The Boteti River (also spelt as Botletle or Botletli) is a natural watercourse in Botswana of 1700km in length. It derives flow from the core Okavango Delta through the Thamalakane River in Maun.
Hydrology
In the rainy season, the Boteti discharges to the Makgadikgadi Pans, In the dry season, the Boteti is particularly important to provide wildlife an area to congregate, since most seasonal ponds and drainages are then devoid of water.
The Boteti flows southeastward out of the Thamalakane River swamp at Toteng, then flows northeastward past Tlkaseoulo, over Ghautsa Falls, and then flows east past the villages of Makalamabedi, Muekekle, and Matima, and then at Kwaraga, it turns south past the villages of Phukumakaku, Khumaga (Lekono), Sukwane, Rakops (Jakops), and Xhuma (Khomo). The diversion of the river has left many residents without an adequate source of fresh water; moreover, they could no longer enjoy fishing and other activities in the river.
History
In the early and mid-20th century, the lower Boteti, below Sukwane, was a major grain-producing area, with over 2,000ha under cultivation until 1980. However, the number and extent of wet years has declined, and the river was channelised below Rakops to increase flow to the Mopipi Dam. It flowed year-round before the mid-1990s,