Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Covering approximately 581,700 square kilometers, it is characterized by a predominantly flat to gently undulating landscape dominated by the
Kalahari Desert. Much of the country consists of sandy plains and shrubland, with elevations generally between 900 and 1,200 meters above sea level. The most distinctive physical feature is the Okavango Delta, an inland alluvial fan in the northwest where the Okavango River disperses into wetlands instead of reaching the sea. Other important hydrological features include the Chobe River and the Makgadikgadi salt pans, remnants of an ancient lake system.

Botswana has a semi-arid climate with highly variable rainfall. Most precipitation occurs during a single rainy season from roughly November to March, while the rest of the year is predominantly dry. Annual rainfall decreases from northeast to southwest, with the wetter northeastern regions receiving substantially more precipitation than the Kalahari interior. High evaporation rates and recurrent droughts are major environmental constraints and strongly influence both settlement patterns and agricultural activities.

Agriculture plays a smaller role in Botswana's economy than mining and services, but it remains important for rural livelihoods and food security. The sector is dominated by livestock production, particularly cattle ranching. Botswana has long maintained a significant beef industry, supported by extensive grazing systems and veterinary controls that facilitate access to export markets. Goats and sheep are also widely raised, especially in drier areas where they are often better adapted to sparse vegetation and variable water availability.

Crop farming is more limited because of low and unpredictable rainfall, sandy soils, and frequent droughts. The principal food crops include sorghum, millet, maize, and beans. Sorghum is especially important because of its relative tolerance to arid conditions. Cultivation is concentrated in the eastern corridor and other comparatively wetter regions, where soils and rainfall are somewhat more favorable than in the central and western Kalahari. Irrigated horticulture, including vegetables and fruits, occurs on a much smaller scale near reliable water sources.

Environmental variability is a defining feature of Botswana's agricultural geography. Droughts can substantially reduce crop yields, degrade grazing lands, and increase pressure on water resources. Climate change is expected to intensify many of these challenges through higher temperatures and increased rainfall uncertainty. In response, Botswana has promoted drought-resistant crop varieties, improved rangeland management, water conservation measures, and selective irrigation development aimed at increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability.

The interaction between Botswana's semi-arid geography and its agricultural systems is particularly pronounced. Limited and variable rainfall, extensive sandy soils, and uneven water distribution favor livestock production over intensive crop cultivation. At the same time, localized areas with better water availability, especially around major river systems and the Okavango Delta, provide important opportunities for diversified agriculture and rural development. Understanding these geographical constraints and opportunities is essential for evaluating Botswana's food security, land-use patterns, and long-term development prospects.

On 1 May 2007, Michael Dörries and Gerold set off from Johannesburg, South Africa, in a rental car and crossed the border into Botswana at Gaborone. Our destination was Botswana's renowned wildlife regions, particularly the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, which together cover around 1.4 million hectares. Their extraordinary abundance of wildlife had long fascinated us, although we also visited several other parks during our journey. Botswana, with its vast open spaces, breathtaking landscapes, and sparse population, left a deep impression on us. The sense of freedom was almost addictive. We spent a total of 20 days exploring the country, rarely staying in the same place twice and sleeping in tents throughout the trip. From Kasane, we continued north to Zambia to visit the magnificent Victoria Falls. In 2009, I returned to Botswana with Heiner Rahlfs for another unforgettable week. Starting at Victoria Falls, we travelled via Kasane, Kubu Island, and Francistown before returning to Bulawayo. Once again, we were captivated by the stunning scenery, the friendliness of the people, and the freedom of travelling off-road. We had borrowed a vehicle privately from Zimbabwe, and it proved ideal for the journey. Since it was already well used, we did not have to worry too much about scratches, dents, or the thick mud that often accompanied our travels.

A further visit followed in 2011. Together with Heiner, I travelled through Lobatse and Ghanzi before crossing briefly into Namibia via the Caprivi Strip and re-entering Botswana at Ngoma Bridge. Although the trip lasted only nine days, it combined fieldwork and adventure. We visited Gus Barnes in Ghanzi to discuss Holistic Management and also spent time in Gaborone on project-related activities.
Not every experience went according to plan. In Moremi Game Reserve, near Mababe, I managed to drown our vehicle while crossing a river. Recovering it was a major undertaking. The vehicle first had to be towed through deep sand tracks and bush terrain before it could be transported to Maun and drained. Such incidents highlighted the challenges of travelling in remote wilderness areas. There was always the possibility of becoming hopelessly stuck in the endless sandy tracks with no one nearby to help. Although we only became truly stranded once, there were many occasions when we came close.

The diversity of Botswana's landscapes is difficult to capture in words. Endless savannahs, floodplains, river systems, wildlife, and open skies create a unique atmosphere that is hard to forget. During our 2007 journey, Michael and I both celebrated our 45th birthdays in Africa—18 years after our memorable stay together in Zimbabwe, a country we had loved from the very beginning. In both 2009 and 2011, Heiner Rahlfs and I undertook similar expeditions. One route led from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe through Kasane and Francistown before returning south. Another took us via Lobatse and Ghanzi into Namibia, where we visited friends, before re-entering Botswana via Ngoma Bridge and continuing through Kasane and Gaborone back towards South Africa. In 2012, I visited Botswana twice. In February, Michael and I travelled from Johannesburg through Gaborone and Francistown to Bulawayo and then north to Kasane. From there we crossed Chobe National Park, continued to Maun and Ghanzi, and eventually returned to Johannesburg. A major workshop for a large African Holistic Management project took place during this visit. In June, I returned with Fritz Wodarz, Heiner Rahlfs, and Birgit Rahlfs. This time we travelled via Kubu Island before making our way back through Gaborone and on to Johannesburg.

In March 2014, I spent another week in Botswana, travelling through Ghanzi, Maun, and Kasane with Klaudia. I wanted to show her the route that had become one of my favourites. That year, however, the rainy season had been exceptionally heavy. Parts of Moremi and the Ghanzi region were heavily flooded, making travel difficult and rendering a crossing of Chobe impossible. Tourism in Kasane was clearly increasing, while Maun seemed to be stagnating or even declining. Nevertheless, wildlife remained abundant, and animals could still be seen almost everywhere.

My most recent journey to Botswana was in 2017, once again with Klaudia. For nine days we explored the country in an off-road vehicle from Johannesburg. Our route took us through Gaborone, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Kubu Island, Chobe National Park, Maun, and Ghanzi. Even after so many visits, Botswana continued to inspire us with its extraordinary landscapes, rich wildlife, and unmatched sense of freedom.
Of all the places I have travelled, Botswana remains one of the most remarkable. Its wilderness, vast horizons, and spirit of adventure have drawn me back time and again, and every journey has added new memories to a country that never ceases to amaze.