Botswana–South Africa border
Over 90% river: the Limpopo, the Molopo and the Nossob. Its line dates from the 1880s, when Britain took Bechuanaland under its protection, and later gave the southern part to the Cape Colony.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Botswana →South Africa →
The Transvaal’s western edge
The eastern half of the border was the western edge of the Boer South African Republic (Transvaal). The Pretoria Convention of 1881 set it, and the London Convention of 1884 restated it: up the Limpopo to the Marico, up the Marico, then via a chain of beacons on hilltops and the Notwane river to the Ramatlhabama pool north of the Molopo.[1]
In May 1884 Batlaping and Barolong chiefs signed treaties conferring power over their lands on Britain. On 30 September 1885 a proclamation made the southern part British Bechuanaland, a Crown colony, and put the land north of it, up to the 22nd parallel and east of the 20th meridian, under a British protectorate.[1]
Colony and protectorate
In 1895 the Cape Colony annexed British Bechuanaland, including the towns of Kuruman, Mafeking and Vryburg, which is why they are in South Africa today. The protectorate to the north stayed British.[1] An Order in Council of 3 October 1895 set the western sector along the Molopo and the Nossob to the 20th meridian.[1]
The Bechuanaland Protectorate became self-governing on 1 March 1965 and independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966. South Africa had become a republic on 31 May 1961.[1]
Timeline
18813 August 1881
Pretoria Convention
The Transvaal’s western border is set.[1]
188427 February 1884
London Convention
The line is restated.[1]
188530 September 1885
Bechuanaland
Britain proclaims a colony in the south and a protectorate to the north.[1]
189516 November 1895
Cape annexation
British Bechuanaland joins the Cape Colony.[1]
196630 September 1966
Botswana independent
The protectorate becomes the Republic of Botswana.[1]
More borders
Sources
- [1]International Boundary Study No. 122: Botswana – South Africa Boundary · US Department of State, Office of the Geographer · 12 May 1972
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.