You Where?

I've been to a reasonable number of places: some that everyone's been to (like Paris), some less so (like Smolensk). But never before have I had the experience I'm having now when I tell people I'm going to Botswana.

Staring. Jaw-hanging. General gobsmackery. You'd think I'd announced I was about to take off for Alpha Centauri.

I don't get it. Why is Botswana so unlikely? Hasn't anyone read Alexander McCall Smith?