Botswana, officially the Republic Botswana, is a landlocked country in southern Africa
Botswana has an area the size of France with a population of 2.3 million.
The Tswana are the majority of the ethnic group in Botswana and make up 79% of the population. The largest ethnic minorities are the BaKalanga and San or AbaThwa, also known as Basarwa. Other tribes are Bayei, Bambukushu, Basubien, Baherero and Bakgalagadi.
The residents are called Motswanas and the national languages are Setswana and English.
Botswana has made great strides in educational development since independence in 1966. At that time there were very few graduates in the country and only a very small percentage of the population attended secondary school. Botswana increased its adult literacy rate from 69% in 1991 to 83% in 2008.
In 2016, the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence from the UK Protectorate. Botswana is the longest-living democracy in Africa and has developed with a stable and prosperous economy since independence.
The main sources of income are diamonds, cattle and tourism.
Botswana is a Christian majority nation and grants freedom of religion.
Botswana cuisine is unique and mainly includes seswaa, crushed meat from goat or beef.
Water is so valued in Botswana that its currency is called the "pula", which in Setswana, the national language, means rain, luck or blessing.
Botswana is known as one of the four African countries that meet at the eastern end of the Caprivi Strip in Namibia. It is the only place in the world where four countries meet, namely Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Botswana holds a number of world records, including the largest salt pans in the world, the largest inland delta in the world and the shortest border in the world.
Almost 40% of Botswana consists of national parks and nature reserves, which offer many large areas for animals to hike.
Botswana is home to the world's largest concentration of African elephants, of which the highest concentration can be found in the Chobe National Park.
Botswana is also called Switzerland of Africa.
Source: Wikipedia