African Elephant
Botswana is home to the largest elephant population on Earth, with more than 130,000 elephants roaming its savannas and waterways.
Flag of Botswana
Field Report
Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, tucked between South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. It is known for its wide open skies, enormous elephant herds, and the sparkling Okavango Delta, where desert rivers fan out into wetlands full of wildlife. Most of its people speak Setswana and live in towns and villages spread across a landscape that shifts from dry scrubland to floodplains depending on the season.
From the Field Notebook
African Elephant
Botswana is home to the largest elephant population on Earth, with more than 130,000 elephants roaming its savannas and waterways.
Meerkat
These small, sharp-eyed mammals live in tight family groups in the Kalahari Desert and take turns standing guard to warn each other of danger.
African Wild Dog
One of Africa's most endangered hunters, the African wild dog has a painted coat of brown, black, and gold, and hunts in coordinated packs across Botswana's open plains.
Seswaa
Botswana's national dish is slow-cooked beef or goat that is pounded until tender and served at celebrations and family gatherings.
Bogobe
This thick porridge made from sorghum or maize is a daily staple in most Botswana homes, eaten at breakfast or alongside stews.
Morogo
Wild leafy greens gathered from the bush and cooked down into a savory side dish that has fed families in this region for generations.
Botswana is one of the flattest countries in the world, and much of it is covered by the Kalahari, a vast semi-desert that stretches across its center.
The Okavango River does not flow to the ocean — instead it spreads out into a giant inland delta, creating a lush oasis in the middle of dry southern Africa.
When Botswana became independent in 1966, it was one of the poorest countries on Earth, but the discovery of diamonds helped it grow into one of Africa's more stable economies within just a few decades.
Botswana's entire population of about 2.6 million people is roughly the same as the city of Houston, Texas, but spread across a country nearly the size of France.
The country's very name — Botswana — means 'land of the Tswana people' in the national language, Setswana, which is spoken by most people there alongside English.
Daily Life
69
Years life expectancy
81%
Can read and write
88%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Botswana is home to 45 distinct people groups — 1 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
A majority of Botswana's people follow Christianity (65.4%). Evangelical Christians make up about 8.3% of the population.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Deaf
7,000 people
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.