North-West District – Ngamiland joins the protectorate in 1890
The North-West District, also known as Ngamiland, has been shaped by migration and changing borders. In the late 18th century, Tswana herders began moving north into the area, where the Tawana later established a chiefdom linked to the Ngwato. On 30 June 1890 the British formally extended the Bechuanaland Protectorate northward to include Ngamiland, although officials only arrived in 1894.
During colonial times, the region formed Bechuanaland's north-western corner and its main point of contact with German South West Africa. The district was created in 1966, originally including Chobe, which became separate again in 2006. Today, with its centre in Maun and the Okavango Delta, it is a growing region. Share your own stories from Ngamiland with us!