One of Africa’s most stable, multi-party democracies, Botswana is a small, sparsely populated country with immense wilderness preserves. Safari-based tourism is an important and vital part of the economy, with diamond production a close second.
Although very hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic (over 20% of its population affected), Botswana has embarked on an ambitious education program to inform its population on preventative measures. It continues to support and maintain a thriving tourism sector in spite of its challenges on the health front. With very diverse areas of wildlife habitat, Botswana provides grasslands and savannas, with habitats for animals such as blue wildebeest, antelopes, and other mammals such as the African wild dog and African elephants.
The Tswana are the largest ethnic group in Botswana, making up approximately 79% of the population, followed by Kalanga at 11% and the San (Basarwa) at 3%. There are also Indians and people of European descent.