| Official Name |
The Republic of Botswana |
The country is Botswana, the language Setswana, the people Batswana, and an individual a Motswana. |
| Capital City |
Gaborone |
|
| Major Towns |
Francistown, Lobatse, Mahalapye, Palapye, Selebi-Phikwe, Ghanzi, Maun, Kasane |
|
| Population |
1.6 million |
|
| Area |
216,912 square miles (561,800 square km) |
|
| Terrain |
Generally flat. Dry desert plateau of woodlands, thorn scub, and grasslands |
The Limpopo River lies to the East, the Chobe to the North and the Okabango forms a vast delta in Botswana. |
| Altitude |
3,281 feet (1000 m) |
|
| Climate |
Semi-arid |
|
| Language |
Setswana and English |
Media languages: English and Setswana |
| Religion |
Christian, Muslim, ancestral |
|
| Currency |
Decimal currency: the Pula, with 100 Thebe in Pula 1. Approx. Pula 10 to the pound sterling and 5 to the US dollar |
Credit cards are widely used in towns. |
| Government |
Parliamentary democracy |
Parliament consists of 57 elected members, plus 4 specially appointed by the President, the President himself, and the Speaker, making a total of 63 members. Elections are held every five years. |
| Media |
State television and radio, state newspaper, independent newspapers and radio stations |
English is the dominant media language. |
| Electricity |
220–230 volts, 50 Hz |
Both square and round prongs are used. |
| DVD/Video |
PAL system |
|
| Internet Domain |
.bw |
|
| Telephone |
Country code +267 |
Excellent internal and external telephone connections. Two cell phone providers |
| Time Zone |
GMT +2 |
|
| Greeting |
A universal greeting, suitable for all times of day or night, is the word “dumela” followed by “rra if speaking to a man, or “mma” if speaking to a woman. |
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