BOTSWANA SAFARIS

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 10 facts about Botswana

  ' you may not know '

1. Botswana was formally the British protectorate of Bechuanaland.

2. In 1895 three Batswana chiefs travelled to London to protest the handing over of the Protectorate to Cecil Rhodes. They asked to remain a Protecterate under the Queen, their independence to be preserved, their land not to be sold and that liquor drinking should be prohibited in their areas. Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain was at first dismissive of their wishes but due to public pressure eventually agreed to their demands.

3. Botswana gained independence in 1965. Voters placed coloured symbols in envelopes to allow the largely illiterate electotate to cast their votes.

4. Botswana produces nearly 20% of the world's diamonds and along with Russia is the leading producer of gem quality diamonds.

5. The national animal of Botswana is the zebra and was the inspiration for the black and white stripes used on the country's flag.

6. Botswana is mostly flat and about 70% of the country is covered by the Kalahari desert. It also contains the Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta.

7. Population density is one of the world's lowest with around 3.4 people per km².

8. Botswana has never won a medal at the Olympic Games. Amantle Montsho however is currently the women's world 400m champion, so keep an eye on her for London 2012.

9. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith are set in Botswana.

10. The national football team are known as ' the zebras ' and although they've never qualified for the World Cup they've qualified for the first time for the African Cup of Nations in 2012.