Discover the Hidden Gems: Top 10 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Botswana

1. Elephant Shangri-La

In a land where Dumbo would feel right at home, amidst marshy elephant soirees and more tusks than a dentist can count, lies a veritable pachyderm paradise: The Chobe National Park in Botswana boasts the highest concentration of elephants in Africa, with over 50,000 gentle giants roaming its 11,700 square kilometers, spread across four distinct and diverse ecosystems.
Source => whc.unesco.org

2. Rain Currency

When life gives you lemons, Botswana makes rain into banknotes: The name of Botswana's currency, the pula, means rain in Setswana, a scarce and cherished resource in this arid country, while its sub-unit, thebe, symbolizes defense.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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=> Fun Facts about Namibia

3. Lake Ngami's Glory Days

Why did the Botswana lake say "I was a big deal in the Holocene"? Because it had impressive water levels, no kidding: Lake Ngami, now dry since 1982, once held a significant body of water up to 930 meters above sea level, peaking at 936 meters between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago, with its decline credited to the rerouting of Okavango distributaries.
Source => researchgate.net

4. Kubu Island's Surreal Secret

Ever thought of a tropical oasis in the middle of a barren salt fest? How about a lush island smothered in ancient baobabs where you could hitch a ride with the Flintstones? Welcome to Kubu Island, Botswana's best-kept secret: An isolated granite rock jutting out in the Makgadikgadi salt flats, this crescent-shaped wonder houses age-old ruins, proof of a prehistoric lake that once blanketed the area, and massive thousand-year-old baobab trees that watch over it as a sacred space visited by locals who seek communion with the divine.
Source => amusingplanet.com

5. Ancient Rock Art Gallery

Step right up and feast your eyes on Mother Nature's ancient graffiti: Tsodilo Hills in Botswana houses over 4,000 rock paintings across 400 sites within a cozy 10 square kilometer canvas painted by the San and Khoe peoples from the Stone Age right up to the 19th century AD.
Source => ancient-origins.net

6. Kalahari Pool Party

Who knew that the Kalahari Desert was a secret hideaway for African wildlife pool parties? Cue the DJ and break out the wildebeest bikinis: Between November and March, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve's salt pans fill with water, transforming the usually parched landscape into a thriving oasis, attracting herds of giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, oryx, impalas, and springboks—often giving birth to their adorable offspring, making it a bucket-list-worthy spectacle for wildlife admirers with a keen sense of humor.
Source => africageographic.com

7. Okavango Delta Oasis

When life drains you like a desert, Delta to the rescue: The Okavango Delta acts as an oasis to over 130,000 elephants and other breathtaking wildlife, boasting its title as Africa's largest endorheic delta and the continent's third largest alluvial fan.
Source => whc.unesco.org

8. Zebra Designers

Did you hear about the zebras with a taste for interior decorating? They're responsible for designing Botswana's Coat of Arms, and they've surely embraced their stripes for the task: The emblem features two zebras supporting a shield, symbolizing the nation's commitment to wildlife conservation and equal rights. In their mouths, they hold sorghum and an elephant tusk, representing the perfect balance between agriculture and natural resources. The crest also sports three waves and cogwheels to highlight the importance of water and progress in the industry.
Source => yourbotswana.com

9. Wild Dogs & Elephants' Playground

If Disney's Dumbo and a pack of wild dogs threw a party, Botswana would be the ultimate venue: This African nation boasts the largest concentration of wild dogs and elephants in the world, with Chobe National Park offering not only a haven for these impressive mammals but also over 400 bird species and an array of unique wildlife such as the puku, red lechwe, mountain reedbuck, sitatunga antelope, pangolins, aardvarks, and rhinos.
Source => workingabroad.com

10. De Beers' Sparkling Impact

Before De Beers ever thought of wooing Botswana with a diamond ring, they showered the country with schools, hospitals, and roads like a true rockstar suitor: Today, De Beers accounts for about a third of Botswana's GDP, and has helped transform the nation into an African success story through their commitment to corporate social responsibility, including HIV/AIDS initiatives.
Source => nytimes.com