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The Mokoro is a common type of canoe used to move around in the Okavango Delta's shallow waters. Oarsmen stand in the stern and push with a pole. Traditionally, Mokoros are dug-out from trunks of a large straight tree, like ebony or kigelia.

Old Palapye is a significant multicultural historical site containing artefacts from the Middle Stone Age, the Late Stone Age, and the Early Iron Age. In contemporary times, the village became the 19th century capital of the Bangwato (led by Khama III), who occupied the area from 1889-1902.

There are groups of people and organizations promoting indigenous crafts, newly introduced crafts or western art forms. Their products can be purchased in curio, craft, gift shops and malls in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane and at safari camps in the Okavango and Chobe regions.

As more and more cultural tourism options are offered, you will be charmed by the people of Botswana, visiting their villages and experiencing first-hand their rich cultural heritage. But perhaps most of all, Botswana’s greatest gift is its ability to put us in touch with our natural selves.

The gateway to Chobe National Park, Kasane is an essential point of debarkation for the nearby Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia and Namibia's Caprivi Strip.

One of the most sought after wilderness destinations in the world, the Okavango Delta gives entrance to the spectacle of wild Africa such as dreams are made of – the heart-stopping excitement of big game viewing, the supreme tranquility and serenity of an untouched delta, and evocative scenes of extraordinary natural beauty.

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Explore Our Wilderness

Experience the stunning beauty, the unimaginable vastness, the isolation and worldliness, the astoundingly prolific wildlife of the best kept African secret - Botswana.

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Whether your thing is safaris, mokoro rides, quad biking, fishing, 4x4 off-road adventures you are sure to make the best of your stay in Botswana.

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Botswana offers the traveller a choice of accommodation options from top class hotels, luxury lodges and safari camps, to budget guesthouses and camping grounds.

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Developing Botswana into a preferred tourism destination

 The Botswana Tourism Organisation was set up by the government to market tourist products and to grade and classify tourist accommoda- tion as well as to promote investment in the tourism sector. 

The organisation has successfully focused its efforts on achieving high standards and developing tourism strategies that exceed customer expectations as well as building customer confidence around the world. 

Its stated aim is to develop Botswana into a unique preferred tourism destination of choice, in order to increase the sector’s contribution to the economic growth of the nation. As part of its efforts to reach this goal, the organisation is constantly expanding and promoting the international image of Botswana. 

A good example is its website, which contains just about everything that potential visitors need to know. The website gives an insight into what’s on offer in Botswana as well as providing useful travel information and advice. It even suggests a list of books to read for visitors to Botswana. 

Dedicated to preserving the heritage and environment of Botswana, the organisation has laid down conservation policies and ecotourism strategies to ensure that tourism is sustainable for its inhabitants and future generations while still contributing meaningfully to the national economy. 

Although relatively new in its development, the Botswana Tourism Organisation has already shown itself to be a well run, fully functioning organisation – one that will continue to serve as a competitive front-runner in promoting Botswana as a destination of choice.

www.botswanatourism.co.bw

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CEO of Botswana Tourism Organization reveals plans to increase international arrivals in 2023

• Story By: Kojo Bentum Williams

• Published: 2:41 AM UTC, Thu December 8, 2022

On the back of a great year for Botswana’s tourism, the country is devising strategies and taking initiatives for more successes for the industry next year. The country has already set its sights on new international tourism markets and is hoping to build a more vibrant MICE sector.

The Southern African nation saw the return of its biggest tourism and travel event, the Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo (BTTE) in November this year. Earlier in October, the country hosted the 5th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards. Both events attracted hundreds of participants and boosted confidence in Botswana’s tourism industry while giving a strong indication that it is an emerging destination for the events and meetings sector.

In a conversation with VoyagesAfriq, the CEO of Botswana Tourism Organization, Ms. Tshoganetso Carl-Ponoesele posited, “2022 has been quite an eventful year for our tourism sector in Botswana, and I must say that what really came out strong was the events and the conferences. For the first time in Botswana, we managed to host with finance international events of a stature that has amazed our patrons and our counterparts regionally.”

According to her, the feat has propelled them to do more in the coming year.

“We walk into 2023 with new vigour and new energy. As we see already, the interest in the MICE sector has increased. We already see different interests in international organizations lobbying for Botswana to host these international events.”

With BTTE 2022 proving to be good in terms of the number of international buyers, Ms. Carl-Ponoesele is hopeful that the country would attract even more in the coming year.

“We received over 100 international buyers in BTTE 2022. So to us, this is a huge blessing and breakthrough because post-Covid one will not expect so much,” the CEO indicated.

As part of the approaches to achieve this, Ms. Carl-Ponoesele hinted that in addition to their traditional source markets, Botswana will turn attention to other international markets in their tourism marketing and promotion campaigns.

“We are not only going to lean ourselves towards the traditional source markets, we are also looking at the new tourist interest because we have the UAE market which is coming up, and by virtue of having the desert, we are looking forward to working with the UAE market. We are also looking at penetrating the Japanese and the Asia markets because they have also been quiet for some time” she stressed.

Ms. also disclosed that they are looking forward to a bigger and better BTTE in 2023. In light of this, they would ensure providing seamless travel for international agents and participants.

The CEO explained, “We are already lobbying for partnerships with other airlines. During the WTM London, we managed to engage with Ethiopian Airlines and lobbied for assistance with the transportation of our international agents for BTTE 2023 to reduce the travel time and the layover time during the transit.”

