Estimate population 2,028,600 - Capital City Gaborone
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.