Botswana

 


Discover a little about Botswana with our fun facts for kids, and enjoy our collection of flag and activity printables - useful for classroom and home.

Botswana elephants
Botswana elephants, mother and baby

A Little Geography

  • Botswana is a  land-locked country situated in southern Africa, bordering Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.
  • Botswana is similar in size to France but with a much smaller population. In fact it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Over 10% of the 2,100,000 population live in the capital city of Gaborone, made famous in the novel "The First Ladies Detective Agency".
  • Botswana is a wealthy country by African standards. It contains extensive mineral resources such as the Jwaneng Diamond Mine, the richest in the world, which was found when termites pushed specks of diamond to the surface.
  • Nearly 40% of the land is national parks and wildlife reserve, providing large areas for animals to roam. Much of the country is flat and 70% of the land is the Kalahari Desert.

Botswana on map of Africa
This map shows the position of Botswana within Africa. You can print it here.

A Little History

  • Archaeologists have found stone tools in Botswana proving that the country was inhabited at least 400,000 years ago, and cave paintings date back about 73,000 years. Many different peoples - hunters and gatherers, then traders and cattle raisers - are thought to have inhabited Botswana.
  • By the middle of the 19th century, what we now know as Botswana, governed by Tswana chiefs, began to trade with the British through Cape Colony. Christian missionaries established themselves widely.
  • By the end of the 19th century, Britain decided to consolidate its trade and position in Africa by taking control and ruling over the Tswana chiefs. They named the area the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
  • Botswana became independent in 1966 and is the oldest democratic state in Africa.
  • First President Sir Seretse Khama is credited with increasing prosperity and is known as the George Washington of Africa with his efforts to bring racial harmony.

Some Interesting Facts

  • Botswana is a haven for endangered species of mammal and bird such as cheetah, brown hyena, Kori bustard, and Pel’s fishing owl.
  • The Okavango Delta - a semi-arid sandy expanse which covers 85% of the country - is known as the jewel in the Kalahari. Fed by annual floodwater from Okavango river, the vast delta supports a wide array of African wildlife from hippos to elephants.Huge herds of zebra and wildebeest make an annual migration to find food and water.
  • The national dish is Seswaa, a stew of boiled meat, maize meal and greens.

Okavango Delta
The beautiful Okavango Delta


The Botswana Flag

Botswana flag

The National flag of Botswana replaced the Union Jack in 1966 when the country gained independence. It is a light blue colour with a central horizontal black stripe, framed with two white stripes. The light blue colour represents rain and the white and black stripes show both between races and the colours of Botswana’s national animal: the zebra.


Our Botswana Resources

A Day In Botswana Diary

A Day In Botswana Diary

Imagine you are growing up in Botswana, then write about your typical day on this diary page!

Botswana Booklet

Botswana Booklet

Are you learning all about Botswana? This little booklet might come in handy for storing your research. Folding instructions can be found here.

Botswana Bookmarks

Botswana Bookmarks

Choose from 4 sets of Botswana themed bookmarks below - in colour or black and white, with or without flag.

Botswana Coat Of Arms Worksheet

Botswana Coat Of Arms Worksheet

The zebras really stand out on the Botswana coat of arms, but can the kids find out their significance? Or you can choose our second worksheet which lets the children design their own coat of arms for Botswana.

Botswana Compare And Contrast Worksheet

Botswana Compare And Contrast Worksheet

It's fascinating to see how our lives compare with those of someone living elsewhere! Compare your own life with that of someone in Botswana on this fun worksheet...

Botswana Facts Poster

Botswana Facts Poster

Our simple country fact posters are perfect for displays around the classroom and easy to print. This one is for Botswana.

Botswana Factsheet

Botswana Factsheet

Do you know the population of Botswana or the capital city? Don't worry if not, because we've got these facts and plenty more covered on our handy one-page factsheet!

Botswana Flag Printable

Botswana Flag Printable

We've got three pages of Botswana flag printables in three different sizes - perfect for all your projects!