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Botswana Travel Guide

With its standout safaris, luxury lodges and the cosmopolitan capital of Gabarone, Botswana has a lot to offer the discerning business traveller.

Botswana’s wild landscapes attract nature lovers from around the world. Visitors are captivated by its dramatic vistas, from the undulating dunes of the Kalahari Desert to the lush Okavango Delta. Clusters of ancient baobab trees and shimmering salt plains also draw in the crowds. A landlocked country slightly larger than France, Botswana shares borders with Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Over a third of its land is reserved for wildlife parks and game reserves. Botswana boasts an abundance of wildlife, including the black-maned lion and Cape buffalo. As a result, it’s one of Africa’s top safari destinations, renowned for its luxury tented camps and lodges.

While English is the official language, most Botswanans speak Setswana. Over 20 languages are in use, including Afrikaans, Kalanga and Kgalagadi – an indicator of the country’s ethnic diversity. Botswana is also a country steeped in traditional culture and folklore. The Maitisong Festival is a major cultural arts festival in Gabarone. But the country’s most legendary event is the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race – an adrenaline-fuelled car race spanning a thousand kilometres of the Kalahari Desert. With its warm climate, luxurious accommodation and breath-taking landscapes, Botswana is an inviting tourist destination.

THE BUSINESS END

In the 1960s, Botswana was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland. It was one of the world’s poorest nations. But its independence in 1966 sparked the beginnings of rapid economic growth. In 1967, diamonds were discovered in the town of Orapa, which became the largest diamond-producing mine in the world. This allowed the government to invest heavily in primary and secondary infrastructure ­­– it also improved social services and education. Between the 1960s and 1990s, Botswana had the highest rate of economic growth in the world. The per capita GDP has increased almost elevenfold since independence. Botswana’s consumers now constitute a high net worth market.

Today, Botswana is Africa’s most long standing democracy. It is renowned for its lack of corruption, political stability and low crime rates. The economy continues to expand, with half of all government revenue coming from diamond exports. Tourism is also big business in Botswana. In 2018, the travel and tourism economy exceeded $2.5 billion, and the sector supports 84,000 jobs. Around 96 percent of tourists were travelling for leisure, with the remaining four percent visiting for business reasons. The government are keen to promote Botswana as a business destination. The capital, Gabarone, is an up-and-coming MICE hub with conference centres, upmarket hotels and restaurants. 

TOURISM INSIGHTS: BOTSWANA TOURISM ASSOCIATION

Botswana Tourism Organisation was established in 2009. Its mission: to develop Botswana into a popular tourist destination, thereby increasing the sector’s contribution to the nation’s economic growth. The organisation is committed to sustainable tourism and collaborating with local and international communities. We spoke to the CEO, Myra Sekgororoane, about Botswana Tourism Organisation’s past development and future goals.

Q&A WITH MYRA SEKGOROROANE, CEO, BOTSWANA TOURISM ORGANISATION

Since inception, how has Botswana Tourism Organisation developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Myra Sekgororoane (MS):  Botswana Tourism Organisation was set up by the government to market tourist products, grade tourist accommodation and promote investment in the tourism sector. The organisation has successfully managed to introduce high standards and develop tourism strategies that exceed customer expectations, while building customer confidence around the world. The organisation aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to Botswana’s economic growth. It does so by promoting Botswana as a destination of choice at both regional and international exhibitions, such as World Travel Market London. 

How would you say Botswana has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

(MS): Botswana has experienced significant growth in the business travel sector. This is largely due to major developments in infrastructure, such as improved conference facilities, airports and roads. An increase in hosting major events is a second contributing factor.

Why, in your opinion, should someone visit Botswana?

(MS): Botswana is one of Africa’s top tourist destinations. This is thanks to its rich culture, stable democracy, biodiversity and varied landscapes. In Botswana you will find one of the world’s largest inland deltas, vast rivers, grassy plains, deserts and salt pans.

Are there any specific attractions, landmarks or places to eat and drink that you would recommend?

(MS): Botswana is renowned for having some of the best wilderness areas on the continent, such as the stunning Kalahari Desert and the lush Okavango Delta. Sites of historic interest include the Tsodilo Hills and Goo Moremi Gorge. In recent years, cities such as Gabarone have improved the quality of their services, offering high-end hotels, restaurants and bars.

What are the best ways of getting around the country?

(MS): There are various ways you can explore Botswana: by air, rail and road. Our national carrier is Air Botswana, which operates a scheduled network between Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane. You can also take small 6-12 seater planes to more remote camps in the Delta, Kalahari and Chobe regions. These are normally organised by private tour operators and depart from Maun and Kasane. We also have a growing rail network. Many tourists elect to drive in Botswana. The country has a good road network, especially in towns and between major cities.

What trends are transforming the tourism industry in Botswana at present? How are you responding to these trends?

(MS): China is the leading generator of outbound travel in both figures and expenditure, with many destinations vying for a portion of the market. Botswana is no exception to this emerging, lucrative trend. Plans are under way to intensify entry and penetration of the Chinese market. We have already participated at the International Travel Expo (ITE-Hong Kong) and are conducting market research into what Chinese consumers look for from a destination. We are also interested in attracting the millennial travel market. Since many millennials organise their travel online, developing web-based strategies to optimise the market is crucial. We are also committed to developing inclusive tourism so that people of all ages, abilities and sexual orientation will enjoy visiting Botswana. Finally, we are proponents of sustainable tourism, responding to demands from tourists themselves.

How do you see Botswana developing as a business travel hub over the next year to two years?

