Botswanan Smiles, Trials and Chobe Park
The Botswanan people are some of the most genuinely friendly and helpful people I’ve met recently. They have glowing smiles, easy laughs and seem to feel quite at home accepting cultural differences. There is also a mild reserved-ness which I think comes from not wanting to be at odds with anyone.
Though the current government has made great economic and peacetime strides for the country, and the country itself is considered on its way to success, the population, like a lot of southern africa, is facing disaster.
Approximately 40% of Botswanans have HIV, and the vast majority of the cases in the past have gone untreated. A cheap anti-retroviral program was instituted in 2003, however the statistics are telling: in 1990 the average life expectancy for the country was 64. In 2004 it was 35. Condoms are now available in places like public toilets and roadmarts, but it is going to have to be a pretty vast change in both cultural stigmas and sexual practices (more sexual freedom for women) before many great strides are made here.
It is appalling to think that so many of the smiling people I’ve met will someday soon fall sick to AIDs. Its something worth thinking about when considering how lucky we all are!
Okay, onto a less depressing subject. Still, clearly in Botswana, we had made it to Chobe National Park. Chobe is known for its population of elephants, which are protected, however, it is has gotten to such a state they are considering culling them. For me this means we have a great chance of seeing a lot of elephants!
Tags: Africa, AIDS, Botswana, Chobe, Elephants, Southern Africa Tour, Tag Index