Botswana Location Worksheet

Botswana Location Worksheet

Find Botswana on our simplified map of Africa, and shade it in then mark the location of the capital city. Two versions available - guided is easier!

Botswana National Flower Colouring Page

Botswana National Flower Colouring Page

Colour in the pretty national flower of Botswana, the Devil's Claw. If you enjoy this colouring page, why not try one of our other national flower colouring pages? 

Botswana Picture Gallery

Botswana Picture Gallery

The 'Big Five' safari animals (lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and the rare rhino) can all be seen roaming Chobe National Park in Botswana, so perhaps you could draw them all in this picture gallery! 

Botswana Postcard 1

Botswana Postcard 1

Can the kids imagine they are visiting Botswana and write a postcard to a friend back home? The beautiful picture on this postcard is bound to provide some inspiration!

Botswana Postcard 2

Botswana Postcard 2

Here's a fun activity to try as part of your studies on Botswana. Can the kids write a postcard to send to someone back home, and draw a picture in the space provided too?

Botswana Poster 1

Botswana Poster 1

What an incredible sunset! Print this beautiful poster of Botswana using the borderless settings on your printer for the best results...

Botswana Poster 2

Botswana Poster 2

This simple poster features the outline of Botswana in the colours of the national flag. Perfect for displays! 

Botswana Quiz

Botswana Quiz

Our Botswana quiz is a great way to find out how much you've learned about Botswana at the end of your research or project work! Or you can use our Introduction to Botswana factsheet to help answer the questions...

Botswana Story Paper

Botswana Story Paper

Use this story paper featuring a stunning photograph of Botswana to inspire some creative writing, or use it to record some facts you might have learned.

Botswana Study Pack

Botswana Study Pack

We've got everything you need for learning about Botswana in this bumper 25-page study pack (all activities are available separately too).

Botswana Tourist Leaflet

Botswana Tourist Leaflet

Botswana is one of the great safari destinations in Africa - can you write about this, and other reasons to visit in this Botswana Tourist leaflet.

Botswana Travel Brochure Worksheet

Botswana Travel Brochure Worksheet

This fun activity combines research on Botswana with writing practise. The kids need to write some interesting content for a travel brochure encouraging visitors to Botswana, and draw a picture to accompany the text.

Botswana Word Search

Botswana Word Search

Try to find the 15 Botswana-themed words in this word search grid! We've included the solution too...

Botswana Worksheet

Botswana Worksheet

This fact-finding worksheet can be used to record what you've learned about the African country of Botswana.

Climate Of Botswana Worksheet

Climate Of Botswana Worksheet

The weather is Botswana might be quite different from where you live! Find out about it and record the information in the weather app template on this worksheet.

Culture In Botswana

Culture In Botswana Worksheet

Find out all about culture in Botswana, including sports, hobbies, holidays, festivals and traditional costumes, then record your research on this useful printable. 

Design A Tourism Poster For Botswana

Design A Tourism Poster For Botswana

Design a tourism poster encouraging tourists to come to Botswana. Can you use some creative language, fun pictures and an interesting slogan to catch their eye?

Food From Botswana Worksheet

Food From Botswana Worksheet

Can you find out what types of food are grown and eaten in Botswana and draw a typical meal on the plate template provided? You might want to find out a little bit about Seswaa, a traditional dish of Botswana?

Introduction to Botswana

Introduction to Botswana

Learn a little about Botswana with our introduction pages, then maybe try some of our Botswana activities? 

Packing For Botswana Worksheet

Packing For Botswana Worksheet

Many people who visit Botswana will go on a safari. Can you find out what you would need to pack for this and other activities in Botswana, then write or draw the items you need in the suitcase?

Wildlife Of Botswana Worksheet

Wildlife Of Botswana Worksheet

Botswana is one of the best places to see wildlife in the world! Find out about the native plants and animals of Botswana, then draw, stick pictures or write about them in the boxes.

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