(MS): The events industry is a dynamic and fast-growing sector with obvious synergies with tourism. Events planning has over the years proved to have the potential to grow the tourism economy, provide media exposure, promote development, and stimulate infrastructure developments. The Botswana Tourism Organisation has therefore successfully hosted events to help grow the tourism industry, as part of a broader strategy.

Are there any plans or projects in the pipeline that you wish to highlight?

(MS): In a bid to diversify and expand the tourism industry, the Government of Botswana has established the Dams Initiative. The project will diversify Botswanan tourism and improve the economic livelihoods of local communities through the development of lodges, campsites and outdoor activities. The communities around these projects are expected to actively participate and directly benefit from the dam tourism initiative, which will be carried out in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. 

Are you optimistic about the future of the tourism industry in Botswana?

(MS): The Government of Botswana is committed to growing the tourism industry as part of its economic diversification strategy. Tourism plays a significant role in the national economy, creates jobs and exhibits enormous potential for future growth. The future is positive for the industry in Botswana – we seek to expand tourism in the country by adding more products and increasing geographic spread.

GABORONE IN FOCUS

Botswana’s capital city, Gabarone, is a laidback metropolis with a population of 232,000. Construction began on the city in 1964, and was completed three years later. The country’s government buildings are all located here, alongside universities, shopping malls and upmarket hotels. Gabarone has a growing number of conference centres and business hotels, and good transport links to the rest of the country.

The city centre is characterised by Main Mall, a pedestrianised strip of shops, restaurants and other amenities. Many of Barone’s bars and restaurants are located in indoor malls dotted around the city. Business travellers will discover plenty to entertain them.

Despite its modern appearance, Gabarone is a great place to learn more about the country’s traditional culture. Botswanacraft is the country’s largest craft emporium, selling handicrafts made by Botswanan and African artisans. Gabarone’s most well-known landmark is The Three Digkosi Monument, bronze statues of the three chiefs who pleaded with Britain for independence. Gabarone is surrounded by nature reserves, including the Molokodi Game Reserve, and is home to animals such as giraffes, ostriches and wildebeest. It’s also an ideal jumping-off point to explore the vast Kalahari Desert. 

LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS

CHIEF’S ISLAND

“The combination of reed-fringed waters, grasslands and light woodlands makes for game viewing that can feel like a BBC wildlife documentary brought to life. Not surprisingly, the island is home to some of the most exclusive lodges and tented camps in Africa” –  Lonely Planet

MAKGADIKAGI NATIONAL PARK

“The shimmering salt pans of Makgadikgadi along with the Nxai Pans are believed to be the largest in the world. Most of the time they appear as glaring, white, endless plains. During the rainy season they are one of the most important wetland areas in Botswana – when they transform and come alive into stunning grass-plains” –  Siyabona Africa

BAINES’ BAOBABS 

“Located in the south of Nxai Pans National Park are the seven baobabs known as Baines’ Baobabs or the Sleeping sisters. This stunted cluster of Africa’s most iconic tree was immortalized by the paintings of Thomas Baines, a British landscape artist commissioned by the Royal Geographic Society” –  Discover Africa

GCWIHABA CAVES

“Certainly one of the wildest and most remote destinations in Botswana, Gcwihaba is a fascinating underground labyrinth of caverns and pits, linked passages, fantastical stalagmite and stalactite formations, and beautifully coloured flowstones that appear like waterfalls of rock” –  Botswana Tourism Board

OUTLOOK RECOMMENDS

Ranked fourth in the country,  Botswana International University of Science and Technology  (BIUST) specialises in engineering, science and technology. It occupies an ecologically diverse 2,500-hectare site near Palapye. It boasts well-equipped faculty buildings, modern halls of residence and sports facilities, including a football pitch and gymnasium. BUIST is driven by a mission to contribute to Botswana’s economic development by using education to facilitate a move towards a knowledge-based economy. It aims to conduct pioneering and innovative research, and hopes to attract more local and international researchers in the future.

University of Botswana

Imperial School of Business and Finance

New Era College

Ta Shebube   consists of two lodges located in the undiscovered Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Take a safari between the encampments, traversing vast savannahs and red-gold dunes. Look out for herds of oryx and wildebeest, as well as predators like the black maned lion. Spend your evenings in comfort, watching dramatic sunsets give way to starry skies. The Rooiputs camp consists of luxurious thatched chalets with ensuite bathrooms. There’s a spacious bar and dining area. Polentswa may look like a camp from a bygone era, but it has all the mod cons. Each private tent has an ensuite, a private veranda and an outdoor shower.

Deception Valley Lodge

Planet Baobab

Air Botswana

Blue Sky Airways

South African Airways

Air Namibia

EAT & DRINK :

The Courtyard Restaurant @ Botswanacraft

Caravela Restaurant

Bull & Bush Pub

Dusty Donkey Café

Machaba Safaris  has three safari camps located in Botswana. One of them, Machaba Camp, won the 2019 World Luxury Hotel Awards for the best luxury tented safari camp. With its lavish tented accommodation, private swimming pool and onsite spa therapist, it’s easy to see why. But these luxurious camps also offer a world-class safari experience. You’ll be taken on morning and afternoon game drives, nature walks and trips in dugout canoes. You can take a self-drive safari between the camps, while the Machaba Blue Safari couples a Botswanan safari with a seven-night trip to the Seychelles.

Kalahari Safari

Chobe Boat Cruises

Tawana Self Drive

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

There are few direct flights to Botswana outside South Africa. Most international visitors will have a stopover at Johannesburg Airport or Windhoek Airport in Namibia. Botswana’s main airport is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, located 11 kilometres from the capital, Gabarone.  

