Botswana

Regions North-West Central North-East Ghanzi Kgalagadi Kweneng Southern Kgatleng South-East

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana), is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are Batswana (singular: Motswana), regardless of ethnicity. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is dominated by mining, services, construction , manufacturing and agriculture

At 231,788 mi² (600,370 km²), Botswana is the world's 45th-largest country (after Ukraine). It is comparable in size to Madagascar, and is slightly smaller than the state of Texas in the Southern United States.

Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of the land surface of the country. The Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta, is in the northwest. The Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan lies in the north.

Botswana has diverse areas of wildlife habitat, including the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari Desert, grassland and savanna, where many antelope as well as other mammals and birds are found.

Tourism plays a large role in the Botswana economy. A number of national parks and game reserves, with their abundant wildlife and wetlands, are a top draw for tourists. The wildlife, including lions, brown hyenas, cheetas, leopards, wild dogs and antelope, were described in great detail in the best-selling book "Cry of the Kalahari" by Mark and Delia Owens.

The main safari destinations for tourism are Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park. Botswana is also participating in community based natural resource management projects by trying to involve villagers in tourism. One example is the village of Khwai and its Khwai Development Trust.

Politics

Botswana is a parliamentary republic within the Commonwealth. The head of state and head of government is elected president in indirect elections by the National Assembly on the 5-year term. President appoints members of the government.

Legislative power belongs to dwuizbowego parliament. In the higher House, 15 members of the Advisory Board of leaders (House of Chiefs) 8 leaders will sit the most important races, 4 members elected every 5 years and 3 members elected by the other 12 The lower chamber, the National Assembly (National Assembly), consists of 40 members elected by direct universal suffrage for 5-year term.

Monay

Botswana’s currency is called Pula, 100 Thebe = 1 Pula. In Setswana pula means “rain” and Thebe means “protection” or “blessing”.

Gaborone

Gaborone's estimated population is 208,411 (1 January 2005), is the capital and largest city of Botswana. Gaborone lies in the flat valley between Kgale and Oodi Hills, on the Notwane River in the south eastern corner of Botswana, and 15 kilometers (9 mi) from the South African border. It is the administrative capital of the South-East district.