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My African Safari: Botswana Trivia Quiz

My wife and I were lucky enough to be able to travel through southern Africa recently. I'm writing quizzes about the nations, people, places and animals we became acquainted with. First stop was Botswana.

A multiple-choice quiz by wilbill. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wilbill

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
369,077

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
332

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The word "safari" is from the Swahili language. What does it mean? Hint

vacation

ocean voyage

hunting trip

long journey

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Question 2 of 10

2. Our first stop was in Kasane, Botswana. Now a growing center of tourism, Kasane was an unknown village in 1975 when what celebrity couple was married there? Hint

Madonna & Sean Penn

Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor

Melanie Griffith & Don Johnson

Prince Rainier & Grace Kelly

3. We rode from the airport to the Chobe River where we boarded a houseboat for a safari/cruise along the river. Just a few kilometers downstream the Chobe flows into Africa's fourth largest river. What is the name of this large stream which drops into one of the world's greatest waterfalls? Hint

Blue Nile

Zambezi

Congo

Niger

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Question 4 of 10

4. Botswana gained independence from Great Britain in 1966. By what name was Botswana known while it was a British protectorate? Hint

Bechuanaland Protectorate

Royal Botswan Protectorate

Northern Rhodesia

British Central Africa

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Question 5 of 10

5. On the banks of the Zambezi, Botswana meets Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia in a "Four Corners" junction of nations (a Quadripoint).

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Botswanan shoreline of the Chobe belongs to the Chobe National Park. Boarding a small outboard, we got closeup views of dozens of species including hundreds of the world's largest living land animal. Which species of elephant were we seeing? Hint

Asian Elephant

Circus Elephant

African Forest Elephant

African Bush Elephant

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Visiting the northernmost portion of Botswana, we saw well-irrigated bush and forestland, but over 80% of the nation consists of what large desert? Hint

Kalahari

Sahara

Namib

Mojave

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Question 8 of 10

8. While on the river we came across a pride of lions on the bank devouring a kudu (antelope) they had killed. The adult male had a very large, dark mane. What did this indicate about him? Hint

He has a good hairdresser.

He's in good health.

He lives on a menu of dark-colored antelope.

He's very old.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. From 2006 through 2013 Botswana was rated by international agencies as the most corrupt nation in Africa.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1999, Botswana surpassed Australia as the world's largest producer of gem-quality diamonds.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The word "safari" is from the Swahili language. What does it mean?

Answer: long journey

"Safariyah" means a journey of any length. Our journey qualified as a long one - over 30,000 km round trip from our home in the US.

2. Our first stop was in Kasane, Botswana. Now a growing center of tourism, Kasane was an unknown village in 1975 when what celebrity couple was married there?

Answer: Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor

After a tumultuous 10 year marriage which ended in 1974, Dick and Liz tied the knot a second time in Kasane. This second marriage lasted only about nine months.

Answer: Zambezi

"Zambezi" means "Great River" in the language of the Tonga people. Rising in Northern Zambia, it flows through nine countries before emptying into the Indian Ocean in Mozambique.

4. Botswana gained independence from Great Britain in 1966. By what name was Botswana known while it was a British protectorate?

Answer: Bechuanaland Protectorate

In 1885, the Shona people of what is now Botswana asked the British for help in defending their territory against other tribes and Boer settlers encroaching on them. Southern portions of the protectorate became part of South Africa, the rest is now Botswana.

5. On the banks of the Zambezi, Botswana meets Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia in a "Four Corners" junction of nations (a Quadripoint).

Answer: False

Close, but not quite. To provide all four nations with access to the Zambezi, Botswana has about 150 yards of frontage on the southern bank which separates the land areas of Namibia and Zimbabwe. Zambia and Botswana have announced plans to build a bridge there to replace a slow and inefficient ferry.

Answer: African Bush Elephant

Massing an average of almost 5 tons, the Bush Elephant is about 25% larger than the Asian Elephant. Chobe National Park is thought to be the largest single elephant population in existence, variously estimated from 50,000 to over 100,000. With our boat stopped a few feet from the bank, we watched a seemingly endless stream of elephant families coming to the river to drink, bathe and play in the water.

7. Visiting the northernmost portion of Botswana, we saw well-irrigated bush and forestland, but over 80% of the nation consists of what large desert?

Answer: Kalahari

Technically the Kalahari is a semi-desert. Periodic rains produce excellent, if short-lived grazing for both wildlife and domestic animals. Botswana's motto, appearing on the national coat of arms is "Pula" meaning "Rain".

8. While on the river we came across a pride of lions on the bank devouring a kudu (antelope) they had killed. The adult male had a very large, dark mane. What did this indicate about him?

Answer: He's in good health.

Generally, the darker a male lion's mane, the healthier he is. It also tends to indicate higher testosterone levels. A very large mane makes a lion appear larger when confronted by another male.

9. From 2006 through 2013 Botswana was rated by international agencies as the most corrupt nation in Africa.

Answer: False

To the contrary, Transparency International ranks Botswana as the least corrupt African nation. Botswana has enjoyed steady economic growth since it gained independence and has a standard of living comparable to Mexico and Turkey.

10. In 1999, Botswana surpassed Australia as the world's largest producer of gem-quality diamonds.

Answer: True

Since the early 1970s, diamond production has contributed greatly to Botswana's economic growth. The Jwaneng mine, world's richest, was discovered when termites searching for water began bringing diamond dust to the surface.

Source: Author wilbill

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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