Botswana has invested heavily in transport infrastructure, making it possible to explore the country using various modes of transport. The national air carrier, Air Botswana, flies between the four largest towns: Gabarone, Francistown, Maun and Kasana. Charter flights operate out of Maun and Kasane, taking passengers to safari lodges and camps located in the Kgalagadi Desert and the Chobe River. These are often organised by tour operators.

Tourists can also travel the country by rail or road. A railway runs from Lobatse to Francistown, passing through several towns including Gabarone. There is one service a day from each station, which departs in the evening and arrives the next morning.

A variety of buses connect Botswana’s main towns. They are an inexpensive way to travel, often used by locals. Taxis and minibuses are the best way to travel within towns and villages. Self-driving is also popular in Botswana. The roads are in relatively good condition, although you’ll want a 4×4 if you’re planning to visit more remote locations.

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Explore the wonders of Botswana

Botswana tourism - a way of diversifying the economy.

Botswana's principal tourist attractions are its game reserves, with hunting and photographic safaris available. Other attractions include the Okavango Delta region, which during the rainy season is a maze of waterways, islands, and lakes. The tourism industry also helped to diversify Botswana's economy from traditional sources such as diamonds and beef and created around 23,000 jobs in 2005.

Botswana offers the traveller a choice of accommodation options from top class tourist hotels, luxury lodges and safari camps, to budget guesthouses and camping grounds. The major tourist areas have a choice of private lodges, safari camps, and public camping sites. [1]

Tourists Destinations

Tourism champions, botswana tourism organisation, bto.

The mission of BTO is to develop and champion tourism, so as to build the sector into a key driver of economic growth. Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) provides tourism information and promotion about our country's natural appeal; our stunning and seemingly endless wilderness, prolific wildlife, cultural diversity, and welcoming people. BTO also grades and classify tourist accommodations so that they are consistent with consumer expectations and industry ratings standards. Botswana Tourism is committed to responsible tourism. Therefore, the Botswana government’s conservation and wildlife management policies, along with the eco-tourism strategies work in concert to ensure that Botswana’s tourism is sustainable for it’s inhabitants and future generations of tourists, while contributing meaningfully to the national economy. [2]

Major Tourism Sectors

Game reserves and national parks.

Three national parks and seven game reserves that are wildlife shelters occupy 17% of the land area of Botswana. The three national parks are the Chobe National Park, the Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The seven game reserves are the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Gaborone Game Reserve, Khutse Game Reserve, Mannyelanong Game Reserve, Maun Game Reserve and Moremi Game Reserve. In addition, a number of small privately owned reserves are maintained.

The Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino and buffalo - along with a huge variety of other less famous but equally impressive animals – antelopes, giraffe, zebras, wildebeest, red lechwe, puku and hippo – can be seen in abundance in Botswana's two main parks, Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve. [8]

Botswana is around 90% covered in savanna, varying from shrub savanna in the southwest in the dry areas to tree savanna consisting of trees and grass in the wetter areas. Even under the hot conditions of the Kalahari Desert, many different species survive; in fact the country has more than 2500 species of plants and 650 species of trees. Vegetation and its wild fruits are also extremely important to rural populations living in the desert and are the principal source of food, fuel and medicine for many inhabitants.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. It's known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region. Here, dugout canoes are used to navigate past hippos, elephants and crocodiles. On dry land, wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos.

Rock Paintings

Tsodilo Hills, now a World Heritage rock art site where some 4,500 paintings have so far been recorded. Although some of the paintings were made by San/Bushmen most are believed to have been made by Khoi (Khoe) people and also by Bantu immigrants like the Hambakush who arrived there about 1,800 years ago. It is possible that most of this art was made during the last 2,000 years. In eastern Botswana a lot of the art is San art but there is also some Khoe art in the east. [7]

Museum and art galleries

A multi-disciplinary institution that includes the National Art Gallery and Octagon Gallery, as well as—since November 2007—the National Botanical Garden. Displays traditional Botswana crafts and paintings and aims to celebrate the work of local artists. A list of some museum sites are; 1. Botswana National Museum 2. Kgosi Bathoen II (Segopotso) Museum 3. Kgosi Sechele I Museum 4. Khama III Memorial Museum 5. Nhabe Museum 6. Phuthadikobo Museum 7. Supa Ngwano Museum Centre

Urban Tourism

Intensive urban growth and proliferation of urban settlements are basic characteristicks of postcolonial development in Botswana. Immediately before gaining independence, only 4% of the population lived in urban settlements. According to the Government Central Statistick Office (CSO), 47.5% of population will live in cities, townships and urban villages by year 2001. [6]

Desert Race

Drawing thousands of motor sport fanatics from across the globe to the small town of Jwaneng in Botswana, the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race is upon us. A motor spot competition, the Toyota 1000 Desert Race takes place annually towards the end of June. 2018 will mark the 37th year that the competition has been held with each year proving that the race is gaining a bigger following as it continues to grow in popularity. The race draws over 120 000 spectators, making it the biggest off road race in Africa. Spectators come from neighbouring countries and abroad to enjoy the thrill of race cars zipping past at uncanny speeds. [5]

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Industry participants in Botswana and abroad extol the country’s unique natural resources that provide it with a significant advantage in the tourism sector.  Tourism is a major contributor to the national economy and has tremendous potential for growth.  Most business analysts estimate this difficult-to-quantify sector accounts for less than 10 percent of GDP.  The GoB is committed to growing the sector as part of its economic diversification strategy and has lined several tourism projects to be funded under the current financial budget.  This includes exploring value chain opportunities in the tourism sector and the Kasane-Kazungula re-development project.  Botswana seeks to broaden its tourism base by adding more products and increasing the geographic spread of tourism.  While to-date Botswana tourism has focused almost exclusively on high-end consumers, the GoB is interested in expanding into the mid-range market in an effort to increase revenue and jobs for Batswana.  Providing consistent quality service remains the main challenge.  

