Central southern Africa.

GMT + 2.

581,730 sq km (224,607 sq miles).

1.6 million (estimate 2005).

2.9 per sq km.

Gaborone. Population: 208,411 (estimate 2005).

Botswana is bordered to the south and east by South Africa, to the northeast by Zimbabwe, to the north and west by Namibia and touches Zambia just west of the Victoria Falls. The tableland of the Kalahari Desert covers most of Botswana. National parks cover 17 per cent of the country, with 38 per cent of the country dedicated to wildlife areas. To the northwest is the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies two-thirds of the delta's area. The Chobe National Park in the north includes the Savute and Linyanti regions. To the far southwest is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, which ranges across the borders of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, but is managed as a single entity. The majority of the population lives in the southeast around Gaborone, Serowe and Kanye along the South African border. The vast arid sandveld of the Kalahari occupies much of north, central and western Botswana. The seasonal rains bring a considerable difference to the vegetation, especially in the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Okavango Delta in the north. The latter, after the winter floods, provides one of the wildest and most beautiful nature reserves in Africa.

The National Assembly is the country's legislature and serves a five-year term. Forty of the 47 members are popularly elected; four others are co-opted by the elected members; two others serve ex-officio; the Speaker makes up the full complement. The Assembly appoints a President, who holds executive power and appoints a Cabinet. The House of Chiefs also serves as an important advisory body to the president.

Republic since 1966. Head of State and Government: President Festus Gontebanye Mogae since 1998. Recent history: The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has dominated the country's politics since independence, having won all six sets of national elections since then. The latest of these was in October 2004 at which Festus Mogae won the BDP a new five-year term by a landslide majority. The main opposition party, the Botswana National Front (BNF), has made substantial progress against the BDP at local level – especially in urban areas – but the BDP's overwhelming support in rural areas ensures its continuing rule.
The government's main domestic priority is to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Abroad, Botswana has benefited both politically and economically from the advent of democratic government in Pretoria. Relations with its other neighbours are normally cordial, although Botswana is beginning to feel the effects of the disintegration of neighbouring Zimbabwe, mainly in the form of thousands of migrants who have turned to Botswana to escape food shortages and political repression.
The National Assembly is the country's legislature and serves a five-year term. Forty of the 47 members are popularly elected; four others are co-opted by the elected members; two others serve ex-officio; the Speaker makes up the full complement. The Assembly appoints a President, who holds executive power and appoints a Cabinet. The House of Chiefs also serves as an important advisory body to the president.

English is the official language. Setswana is the national language, with minorities speaking Kalanga and Sekgalagadi.

A significant proportion of the population holds animistic beliefs, although the 2001 census showed that 71 per cent claimed to be Christians. There are small Muslim communities and the Bahá'í Faith is also represented.

As most people in Botswana follow their traditional pattern of life, visitors should be sensitive to customs which will inevitably be unfamiliar to them. Outside urban areas, people may well not be used to visitors. Casual clothing is acceptable and, in urban centres, normal courtesies should be observed. Photography: Airports, official residences and defence establishments should not be photographed. Permission should be obtained to photograph local people.

220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. 15- and 13-amp plug sockets are in use.