Ghanzi - City of Botswana

Ghanzi is a town located in western part of The Republic of Botswana in southern Africa. It is the administrative center of Ghanzi District, and is known as the "Capital of the Kalahari". Ghanzi District measures 117,910 sq. km. and is bordered by Ngamiland to the North, Central District to the East, and Kgalagadi and Kweneg Districts to the South. Its western border is shared with Namibia.

Other spellings of Ghanzi include "Gantsi," which is more consistent with the national language of Botswana, Setswana, "Ghansi," and "Ghantsi." It has also been purported that the various renderings of Ghanzi actually stem from the Naro language word "Gaentsii", meaning "swollen buttocks" referring the good health of antelope and, later, cattle which congregated around a pan in the area.

The district’s land surface mainly consists of gently undulating sandveld which lies between 1,100 and 1,230 meters above sea level. The Kalahari is the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world, covering some 2,500 sq. km. Karoo sediments, covered by younger basaltic lavas, underlie most of the Kalahari sands and about half of the country of Botswana. The sands of the Kalahari vary in depth from 5m to 200m.

The climate is semi-arid of the low-altitude, high-steppe variety with summer rainfall. The long-term mean annual rainfall is around 375mm although this can vary by up to 50% year by year. Generally speaking, both the climate and the soils are unfavorable for arable farming. Small cultivation is spread over the district but is limited to subsistence crops of maize, sorghum, beans, peas, and melons.

Ghanzi has only one bank, Barclays Bank, which is a sub branch. The First National Bank has plans to open another sub branch in the town, but when it will open is still unknown. Ghanzi now has three shopping centres, namely Ghanzi Spar, Score and the recently opened Choppies, another great retailer in Botswana.

An annual farm show in August attracts many people from all over southern Africa. It is also a great time where all the people in Ghanzi come together and celebrate. Actions are also held at the premisis and BDF usually comes to show their weapondry and stuff. Ghanzi is also a stop over point for travelers wishing to visit the Okavango Delta; there are many lodges in the area and one filling station, namely Shell. It is the only available fill-up point between Kang and Maun, which is a span of about 500 km, if you are travelling to the Okavango Delta.

Ghanzi is primarily a farming community that supplies the Botswana Meat Commission with most of the required beef produce. The town is growing, as many South-African farmers are coming to farm here.