While there are few high-quality hotel and conference facilities in Gaborone, Botswana has sought to position itself as a conference destination.  The GoB and Washington-based Corporate Council on Africa co-hosted the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in July 2023 .  Botswana hosted the 73rd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in August-September 2023.  Gaborone’s hotel room capacity is still insufficient even with the emergence of new hotel service providers, creating an opportunity for investment.  In 2019, the U.S.-based chain Hilton entered the Botswana hotel market with a branch of its Hilton Garden Inn brand in Gaborone.  In 2020, the U.S.-based Marriott International – the largest hotel chain in the world – entered the Botswana market through an existing property now operating under Marriott’s Protea brand.

The Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO), a quasi-governmental entity, is responsible for all operational functions of the tourism sector such as marketing, investment promotion, and the grading of tourism facilities to international standards.  The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) is a non-profit organization that serves as the governing body of hospitality and tourism industries. This wholly member funded organization exists to promote, encourage, and police excellence in hospitality and tourism in Botswana.

Sub-Sector Best Prospects  

Eco-tourism, midrange tourism excursions, hotels, lodges, resorts, direct flights, and restaurants are the best sub-sector prospects.

Opportunities  

There are opportunities for joint ventures for hotel expansions and start-ups along the Trans-Kalahari Highway, joining Botswana and Namibia, and development of lodges in the Kgalagadi Trans-frontier Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, and forest reserves surrounding Chobe National Park.  A memorandum of understanding to establish a trans-frontier conservation area, commonly referred to as the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), was signed in June 2006.  This is a unique partnership between the governments of Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the private sector, and the local communities to create new opportunities for eco-tourism.  The TFCA was renamed the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA on June 19, 2009. The Greater Mapungubwe is similar in concept to the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA that seeks to connect Protected Areas in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola.  Member countries are working to simplify travel between protected areas in the five-country region through the implementation of the KAZA UniVisa for Botswana and the region.  

Resources  

Botswana Ministry of Environment and Tourism

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB)

The Tourist (Botswana Tourism Magazine)

Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO)

Botswana Ministry of Trade and Industry  

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Botswana Tourism extends invitation to participate in World Travel Market Africa

Botswana Tourism extends invitation to participate in World Travel Market Africa Photo by Secret Travel Guide on Unsplash

Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) has extended an invitation to all licensed tourism enterprises based in Botswana to register for participation in the upcoming World Travel Market (WTM) Africa.

The event is scheduled to take place from April 10th to April 12th, 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CITCC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

With an array of attractions ranging from wildlife safaris to cultural experiences, Botswana aims to captivate the global tourism market at WTM Africa.

This strategic initiative aligns with Botswana’s commitment to enhancing its presence in the global tourism landscape and fostering fruitful collaborations within the industry.

They encouraged to seize this opportunity to promote Botswana’s diverse tourism portfolio and forge valuable partnerships with stakeholders from around the world.

“BTO wishes to invite Botswana based and licensed tourism enterprises to register for below stipulated fairs for World Travel Market (WTM) Africa that will be held on the 10th – 12th April 2024 in Cape Town International Convention Centre (CITCC), Cape Town – South Africa,” the company wrote.

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One country is so stressed out by its elephant population it's threatening to send them to Europe

Botswana is fed up.

The country is home to almost a third of the world's savanna elephants , a population that has tripled since 1984, and Botswana is often hailed as a conservation success.

But European nations, most recently Germany, are attacking a lynchpin of Botswana's elephant management strategy: trophy hunting.

The German environment ministry is pushing to ban the import of elephant trophies, which it began discussing in 2022, across the E.U. Last week, they delivered their plan to counterparts in Botswana, a spokesperson told NBC News.

Germany is one of the E.U.'s largest importers of hunting trophies. Animal trophies can be the entire hunted animal, or any part of it, like the head, skin, or tusk, kept as a souvenir.

The potential ban, which would disincentivize European trophy hunters from going to Botswana, sparked the country's ire. In response, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Tuesday that he will send 20,000 elephants to Germany from Botswana's population of 130,000 .

“It’s not a joke,” Masisi told the German tabloid newspaper Bild .

But a spokesperson for Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation told NBC News, “There is currently no formal request of a transfer of 20,000 elephants from Botswana to Germany.”

“It is very easy to sit in Berlin and have an opinion about our affairs in Botswana," Masisi said. "We are paying the price for preserving these animals for the world.”

In Botswana, elephants kill livestock and trample crops and people.

While trophy hunting can seem like a visceral representation of how humans endanger animals , the relationship is complex. Trophy hunting is not “threatening the survival of species as a whole,” Dilys Roe, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, told NBC News. The IUCN is an international conservation organization that assesses whether species are threatened or endangered, and analyzes the measures needed to safeguard the natural world.

In fact, Roe said, trophy hunting could aid in conservation by “giving value to wildlife and therefore increasing the tolerance of local people to put up with dangerous wild animals on their doorsteps.”

Trophy hunting can also bring in much-needed revenue for conservation efforts and prevent the wildlife from venturing into nearby farms and villages as hunting scares them away. Banning it could hurt the local community, who rely on the tourism revenue.

