Botswana: History and Heritage

Botswana’s History

The history of Botswana began with many migratory ethnic groups, including the Bantu, San and Khoikhoi, from as early as AD200.

In the 1820s the Boers (Dutch-settling farmers) began their Great Trek, occupying any land they wished to in southern Africa, which caused hostilities with the country’s major ethnic group, the Tswana. The Tswana sought support for several decades from the British Government, who finally agreed to put Bechuanaland (as it was known) under its protection in 1885.

Botswana gained independence in 1964, when the British Government accepted the country’s proposal for democratic self-governance. Seretse Khama, one of the leaders of the independence movement and one of the chieftains of the native people, was the first president.

During one of our Botswana safaris you will find a clean, democratic government, a well-maintained economy with policies that have a strong focus on peace and stability for its people.