With an area of 581,730 square kms, Botswana is virtually the same size as Kenya. Situated in the centre of southern Africa, it is a landlocked country, with Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe as its immediate neighbours. Botswana lies an average of 950 metres above sea level and is more than 600 kms from the nearest coast.
The most striking features of the country are its flatness and aridity. With the exception of the eastern part of Botswana where the great majority of Batswana live and where the summer rainfall is slightly higher, three quarters of Botswana is technically a desert. This is what makes the Okavango Delta so remarkable. It is an amazing wetland within a desert, getting its waters from rain falling in central Africa, 1000 km away.
Botswana is well known for its rich and diverse population of wildlife, and the huge protected areas that make it a must for safari. There are over 550 bird species, around 164 mammal species and some 157 different species of reptile, resulting in a wildlife experience that is hard to surpass. In addition to the National Parks, much of northern Botswana is carved up into huge, unfenced private concessions that are leased from the local communities. Strict policies restrict the number of guests and it is quite possible to be in a 30,000 hectare reserve with just a handful of other people.
Click on the different regions of the map to find out more.