However, animal rights groups like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), say the practice is a "cruel and bloodthirsty business," and Botswana should instead focus on promoting ecotourism.

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk called the Botswanian offer “a shameless publicity stunt,” telling NBC News in a statement that the “public has no desire to be complicit in the recreational slaughter of elephants and other magnificent species.”

Germany is considering joining neighboring Belgium, which voted in late January to ban imports from a range of threatened animals, including elephants. 

“You should live with the animals the way you try to tell us to,” the Botswanan president said, referring to the German officials who are spearheading the push.

Earlier this month, Britain’s parliament also approved a ban on the import of hunting trophies, prompting Botswana officials to threaten to flood London's Hyde Park with 10,000 elephants. 

This is not the first time outside influence has pushed Botswana's elephant conservation policies. Under pressure from animal groups, Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014.

“Elephants are intelligent creatures and so steered clear of the hunting areas as far as possible until hunting was banned,” Roe said. 

But once the ban was in place, she said, the elephants “not only re-inhabited those areas but also ventured out onto the adjacent farmland with huge damage to crops and livelihoods.”

In 2019, Botswana reversed the ban as locals protested the loss of income, damaged crops and elephants killing livestock. 

Masisi said Botswana already provides 40% of its land for wildlife and people are being trampled to death by elephants. He had earlier said the elephant population had almost tripled since 1984.

“We are in a biodiversity crisis, and we certainly need better solutions,” Adam Hart, professor of Science Communication at the University of Gloucestershire in the U.K. and co-author of the book "Trophy Hunting."

“We have nothing that has been shown to work at the scale at which hunting tourism currently works,” he said, adding, “We have to follow the evidence. Botswana leads the way in terms of conservation success.” 

Experts say hunting tourism brings in much more money for conservation, which in some cases, could be the only viable source of income.

“We currently have a huge funding gap for conservation — taking away one of the existing sources of funding can only make matters worse, not better,” said Roe. 

Hart said it would be “grossly irresponsible at best” to remove a proven conservation method with no proper alternative. “The bigger picture seems to be driven by a dislike or disgust of trophy hunting,” he said.

Neither Germany nor the U.K. have banned trophy hunting domestically .

While experts say the suggestion to send thousands of elephants is probably rhetoric, the point made is a real one.

“We in London, Berlin, New York or elsewhere have no idea what it’s like to live alongside dangerous animals and simply be expected to put up with them," Roe said, adding " We wouldn’t want elephants in our back gardens.”

While it is unclear how tens of thousands of elephants could clear U.K. or E.U. borders, President Masisi is digging in this heels: “We won’t take no for an answer.”

Mithil Aggarwal is a Hong Kong-based reporter/producer for NBC News.

Watch CBS News

Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to "roam free" in Germany in public dispute over trophy hunting

By Sarah Carter

Updated on: April 4, 2024 / 1:11 PM EDT / CBS News

Johannesburg — Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi has threatened to send 20,000 African elephants to "roam free" in Germany in a public dispute between the nations over hunting and conservation, according to the German newspaper Bild.

Masisi's comments came in response to Germany's government saying earlier this year that it wants to restrict hunters from importing hunting trophies from Africa into Germany.

Botswana is home to roughly one-third of the world's elephant population. Germany is among the largest importers of hunting trophies in Europe, with German hunters representing a significant amount of the income used to fund sustainable conservation in many African nations.

• Experts probe mysterious deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana

Masisi said elephant numbers in his country had exploded as a result of conservation efforts to protect the animals, and that trophy hunting was one of the tools his country used to bring in much needed revenue while keeping elephant populations in check.

Germans should "live together with the animals, in the way you are trying to tell us to," Masisi told Bild, adding: "This is not a joke."

African countries have long accused Western governments and organizations of campaigning and forcing policies that, in the name of conservation, curb the ability of nations with large elephant populations from using effective means such as culling to control animal numbers.

Botswana previously banned trophy hunting in 2014, but after appeals from local communities who said they needed the revenue from the sport, the ban was lifted in 2019 .

Most countries with significant wild animal populations see the native species as resources that can bring in much needed money. Tourism, including trophy hunting, makes up a significant proportion of the national income for a number of African nations. In turn, these countries follow a policy called "sustainable use," allowing annual hunting quotas to bring money in to help fund conservation efforts for vulnerable species.

With talk of global bans on trophy hunting, some fear those revenues could all but dry up. 

Botswana is home to roughly 130,000 elephants, and some 6,000 new calves are born every year. Elephants live across an estimated 40% of the country's land. Botswana has even given about 8,000 elephants to Angola and Mozambique - an effort to boost international tourism in those nations while also helping to control numbers in Botswana.

Animal rights groups argue that hunting is cruel to the animals and should be banned, regardless of their numbers.

Conservation leaders from southern African nations warned last month that they would send 10,000 elephants to take up residence in central London's Hyde Park if the U.K. imposed a ban on the import of safari hunting trophies.

Overpopulation of elephants increases conflict with local human populations, as the animals can destroy crops and even been trample and kill people, Masisi said this week.

Local communities across southern Africa have often found themselves in conflict with elephants, which are seen as pests.

Masisi was quoted by Bild as saying that Germany's government ministers didn't have "elephants in their backyard," but noting that he was "willing to change that." 

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Want an elephant? Botswana’s president says his country has too many.

BERLIN — Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi threatened this week to send 20,000 elephants to Germany after its Environment Ministry floated the idea of banning the import of trophies from endangered species.

