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Botswana has enjoyed more 42 years of independence.
The country is a role model for a successful working democracy in Africa.
Botswana has the admirable distinction of never having been to war.
Since the discovery of diamonds in 1967, Botswana has had
the fastest growing economy in Africa and one of the strongest rates of
continued economic growth of any country. Botswana is the largest producer
of gem quality diamonds in the world. Hand in hand with this economic
growth, has come political stability. Free and fair elections are held
every five years. This is a great example for many African governments.
The current President, Festus Mogae and his Botswana Democratic Party
were re-elected to office in October 1999.
Botswana is roughly the size of France or Texas, but with
a population of just one and a half million people. This means there is
a lot less conflict between people and animals, which is a huge issue
in many African countries. The northern part of the country, which supports
the majority of the wilderness areas and therefore the safari industry,
is sparsely populated.
The government has developed and practiced very sensible
and workable policies relating to tourism and wilderness management. The
maintenance of a "low volume, high quality" approach to tourism,
ensures low impact on the nation’s parks and private wildlife concessions.
This sense of freedom and space, adds so much to the visitor’s
experience while on safari. Kwando Safaris directly benefits from the
government’s strong stance and operates in two of the largest private
concessions in Botswana and indeed Africa.
Today, about 40% of the entire country falls under some
form of conservation practice. This is unprecedented in the world.
According to scientists, the waters of the Okavango Delta
are among the purest of any inland waters in the world. The permanent
waters of the Delta and other rivers like the Kwando, help support a huge
diversity of vegetation, birds and animals.
The Botswana Defense Force has done a remarkable job in
controlling poaching activities in the last ten years. Like the wildebeest
migration in East Africa, Botswana also has large migrations of zebra,
wildebeest, buffalo and even elephant.
Botswana is easily accessible from South Africa, Namibia,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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