Botswana is a land of contrasts and is undoubtedly one of the world's most striking and unique holiday destinations. Whilst hugely popular with tourists, the sheer size and open expanses of Botswana almost guarantee your own space in the wild and belies the fact that tourism is one of the main sources of foreign income after diamond mining. As you decide on your next holiday or business destination, ensure you do not ignore this land-locked gem in the centre of Southern Africa…

Botswana has some of the most developed infrastructure in the region. The Botswana government and the tourism industry have invested large sums to make visiting the country a comfortable and convenient experience. The tourism board has also been very active with their conservation policies and eco-tourism strategies to ensure that tourism is sustainable for its inhabitants and future generations of tourists. There is no shortage of private lodges, luxurious getaways and charter planes into and around the main national parks. Botswana is a favourite destination for honeymooners, wilderness lovers and photographers from around the world. It is truly one of the most serene and beautiful places in Africa for wildlife.

The natural beauty of Botswana is shown in its land formations, its wilderness, wildlife and its cultural diversity. The land is flat, with gentle undulations and occasional rocky outcrops. In the north-west, the Okavango River drains inland from Angola to form the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. It provides sustenance to a rich profusion of wildlife, and it is still in its natural state - unspoiled and unpolluted. In this Delta, dryland mingles with wetland: marshes, rivers, grasslands, riverine forests of palms, islands, flood plains and lagoons are all features of this area. In fact, the Okavango Delta is an oasis situated within the Kalahari Desert, and is part of the larger geographical network which embraces Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans and Mababe Depression.

In addition to this Delta, Botswana offers a number of other exciting areas. In the central north-east is a large area of plains bordering the Makgadikgadi Pans. In the east, adjacent to the Limpopo drainage system, the land rises above 1200 metres, and the Limpopo Valley gradually descends from 900 metres in the south to 500 metres at its confluence with the Shashe River.

Botswana maintains a rich cultural heritage and many of the traditional activities are still carried out to this day. Public meetings or kgotla are central to Botswana village life. These take place when there is some important matter to discuss or in lieu of a traditional law court. They are usually headed by the village chief or headman, and community decisions are always arrived at by consensus. Anyone is allowed to speak, and no one may interrupt while someone is "having their say". In fact there is a Setswana saying that the highest form of war is dialogue: “ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo”. Because of this tradition, Botswana claims to be one of the world's oldest democracies.

The first Europeans to the area were hunters and missionaries who started arriving in the early 1800's. Missionaries were to play a major role in the lives of Batswana, acting as mediators in disputes with other white men and bringing religion to the country which today is central to many Batswana lives.

Like many countries in the region, Botswana was governed by Britain during the early 20th century. By 1955, plans were made for independence for the protectorate, and legislation was passed to effect this. The protectorate was granted internal self government in 1965 and the republic of Botswana became completely independent on 30 September 1966. The first president was Sir Seretse Khama, whose marriage a white English girl in 1948 had led him to being exiled from the country of his birth. On return from exile, he pushed for independence and shortly after this he was knighted by the Queen. He held office until 1980 until his death. His first born son was elected to office as the President of Botswana in April 2008.

Apart from the unique landscapes and abundance of wildlife, Botswana is also home to the fictional character Precious Ramotswe. Mama Ramotswe is the first female private detective in Botswana, characterized by Alexander McCall Smith in his The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Mma is a traditionalist, both in her adherence to the old Botswana moral values and in her traditional build. You can read more about the adventures of Mma Ramotswe in Botswana from our reading list. This series is a Mud Hut Favourite - and is suitable and enjoyable for young and old.

Reading:
To find out more about Botswana or to bag some books, dvd's or music for your trip, please take a look at the Mud Hut's Reading List!