It’s not the first time Botswana has offered up the country’s elephants. When Britain talked in March about legislation to ban the import of trophies , Botswana’s environment minister, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, suggested filling London’s Hyde Park with 10,000 of the majestic animals — though he later called the offer “rhetorical.”

The root of the president’s rather sharp-tongued generosity is the long-running tension between those morally opposed to the lucrative business of big-game hunting and the impoverished countries that benefit from it — in this case Botswana, home to 130,000 elephants, nearly a third of the world’s population.

Trophies from big-game hunting are regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES , through a permit system, but animal rights activists have long called for a complete ban on the hunting of endangered species.

‘I hate elephants’: Behind the backlash against Botswana’s giants

Germany, one of the largest importers of hunting trophies in the European Union, allowed in 26 African elephant trophies last year, according to preliminary numbers from the country’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.

Animal rights advocates in Europe reject the concept of killing animals for sport and say hunting by tourists will result in the extinction of even more animal species. The opposing side of the debate — which includes not only trophy hunters but also pragmatic conservationists — says trophy hunting is controlled, unlike poaching, and has more financial benefits for local communities and for conservation than photographic tourism does.

Botswana’s offer follows a February statement to Germany’s parliament by an official in the Environment Ministry that “imports of hunting trophies of protected species should be banned.” With the governing coalition unable to agree, however, the ministry will instead “reduce overall imports of hunting trophies of protected species on the basis of species protection measures and, in individual cases, ban them entirely.”

In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopted new restrictions on U.S. imports of African elephant hunting trophies and live elephants. The amendment requires, among other things, that “authorized imports of trophies and live elephants will contribute to enhancing conservation and not contribute to the decline of the species.”

Amy Dickman, a conservation biologist at the University of Oxford, said Botswana and many other countries are “really fed up” with Western countries dictating how they handle their natural resources.

“Telling them what to do with their wildlife is seen as very hypocritical, particularly around this issue of trophy hunting,” Dickman said, pointing to the deep-seated tradition of domestic hunting in Britain, the United States and Germany. “It seems deeply hypocritical to these countries to say, ‘Do as we say, not as we do.’”

Speaking to the German tabloid Bild, Masisi argued that Germany’s planned restrictions on trophy hunting would promote poverty and poaching in Botswana and damage the country.

“It is very easy to sit in Berlin and have an opinion about our affairs in Botswana. We are paying the price for preserving these animals for the world,” he said. The Germans should “live with the animals the way you try to tell us to.”

“This is no joke,” he added.

Masisi blamed decades of conservation efforts for the “overpopulation” of elephants and said herds are causing damage to property, eating crops and trampling residents. He has said in the past that the elephant population, which nearly doubled between 1996 and 2014 because of strict anti-poaching measures, is too much for the fragile, drought-stricken environment, home to just 2.5 million people.

Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014 but lifted the restrictions in 2019 after pressure from local communities. A 2017 report found that local communities were particularly affected by a loss of income, jobs and provision of social services because of the ban. The country now issues annual hunting quotas.

Dickman, who doesn’t advocate hunting herself, said governments should be cautious about being driven solely by the concerns of animal protection groups.

“They want [wildlife] managed in this utopian, kind of Disneyesque way — that we should just leave wildlife alone, and it will be fine. And I think that’s just not the reality of wildlife conservation anymore. It’s increasingly having to be managed alongside human development, making sure that there’s enough space for wildlife while balancing that with human needs and development and ensuring there’s enough revenue coming in.”

At the same time, trophy hunting should not be confused with a means of population control, Dickman said. The benefit for affected areas, she said, lies in the revenue. A cursory online search puts 12-day hunting packages at about $50,000 — though it is unclear how much of that reaches local residents.

“Botswana issues permits of maybe a few hundred in a year. So [trophy hunting] is never going to affect the population at the country level. It’s relatively small numbers of animals. It’s highly regulated, but it brings in large amounts of revenue per tourist,” she added.

Animal protection groups, however, have long contested the financial benefits for communities and conservation. A January report , supported by more than 30 nongovernmental organizations, says that “quotas are rarely based on reliable scientific data, and are typically designed or found to be abused to maximise profits.”

“The main beneficiaries of hunting revenues are hunting outfitters, officials or government entities managing hunting, and foreign hunting tour operators,” the report says.

In some cases, Masisi’s elephant offers have borne fruit. Some 8,000 elephants have already been given to neighboring Angola and 500 to Mozambique.

“And that’s exactly how we would like to offer such a gift to Germany,” Masisi said. “We won’t take no for an answer.”

A spokesperson in the German Environment Ministry told The Post that Botswana has not yet contacted it regarding the matter.

Sri Lanka's Economy Shows Signs of Stabilization, but Poverty to Remain Elevated

COLOMBO, April 2, 2024 —Sri Lanka’s economy is projected to see moderate growth of 2.2% in 2024, showing signs of stabilization, following the severe economic downturn of 2022. But, the country still faces elevated poverty levels, income inequality, and labor market concerns, says the World Bank's latest bi-annual update.

Released today, the Sri Lanka Development Update, Bridge to Recovery, highlights that Sri Lanka saw declining inflation, higher revenues on the back of the implementation of new fiscal policies, and a current account surplus for the first time in nearly five decades, buoyed by increased remittances and a rebound in tourism.

However, poverty rates continued to rise for the fourth year in a row, with an estimated 25.9% of Sri Lankans living below the poverty line in 2023. Labor force participation has also seen a decline, particularly among women and in urban areas, exacerbated by the closure of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Households are grappling with multiple pressures from high prices, income losses, and under employment. This has led to households taking on debt to meet food requirements and maintain spending on health and education.

