Botswana

The lands of present-day Botswana have been home to San hunter-gatherers for many thousands of years; their rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills are among the region's oldest cultural treasures. Later, Bantu-speaking far…

A weatherproof box where anyone can leave books, toys or kitchen bits and take something else: sustainability can be that simple. What matters is a good spot, permission from the owner or the council, and a few people w…

Not everyone finds smartphones, online bookings or long forms easy. Often a patient half hour is all it takes to help someone. Important: never take over passwords or bank details, go through it together step by step in…

Whether it's a part-time job in a café, delivering leaflets or tutoring: your first job brings not just money but confidence too. Make sure you get a written contract and that your hours fit around school or college. Wh…

A driving licence is a big step towards independence for many, but it takes time and money. Compare offers beforehand, study the theory regularly in small chunks and stay relaxed during lessons. Bikes and public transpo…

Every place can become a little nicer to live in, and locals often have the best ideas. What would you improve in Sowa, Botswana: more benches, better cycle paths, a meeting place for young and old? Share your suggestio…

Not every day is sunny, and with kids you need good ideas when it pours. Where do you go in Sowa, Botswana when it's wet outside: the library, the swimming pool, a board-game café, or puddle jumping after all? Share you…

Almost every region has a dish you won't find anywhere else, or a recipe handed down through the generations. What food simply belongs to Sowa, Botswana? Tell us your favourites and where to try them!

Sowa is a town which lies in the Central District of Botswana, but constitutes a separate administrative district. The Sowa Township was established in 1991 by an act of Parliament, Statutory Instrument No. 26 of 1991 a…

When you go on holiday or fall ill, someone needs to look after the cat, dog or rabbit. Neighbours are ideal: short distances and a familiar face for the animal. It's best to meet beforehand for a quick visit. Are you l…

For some older people the trip to the supermarket is hard work, especially when it's icy or very hot. If you're going shopping anyway, it's often easy to pick something up for someone else. A note in the hallway or a qu…

Guitar, drums, singing or beats on your laptop: music brings people together. Many towns have rehearsal rooms, music schools or open-mic nights where you can try things out. And bands are often looking for exactly the i…

Looking for an apprenticeship can feel huge at first. A good start: think about what you enjoy and ask local businesses directly about a work placement. Many companies welcome speculative applications even when nothing …

Every place has spots only locals know: a bench with a view, a courtyard full of flowers, a little path along the water. Which hidden corner of Jwaneng would you show a newcomer? Let us in on the secret!

Parents and grandparents know it well: not all playgrounds are equal. Which playground in Jwaneng is your favourite, and why? Share your tips with other families!

Football, table tennis, swimming or a walking group: clubs are often the best way to meet people. Which club are you part of in Jwaneng, and are you looking for new members? Give your club a quick shout-out!

The town was formed around the Jwaneng diamond mine, considered the richest in the world in terms of its content of gem-quality diamonds. At its inception it was a 'closed town', meaning that in order to live there per…

Sowa takes its name from the San word for salt, and fittingly the town lies next to Sua Pan, also known as Sowa Pan, a vast salt pan where soda ash (sodium carbonate) is mined. The resources of the pan are the reason th…

Selebi-Phikwe, also spelled Selibe Phikwe, is a mining town in eastern Botswana. It grew up around the copper and nickel deposits that gave the town its purpose, and its double name recalls the two mining sites of Seleb…

Lobatse lies in a valley in south-eastern Botswana, on the border with South Africa and about 70 kilometres south of Gaborone. The valley runs north towards the capital and has long been a natural route through the regi…