Facts and background information about Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country that shares borders with Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia and is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas. Botswana is semi-arid with warm winters and hot summers.

There are nine districts and 5 town councils*: Central, Francistown*, Jwaneng, Kgalagadi, Kweneng, Lobatse, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe, Southeast and Southern.

The chief of state and head of government President Ian Khama (since April 1, 2008) was selected by the parliament and is serving a five year term.

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country’s conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world’s highest know rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also has one of Africa’s most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

Botswana has maintained one of the world’s highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-2008, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,100 in 2010. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about half of the government’s revenues. Botswana’s heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana’s impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.

The Kalahari Desert covers a large percentage of Botswana. Although a dry area, vegetation such as grasses and acacia bushes grow in the Kalahari. The delta of the Okavango River, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is on the edge of the Kalahari.

The Kalahari Game Reserve and Okavango Delta are part of the system of National Parks. Other protected areas include Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

Antelopes, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs and zebras can be seen in the parks. A variety of birds, such as flamingoes and kingfishers, can be found around the Okavango Delta, the River Chobe and the Makgadikgadi.

Villages in Botswana were traditionally built around the meeting place (kgkota) and cattle kraal. Lekgaph, a traditional art form, was used to decorate the walls of houses and courtyards. Since independence, buildings such as schools, modern houses and shopping malls have been constructed throughout the populated areas.

Gaborone is a modern city with offices, hotels, blocks of flats and shopping malls. Some colonial buildings remain in the capital.

There are nearly 2 million people living in Botswana, 196,000 whom live in the capital city Gaborone, where I am attending college this semester.

The people of Botswana are called Motswana (singular) and Batswana (plural). The main ethnic groups are Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11% and Basarwa 3%. The main spoken languages are Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8% and English (official language) 2.1%. Christianity is the largest practiced religion (71.6%), Badimo (6%) second.

Millet and sorghum are staple foods in Botswana. Both are made into porridge with various additional ingredients. Maize and beans, although less drought resistant than millet and sorghum, are also grown.

The local currency is the Pula meaning rain and blessing in Tswana and is used as a greeting for good fortune. The Pula notes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 and a 5 Pula coin. The remaining coins are called Thebe, meaning shield, and are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50. One U.S. dollar is equal to 6.7413 Pula.

Combis (same as “tro tros” in Ghana) are mini-buses that travel fixed routes within the city and are one of the most popular forms of travel here and cost three Pula ($0.45 USD) per trip. Taxis within the city are also common and more convenient but cost 25-30 Pula ($3.77- $4.50) per trip to most places around the city. Buses are popular for travel within the country and prices differ depending on the distance traveled.

The information in this post is provided by The World Factbook and World Info Zone. Please refer to the hyperlinks for more information about Botswana.

A new beginning- Botswana

I am about to begin my third and final semester of study abroad and I am looking forward to the educational opportunities, experiences, friendships, adventures and personal growth to come throughout the next four plus months. I am now in Gaborone, Botswana, located in Southern Africa, where I will be studying business marketing at the University of Botswana. I'm excited to learn about the country’s local culture, people, history and development.

One of my main goals this semester is to apply the eight months of knowledge I've gained about living and studying abroad towards this semester and take full advantage of this opportunity.

Please follow me throughout the semester as I take on Botswana!

The end is near

I have about a week and a half left in Ghana before I head home. I have appreciated this opportunity and have enjoyed my stay here and hope to come back to volunteer and vacation/travel.

I will be going home for Christmas break to recuperate before I head to Botswana. I’ve been to 10 countries in the last six months (including two layovers) and have had a lot of great experiences, but I am definitely ready for a break. And I miss everybody back home!!!

I am very pleased with my personal growth and the education, experiences and values I have gained from living and going to school here and I know that I will greatly benefit from them for the rest of my life.

As I mentioned in my first post, I chose to study abroad to better understand my own cultural values and beliefs, gain-vital knowledge in the classroom and in a foreign working environment, be an ambassador to my community, increase my maturity and self confidence, influence an interest in a career path and change my world view. And I am happy to say that I am accomplishing all of those things.

