Botswana is a Republic surrounded by
other countries having no coast line. It is bounded on the northeast by Zimbabwe, on the south and southeast by South
Africa, and on the west and north by Namibia. In the north it also shares a
short border with Zambia. It is
sparsely populated and has an area of about 581,700
square kilometres (224,600 square miles). The official language is English.
Much of the south and the west is
covered by the Kalahari Desert, inhabited by aboriginal San (Bushmen). In the
north-central lies the swampland of the Okovango Basin and the salt pans of
the Makgadikgadi.
Herds of antelopes live on the plains.
There are also hippopotamuses, giraffes, lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes
and crocodiles in Botswana. Birds include the ostriches, pelicans and
bustards. Poisonous snakes such as the cobra and puff adder can also be found
as well as scorpions, tarantulas, spiders and termites.
