Botswana:
How often do you hear about Botswana in the news? Not very. Yes, no news is good news. Botswana is economically one of the success stories of Africa, and has a high per capita GNP. Ninety-five per cent of the population belongs to the Tswana ethnic group, so Botswana is free of the tribal strife and wars that plague other African countries. Diamonds can be a country's best friend; Botswana is the third-largest producer of diamonds in the world, and that's where the wealth has come from. Seventeen per cent of the land is protected, and environmental conservation is a priority. However, since half the country is part of the Kalahari Desert, water shortages occur. In spite of the dry climate, however, in February, 2000, part of the country was hit by major floods, which made people homeless and knocked out some of the main roads.
If you've got money, you can have a fabulous time in Botswana going on wildlife safaris, especially to the Okavango Delta. Crime levels are relatively low, and human rights are generally respected.
This page last updated February 20, 2000.