I am looking forward to the rest of my stay in Ghana as well as continuing to learn about the local culture, even when I return home.

I have four exams next week, so I have begun preparing for those and I am hoping that I do well. Wish me luck!

Cultural Excursions

During our orientation program, my International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) group participated in a tour of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, which included a visit to the Madina Market (a very large outdoor shopping market on the outskirts of Accra), the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (Ghana’s first president and prime minister), the National Cultural Centre and the Labadi Pleasure Beach.

Also included in the ISEP benefits were two organized trips.

First, we traveled to the Central Region of Ghana to visit the town of Elmina, where tens of thousands of slaves were channeled through its trading post and to the Cape Coast Castle (used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade). Both trips were quite emotional, very educational and well-worth experiencing. It was quite an experience to walk through the Cape Coast Castle and into the dungeons where slaves were held in inhumane conditions hundreds of years ago, as well as through the “Door of No Return” which was the final point before slaves were taken to slave ships and transported to the New World.

We also visited the Kakum National Park which is completely covered in tropic rain-forest. We were able to walk across the seven hanging bridges there that are 130 ft. high and run over 1,080 ft. at the canopy level.

Second, we traveled to the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where we visited the Kumasi Cultural Center, Bonwire Kente Cloth Weaving Village (where we were taught the history and shown how to make traditional Kente Cloth), Ahwiaa Wood Carving Village, Manyhia Palace Museum (residence of two Kings of the Asante Nation) and Lake Bosumtwi (largest natural lake in West Africa- diameter of 8.5 km).

Last week, I traveled to the Western Region of Ghana with some friends. We stayed at a lodge near the fishing village of Akwidaa. It was a nice get away from campus life and to relax on the beach and buggy board and swim in the ocean. We hiked six miles to Cape Three Points, which is the southernmost point of Ghana. It was an exhausting walk and it was hot and humid but definitely worth it. Once we reached Cape Three Points, a tour guide explained the history and took us to the top of the Lighthouse, which offered amazing views of the countryside.

I had the opportunity to visit Togo a few times this semester. In the capital city of Lomé, I visited Marché des Féticheurs (has ingredients for traditional tonics and fetishes) and Coco Beach. I also took a taxi-moto ride to the top of Mount Agou which is the highest mountain and point in Togo (3,234 ft.) The ride to the top was absolutely beautiful.

In the summer, I plan to visit Cote d’Voire, which borders Ghana to the West, but I hope to return to Ghana after my study abroad semester in Botswana. There are still several places I would like to travel to.

I’m looking forward to traveling in Botswana next semester because it is a natural game reserve for most animals found in southern Africa and because of its close proximity to South Africa and Victoria Falls, which is located between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

One big learning process

"Life is not about achievement, it's about learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience, perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth. And so if that is the case, then I think our goals should include something which stretches us." - Jack Canfield

Within the last few days, I’ve learned the attitude I should have when studying abroad, how to prepare for the experience and what it takes to enjoy living in another country. And honestly, I feel like I came unprepared and too closed minded into this experience. I am very accustomed to my home living environment and comforts, and being abroad if anything has really exposed that. I’ve never taken myself as an adventurous type or someone who likes to try new things. I’m quite social in most settings but very guarded and to myself in others. And my guarded attitude has really hindered my experiences while studying abroad.

Students considering studying abroad in the future, be aware that you may have to get out of your comfort zone and not hold on to the person you were back home. There’s nothing wrong with maintaining your morals and values while studying abroad, but if you are similar to me, you’ll really have to get out of your personal bubble. I've found the most joy here in Ghana when I have tried and experienced new things and really put forth effort to learn more about the local culture.

I have been blessed with an excellent opportunity to travel and get out and explore, so that’s what I plan to do during the rest of my time here.

Before leaving on my next journey, I’m going to set some goals, goals that stretch and help me get out of the shell that I have built around myself. Because without doing this, I’ll never really grow and experience all that life has to offer.

I’m excited and looking forward to my travels, adventures, learning experiences and personal growth and I’ll make sure I continue to share them with you.