23 April 2024
Often thought to be one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, Botswana is the perfect destination for travellers. It offers a number of interesting activities to do and is home to some of the world’s finest safari camps.
If the beautiful country of Botswana is on your bucket list, here are some interesting facts to consider before packing your bags:
Plenty of elephants
Botswana is home to more elephants than any other African country. It boasts over 130,000 of them, and up to 50,000 of these elephants can be found at Chobe National Park. In the dry season, you can witness the beautiful sight of large herds comprising hundreds of elephants making their way to the banks of the Chobe River. If you are an elephant lover, Botswana is undoubtedly the destination for you.
The land of peace and harmony
Although the flags of some African countries have power colours such as red to depict their liberation wars and struggles, the Botswana flag is different.
Botswana’s flag consists of the colours blue, black and white. The blue represents water and rain, which is the lifeblood of the country. It comes from the motto on the Botswana coat of arms which states Pula, the Setswana word for “Let there be rain”. The black and white represent racial harmony and peace.
Home to the largest inland delta
Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of its most famous tourist attractions. It is the largest inland delta in the world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The delta’s waters start flowing from Angola’s highlands, all the way to the Kalahari Desert.
A large salt pan worth visiting
The Makgadikgadi salt pan is one of the largest salt pans in the world. It is situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana. The interesting attraction is all that remains of the formerly enormous Lake Makgadikgadi which dried up many years ago. With no landmarks in sight and hardly much sound most of the time, some visitors equate the experience to what walking on the moon would probably feel like. For all curious travel enthusiasts, a visit to the Makgadikgadi salt pan is worth considering.
Big country, small population
Botswana is a big country with a not-so-big population. Interestingly, the country is approximately the same size as France. However, France has around 68.3 million people – a huge jump from Botswana’s 2.3 million. If you’re searching for a holiday that is not too busy and bustling, Botswana is the place to be for a relatively relaxed time with fewer crowds.
Source: https://www.getaway.co.za/travel/travel-ideas/destination-fun-facts-botswana/
