As Botswana celebrates its 54th year of Independence – a look at the country’s key events over the years
On this day 54 years ago, the Republic of Botswana gained its independence from Britain. Before its independence in 1966,…
Tag: Bechuanaland
Challenges of life in 1960s Maun
There were many other challenges to living in Maun, probably best summed up by the neighbour who came around with…
Policing 1960s Botswana – a very different matter to Britain
My parents are British and were living in Yorkshire. My father was a policeman and my mother a school teacher.…
Do you remember a time when Maun’s popular hangout spot, Backpackers had resident cheetahs?
This week, Ian Brooks, a resident of Maun for a time the 1960s, shares with us a memory of a…
Frantic San gentleman braves days’ journey on foot through a route fraught with danger to seek medical assistance for sick wife
The photograph is of a San gentleman. My father won an award for this photograph; he chose to develop it…
Travelling on 1960s Maun – Francistown highway was not for the faint of heart!
The video clip above shows a stretch of the legendary Maun to Francistown highway in the 1960s. The stretch from…
Memories of Maun village life as it was in 1960s Botswana
This week we bring you images and a video depicting various scenes in and around Maun in 1960s Botswana. All…
Camping under the open skies of Tsodilo Hills, where the lions roamed free – early 1960s
The images above (taken by my father, Donald Brooks) are of the ‘Bushmen’ paintings at the Tsodilo Hills. These images…
Memories of a time gone by – The 1960s Botswana series
Exciting times for YourBotswana and our valued readers! A friend of Botswana has reached out to us to share his…
Memories of Botswana and an enduring friendship with one Isaac Motsusi
Isaac came to work for my family in Francistown when he will have been a mere teenager, in 1949 (mainly…
Re-living memories of 1947 Francistown
We were all so excited at our lovely new car, the blue Nash Ambassador. It cost £641. The number plate…
Richard “Uppie” Upton recalls the mauling of a Bushman by a lion in Kang circa 1956
On Wednesday 7th November 1956 I was travelling in a 3-ton Lorry belonging to Mr Cecil Craill from Ghanzi to…
Ernest Midgley’s account of life in 1950s Ghanzi
For Ernest Midgley to be sent to Ghanzi to be District Commissioner in 1950 was with mixed feelings. This was…
52 years of Independence – 52 cool facts about Botswana
Today marks 52 years since Botswana gained its independence from Britain. To celebrate, we bring you 52 cool facts about…
Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s first president
With Sir Ketumile Masire’s passing, the period of mourning and his burial, naturally, Batswana’s emotions are still raw. Perhaps that…