“Sri Lanka’s economy is on the road to recovery, but sustained efforts to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the poor and vulnerable are critical, alongside a continuation of the path of robust and credible structural reforms,” emphasized Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka . “This involves a two-pronged strategy: first, to maintain reforms that contribute to macroeconomic stability and second, to accelerate reforms to stimulate private investment and capital inflows, which are crucial for economic growth and poverty reduction.”

Looking forward, the report projects a modest pickup in growth of 2.5% in 2025, with a gradual increase in inflation and a small current account surplus. However, high debt service obligations are expected to exert pressure on fiscal balances. Poverty rates are anticipated to remain above 22% until 2026. Risks to the outlook remain, particularly related to inadequate debt restructuring, reversal of reforms, financial sector vulnerabilities, and the enduring impact of the crisis. The report emphasizes that strong reform implementation will be fundamental to fostering a resilient economy through continued macro-fiscal-financial stability, greater private sector investment, and addressing risks associated with state-owned enterprises.

The Sri Lanka Development Update  is a companion piece to the  South Asia Development Update ,  a twice-a-year World Bank report that examines economic developments and prospects in the South Asia region and analyzes policy challenges faced by countries. The April 2024 edition, Jobs for Resilience , projects South Asia to remain the fastest-growing region in the world, with growth projected to be 6.0% in 2024- driven mainly by robust growth in India and recoveries in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But this strong outlook is deceptive, says the report. For most countries, growth is still below pre-pandemic levels and is reliant on public spending. At the same time, private investment growth has slowed sharply in all South Asian countries and the region is not creating enough jobs to keep pace with its rapidly increasing working-age population. The report recommends a range of policies to spur firm growth and boost employment as well as help lift growth and productivity and free up space for public investments in climate adaptation.

Source: World Bank, Poverty & Equity and Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment Global Practices. Emissions data sourced from CAIT and OECD.

Notes: e = estimate, f = forecast.

(a)    Components of GDP by expenditure for 2020-2022 are estimates, as the data published on March 15, 2024, by authorities only included GDP by production.

(b)    Calculations based on SAR-POV harmonization, using 2019-HIES. Actual data: 2019. Microsimulation that models sectoral GDP growth rates, inflation, remittances, employment, and cash transfers 2020-2022. Nowcast and forecast (2023-2026) use nominal GDP growth rates by sector and CPI inflation.

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"It's pure luck": Inside the life of world's oldest man as he takes title aged 111

111-year-old John Alfred Tinniswood from England is now the world’s oldest living man , following the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez (Venezuela) .

112-year-old Gisaburo Sonobe from Japan was initially expected to be the new record holder, but he was recently confirmed to have passed away on 31 March.

Born in Liverpool on 26 August 1912 – the same year the Titanic sank – John’s exact age is 111 years 223 days as of 5 April 2024.

John is a great-grandfather and currently resides at a care home in Southport, where staff describe him as “a big chatterbox”.

After confirming him to be the oldest man alive, Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator Megan Bruce travelled to Southport to present John with his certificate and learn more about his long life.

Despite his advanced age, John can still perform most daily tasks independently: he gets out of bed unassisted, listens to the radio to keep up with the news, and still manages his own finances.

According to John, the secret to his longevity is “pure luck”. 

He said: “You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.”

Beyond eating a portion of battered fish and chips every Friday, John says he doesn’t follow any particular diet: “I eat what they give me and so does everybody else. I don’t have a special diet.”

John doesn’t smoke and rarely drinks alcohol. His main advice for staying healthy is to practice moderation: “If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said.

A lifelong Liverpool FC fan, John was born just 20 years after the club was founded in 1892. He has lived through all eight of his club’s FA Cup wins and 17 of their 19 league title wins.

John has also lived through both World Wars; he was 27 when the second one broke out, and despite having eyesight issues, he found purpose by working in an administrative role for the Army Pay Corps. In addition to accounts and auditing, his work involved logistical tasks such as locating stranded soldiers and organizing food supplies. As such, John is the world's oldest surviving male World War II veteran.

After the war, John worked in accounts for Shell and BP up until his retirement in 1972.

When asked how the world around him has changed throughout his life, John replied: “The world, in its way, is always changing. It’s a sort of ongoing experience. […] It’s getting a little better but not all that much yet. It’s going the right way.”

John met his wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool. One of his fondest memories is of their wedding in 1942, a year before having their daughter, Susan. The couple enjoyed 44 years together before Blodwen passed away in 1986.

John now has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Since turning 100 in 2012, John received a birthday card each year from the late Queen Elizabeth , who was John’s junior by almost 14 years.

Having become the UK’s oldest man in 2020, John is unfazed by his new-found status as the oldest in the entire world. “Doesn’t make any difference to me,” he said. “Not at all. I accept it for what it is.”

His advice for younger generations is: “Always do the best you can, whether you’re learning something or whether you’re teaching someone.

“Give it all you’ve got. Otherwise it’s not worth bothering with.”

The oldest man ever  was Jiroemon Kimura (1897–2013)  from Japan, who lived to the age of 116 years 54 days.

The world’s oldest living woman and oldest living person overall is Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera , who recently celebrated her 117th birthday .

Want more? Follow us on Google News  and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook , Twitter/X , Instagram , Threads ,  TikTok , LinkedIn , and Snapchat Discover . Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube  and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records  WhatsApp channel . Still not had enough? Click here  to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.

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