Date Published: 9th March 2026

Alexander McCall Smith returns to Botswana

Amongst those Alexander met up this past weekend in Botswana with was Professor Sheila Tlou, Board of Member for Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), Co-Chair of the Nursing Now Global Campaign and the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, and a Former Minister of Health and Wellness in Botswana from 2000-2004. How fitting to meet up with this remarkable woman again on International Women’s Day.

Professor Sheila Tlou is recognised throughout the world as a visionary leader and her initiatives on HIV and AIDS, gender, and women’s health are celebrated throughout the world. She headed the Nursing Education Faculty at the University of Botswana and has made outstanding achievements in the development of nursing profession both in Botswana and abroad. She received the Florence Nightingale Medal(2003) from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Presidential Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Health by the American Academy of Nursing (2008). Professor Tlou is the UNAIDS Regional Support Team Director for East and Southern Africa and Vice Chancellor for Botswana Open University (BOU).

Alexander has returned to Botswana. This is a guided tour for readers from all over the world, with Okavango Delta Explorations. Alexander receives no fee for this adventure but benefits from the company of readers from around the world who share his love for the country. He is travelling in the company of his great friend, journalist and film maker Mats Ögren Wanger and in the footsteps of his much loved character from The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe. As ever, we are grateful to Mats Ögren Wanger for his photography and videos which help to bring this journey to life.