate is at 3.5% per annum.

Urban Centers:

Gaborone, situated in the South Eastern part of Botswana, is the Capital city of Botswana. The City has good road and air links to South Africa and other main Centres in the country. Other main towns include Francistown, Lobatse, Selebi Phikwe, Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Maun and Kasane.

Language:

English is the official language of Botswana. Setswana is the national language and is widely spoken. Other languages spoken in Botswana include Afrikaans, Kalanga, Sekgalagadi and others.

Economy:

Industry: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, livestock processing, textiles.

Agriculture: sorghum, maize, millet; livestock.

Exports: diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat.

Driving:

In Botswana, driving is on the left hand side of the road. The general speed limit is 100km/h or 120 km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas.

Currency:

The currency in Botswana is Pula and Thebe. Pula in Setswana means ‘rain’. One Pula is made up on 100 Thebe.
Coins available are: 5t, 10t, 25t, 50t, P1, P2 and P5. Notes available are: P10, P20, P50, P100

Commercial Airline:

Air Botswana provides International flight from Johannesburg to Gaborone and Maun, as well as flights from Maun to Windhoek and to Cape Town. Internal flights with Air Botswana are between Maun, Gaborone, Kasane and Francistown.

Time:

GMT plus 2 hours

International Dialling Code:

+267

Natural hazards:

-Periodic droughts
-Seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility.

Climate:

Semiarid; warm winters and hot summers.

Duty-free allowance:

-Two litres of wine
-One litre spririts
-400 Cigarettes
-50 Cigars
-250gm of Cigarete and pipe tobacco
-50ml perfume
-250ml toilet water

These items declared upon arrival are duty free.

Elevation extremes:

Lowest point:  junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m

Highest point:  Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Natural resources:

-Diamonds
-Copper
-Nickel
-Salt
-Soda ash
-Potash
-Coal
-Iron ore
-Silver

Geography:

Botswana is a locked country and the population is concentrated in the Eastern part of the country.

Nationality:

Noun:  Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Adjective:  Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups:

-Tswana (or Setswana)
-Kalanga
-Basarwa
-White
-Other

Religions:

The majority religion in Botswana is Christian.

Executive branch:

Chief of state:  President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998)

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Cabinet:  Cabinet appointed by the president.

Elections:  President indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed by the president.

Judicial branch:

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates’ Courts (one in each district)

Political parties:

-BAM: Botswana Alliance Movement

-BCP: Botswana Congress Party

-BDP: Botswana Democratic Party

-BNF: Botswana National Front

-BPP: Botswana Peoples Party

-MELS:  MELS Movement of Botswana

-NDF: New Democratic Front

Note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats – includes the United Action Party, the Independence Freedom Party or IFP; the Botswana Progressive Union.

Flag description:

Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center.

Explanation of the flag: The blue represents water; the white-black-white bands depict the racial harmony of the people as well as the pluralist nature of the society. They are inspired by the coat of the zebra, the national animal