Fun Facts about Botswana

2/6/2014

• One of the most important words in Botswana is "Pula". Not only is this the national unit of currency it also means rain, and with the majority of the country being semi-arid - rain is life!
• Due to a very small population, Botswana has been able to designate a large percentage of its surface area (the size of France or Texas) to wildlife conservation.
• The ability to view animals at very close quarters within these vast wildlife areas has ensured that tourism is the second largest industry in Botswana.
• In 1956 the Botswana government created the first game department for wild animals. The next 10 years saw the Moremi and Chobe reserves established and an up-to-date Fauna Proclamation promulgated.
• In 1962 the first safari operators obtained land concessions and began conducting safaris similar to those being operated in East Africa.
• In 1966 the Game Department was expanded and the next eight years saw huge tracks of land declared wildlife reserve. Today approximately 17% of Botswana is designated as a wildlife area.
• Botswana boasts 164 species of mammals, 550 species of birds, 157 species of reptiles, 38 species of amphibian and over 70 species of fish within the Okavango Delta.
• The variety of flora within the country has been recorded at over 3000 species.