Okavango Delta Expedition

Click the map to view the Area of Detail in depth.

Capital: Gaborone

Former Name: Bechuanaland

Size: 220,000 square miles (a little smaller than Texas)

Climate: Winter and fall (April through August) are dry, with temperatures ranging from hot during the day to below freezing at night. Spring (September through November) is even hotter and drier. Summer (November through March) is cooler and extremely humid, with frequent rains and thunderstorms.

Language: English (official language), Setswana (national language)

History: Botswana gained independence from Britain on September 30, 1966.

Geography: Botswana is a landlocked country, bordered by Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Two-thirds of the country is dominated by the Kalahari Desert in the south and west. The swamps and lagoons of the Okavango Delta, fed by the Okavango River from Angola, cover the northwest. Hills of granite rocks and vast grasslands characterize the northeast.

IN DEPTH: View an interactive map of the Base Camp sampling areas, including details about each site.