[5] Tlou studied at Luther College from 1962 to 1965, where he graduated magna cum laude in African history.
[2] He left academia to perform government service and from 1976 to 1980 was Botswana's permanent representative at the United Nations.
[2] Thereafter he continued at the same university as professor of history, finally retiring in 2006.
[2] In 2006 Tlou was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town[8] He also received the Botswana Presidential Order of Honour,[9] and was made a Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes académiques by France.
Tlou has written or co-written many of the standard texts on Botswana history.