Historically, Botswana is one of Africa's outstanding success stories. Prior to independence in 1966, it was one of the world's poorest countries, an unexplored, undiscovered land only visited by hardy adventurers. But with the end of apartheid in South Africa in the 1990's, the entire sub-continent became a desirable region to visit. Botswana embarked on innovative and proactive ways to deal with tourism, the second largest export sector - after diamonds.

Tourism is a significant foreign-exchange generator with estimated annual earnings in excess of US$ 50 million. It also provides 40% of formal employment in the north of the country - the region where the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park are located and where most of the lodges are situated.

Botswana is one of the most thinly populated countries with less than three people per km2, yet it continually shows remarkable growth in all sectors of its economy including tourism, conservation and wildlife management.

In an effort to preserve the country's pristine environment, the Botswana government has implemented a state policy of low-volume, high-cost tourism. And with 17% of the country protected national parks, Botswana has made its commitment to conservation clear.

The official language is Setswana, but English is widely spoken.

Botswana really has only two seasons - summer, which lasts from October to April, and winter, from May to September. Most of the rain falls between December and February, usually in the form of short, sharp thunderstorms.

Of all Botswana's rivers only the Okavango and Chobe flow all year. Both have their source in the rain-drenched eastern Angolan highlands. From there the Okavango River meanders southwards, crossing the Caprivi Strip and entering Botswana just north of Shakawe. Unlike every other major river in the world, the Okavango never reaches the sea but instead does in the desert sands of the Kalahari.

The Chobe River crosses the Caprivi Strip just 200km east of the Okavango, but it never actually enters the country. Instead this wide watercourse defines the international border between Botswana and Namibia.

There are no mountains in Botswana but the country is home to the Tsodilo Hills, which rise up abut 400m and are visible from the Okavango Delta some 50km away. These hills are of great anthropological importance as they contain more than 3500 individual rock-art paintings that chart 25 000 years of human habitation in this area.

Botswana?s prime attraction is its abundant bird and wildlife. Over 160 mammal species and 550 bird species have been identified here. In addition to the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - Botswana is also home to the rare aquatic sitatunga and red lechwe antelope.

The Chobe National Park was established in 1968 and covers more than 11 700km2. The park, named after the river, encompasses a variety of diverse habitats and is home to the greatest concentration of game in Southern Africa. Once a year tens of thousands of zebra for a solid mass moving across the landscape as they undertake their migration. Throughout the year large herds of elephant and buffalo can be seen drinking along the rivers edge, their numbers swelling to hundreds and sometimes thousands during the dry season.

The lush Okavango Delta wetland is a unique area containing 95% of all surface water in Botswana. This verdant oasis in the arid Kalahari is fed by the mighty Okavango River. The Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve literally teem with wildlife. Camps situated within the permanently and seasonally flooded areas tend to concentrate on aquatic game viewing activities such as fishing and mokoro (dug-out canoe) safaris, whilst the camps located in the drier areas focus on game drives and walks.

The northern region of Botswana is a fisherman?s paradise. The Okavango Panhandle is particularly well known for its tiger fish and beam, whilst the length of the Chobe River offers excellent sportfishing.

An exciting annual event in the northern Okavango is the ?Barbel Run?. In September  and October, as the floodplains dry up, masses of small fish are forced to swim upstream. The catfish, or barbell as they are locally known, then attack them in a feeding frenzy, which in turn attracts crocodiles. This is an unforgettable spectacle for both fishermen and photographers.