"Dumela!" This is the greeting of the Botswana (people of Botswana). I was born in South Africa but grew up in a little town known as Lobatse in Botswana. I am usually teased that if people drove too fast they might just miss the town itself! Botswana is very peaceful and crime is at a minimum. I don't remember ever locking our gates or doors during the day, al-hamdu lillah.

The Botswana people are divided into various ethnic groups with their names relating to the different regions of Botswana. For example, I am from the Bangwaketsi area; therefore I am a Mongwaketsi. The local terms can be tongue-twisting for a person who isn't accustomed to speaking or reading the language. I grew up with the language so I don't have a problem speaking Setswana (one of the official languages of Botswana, the other being English). Botswana has a population of about 1.7 million people, with about 10,000 Muslims. It is free from racial discrimination and guarantees freedom of religion for all. Botswana has a colorful community with people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, and Europeans.

We would attend secular schools in the morning and a madrasah (after-hours Islamic school) in the afternoon. This was where we gained religious knowledge. We also attended the local mosque to take courses in Islamic studies from the local imam. I still have fond memories of those days.

When I was young, I remember that most of the Muslims were of Indian origin. Nowadays, with the influx of foreign investors in the country and da`wah programs, there is a much more colorful Muslim community that comprises a number of different ethnic backgrounds. In the past, most people of similar backgrounds opted to live close to each other, but nowadays people are more diversified and tend to blend and intermarry with other cultures.

My parents were shop owners and I would earn a little extra allowance helping out in the family business during school holidays. I also recall going to help out at my grandfather's poultry farm and visiting his farmhouse in the Kalahari Desert. During the few weeks I spent in the desert, I learned to milk the goats and tend to the horses.

I attended Lobatse Secondary School where I completed my GCSE senior certificate before moving to South Africa to further my studies. At that time, there weren't many opportunities for higher education except in arts and law. Most of my friends also had to move out of Botswana to further their education, while others remained and took jobs in their family businesses. After university, I returned to Botswana and continued studying accounting, computers, and fashion design. I eventually opened a dressmaking and interior design business.

I also spent some time teaching Islamic studies and crafts to young girls. Throughout my youth, I attended various workshops and courses in crafts and cooking. Every afternoon I taught Islamic lessons and every Saturday at my shop I taught various crafts — fabric painting, candlewicking, and other types of needlework to girls between 8 and 15 years old. My business was open to the public every morning and it transformed into a classroom every afternoon.

My friends were from all races and cultures, and it was enlightening being exposed to this freedom. However, while we enjoyed our freedom, unfortunately our South African counterparts had to bear oppression under the apartheid regime. Racism was unknown to us in Botswana, al-hamdu lillah.

For me, growing up in Botswana certainly had its perks. Spending weekends on hunting, fishing, and camping trips forced me to get in touch with nature. I remember having the opportunity to stroke a leopard at one of the nature reserves and it was quite an experience.

There were many dams near my home, so we often went fishing. We traveled with our caravan and camped out at the dam to enjoy a relaxing weekend fishing and to have what we call a braai (barbecue), or we went for a few hours on a Sunday morning.

Malls and movies were a luxury that we only enjoyed when we traveled to neighboring South Africa for shopping and visiting family . I didn't regret these trips because my weekends were full of fun and centered on quality time spent with family. However, things have changed a lot in the last 20 years, and shopping malls and entertainment centers are now the call of the day. Today, teenagers have much more technological entertainment compared to what I had growing up. I wonder if today's kids even know how to play hopscotch or marbles.

I had an opportunity to travel extensively during my time in Botswana. It was a wonderful learning experience. Botswana has many beautiful places to see, such as the Okavango Swamps and the Chobe River.

It was fun playing in salt pans with my cousins. A salt pan is a large expanse of land covered with salt and other minerals, and it usually forms into a water pool after rainfall. Some nights we sat outdoors by the fire and exchanged stories and heard the legends and tales of the past. Many times we were joined by an unexpected slithering guest and were scared out of our wits!

One of the most famous stories we heard is about two lovers who were not allowed to marry although they eventually eloped and climbed up one of the highest peaks in Botswana called Otse Peak. It is believed that they never returned and it is said that whoever goes up that mountain will never return.

This country is special and it is rich in birds and other wildlife, including almost 45,000 elephants. Botswana is home to the "Big Five" in their most natural habitat. The "Big Five" are the five most famous animals found in the southern part of Africa: lions, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, leopards, and elephants. Some scientists live in the Kalahari Desert for many years to study the habits of these animals. Unfortunately, poaching elephants is a problem in Botswana because ivory is very valuable. Therefore, the government has imposed strict laws against poachers.

The Botswana way of life is very culturally orientated in the rural areas. Traditional assemblies and courts are still held, and traditional laws still apply when necessary. Decisions are still made by chiefs on certain issues. There are some people known as the Basarwa who live in the Kalahari Desert and they are still very attached to traditional life of the Bushmen.

At night, Botswana has one of the most beautiful starlit skies in the world, and one can spend a lot of time gazing into the midnight blue sky. Although Botswana is dry and arid, when we do experience rain, it is usually accompanied by lots of thunder and lightning. There's a distinct smell that lingers in the air after the fresh rain is absorbed into the dry sand.

Gaborone is the capital of Botswana. It is known to be one of the fastest growing capitals in Africa. Unfortunately, one major downside is the rapidly growing rate of HIV/AIDS. Muslim communities have also been mobilized to get involved in campaigning for AIDS awareness. There is a very small percentage of Muslims affected by this problem, but this pandemic affects the whole country.

Botswana is rich in diamonds, copper, nickel, and natural gas . It also has the largest slaughterhouse in Africa and supplies many European countries with beef and its by-products.

There are certain areas allocated for hunting, and after applying for a license, people are allowed to hunt. Hunting mainly takes place in the Kalahari Desert where people hunt animals such as koodoos, wildebeests, impalas, and lions.

Camping trips nowadays are usually arranged at nature reserves, such as the Transfrontier Park. However, while I was growing up, there weren't that many restrictions and on our long journeys to the Kalahari Desert, we would camp out in the open , pitching our tents and sleeping overnight. We would have to make a fire cordon around our spot to keep wild animals out and my grandfather would sleep with his gun beside him just in case. Also, driving on sandy roads would be a problem and our vans would sometimes get stuck and we would have no choice but to camp out till daylight when we could sort out the problems.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is the world's largest island delta. It is home to over 400 species of birds and provides a habitat for various animals. Every year, thousands of tourists come and enjoy their holidays and experience various wildlife safaris.

The Chobe River is on the Caprivi Strip and is dotted with lodges on either side. The other side of the river is on Namibian territory. The highlight of the Chobe River is tiger fishing on a little carved-out boat called a makoro. Only the strong at heart want to take this chance, as the Chobe River is full of dangerous crocodiles that have had many feasts on humans!

A safer option is to take a motor boat and enjoy the day on the river. It is breathtaking fun to catch tiger fish because they give a vicious fight. There are many nature reserves and game parks in Botswana and some even have chalets where tourists can stay for a few days to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

I never imagined that I would leave Botswana, but Allah in His wisdom granted me the opportunity to come to Cairo to gain more experience and knowledge. I had to close up my business and leave my family behind. I have fond memories of life in Botswana and miss the peace, tranquility, fresh air, and, of course, the smell of the rain.

Fatima Jada Bardien lives in Cairo with her family. She is a working mother and student. She teaches English part-time and is studying Islamic studies and training to be a Montessori teacher. She can be contacted at wafats@hotmail.com.