Places to Visit in Gaborone, Botswana, Africa

Places to Visit in Gaborone, Botswana, Africa

Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana situated in the southeastern part of the country. It is spread over an area of 169 sq. km holding around 10% of the total population of the country. Gaborone is located on the Notwane River between the hills of Kgale and Oodi, around 15 km away from the border of South Africa with Botswana.

The Mall is the commercial point of the city holding many major business houses of the country. Gaborone is also the site of t he Botswana Stock Exchange and the Southern African Development Community. Gaborone is geographically positioned between 24°39′29″ S latitude and 25°54′44″ E longitude.

History of Gaborone:

The documented history of Gaborone begins with the settlements of Kgosi Gaborone migrating from the Magaliesberg in 1880. Gaborone got its name from Gaborone’s vale which derived it name from Chief Gaborone of the BaTlokwa. Gaborone became the capital of the British owned Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1965 and even also remained as the capital of Botswana after its independence from British in 1966.

How to reach Gaborone?

Gaborone hosts the major airport of the country with connection to Francistown, Harare, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Luanda, Cape Town and many other prime African cities. The airport is located around 15 km away from the centre of the city.

Gaborone is connected by bus to Johannesburg in South Africa, taking around 6 hours.

Buses are the primary transportation options within Gaborone and rental cars are also accessible from the local travel agency.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Gaborone:

Along with many renowned museums and cultural centres, Gaborone is also noted for the University of Botswana and the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

Some specialty shopping options in Gaborone include:

Green Shop
Oodi Weavers
Thamaga pottery
The Bike Shop

List of the famous food corners in Gaborone include:

Cafe Khwest
Melody Cafe
Terrace Restaurant
Camel Inn

Things to do in Gaborone:

Cycling
Hiking
Watching movies

Places of interest in Gaborone:

Gaborone Dam:

Being the biggest in Botswana, the Gaborone Dam is one of the identities of Gaborone with a storage capacity of 141,400,000 cubic meters. It is situated along the road of Gaborone-Lobatse to the south of Gaborone.

Gaborone Game Reserve:

The Gaborone Game Reserve is situated on Limpopo Drive towards the east of the city of Gaborone, covering an area of 600-hectare. Established in 1988, the reserve is home to a wide range of animal and bird species including wildebeest, zebras, gemsbok and gallinule. Bird-watching is also a famous activity here.

Kgale Hill:

The Kgale Hill is a favorite sport of nature lovers and hikers, measuring an elevation of 1,287 metres. It holds a nickname of the Sleeping Giant. From the city centre, it is located few hundred meters away but reaching its top from the bottom takes around two hour.

National Museum and Art Gallery:

The National Museum and Art Gallery in Gaborone is open for visitors from 09:00 to 18:00 (Tuesday-Friday) and 09:00 to 17:00 (Saturday and Sunday). It is located 331 Independence Avenue and showcases the cultural diversity and history of Botswana. Entry is free.

Hare Krishna Temple:

The Hare Krishna Temple is a distinct religious site, situated opposite to the Baobab school of Gaborone. It is devoted to the Hind god, Sri Krishna. This impressive temple can be explored through a guided tour.

List of other places of interest in and around Gaborone include:

Thapong Visual Arts Centre
Otse Village
Gaborone Cycling Club
Camelot Spa
Alliance Française de Gaborone
Gaborone Stables
BTC hill
Mmopane Hill
Mokolodi
Gaborone Film Club
New Capital Cinema

Best time to visit Gaborone:

Gaborone features a hot semi-arid climate and generally beginning and ending months of the year are ideal to visit Gaborone in Botswana.

Accommodation options in and around Gaborone:

Being the capital of Botswana, Gaborone houses around 50 tourist favor upgraded accommodation centres including hotels, vacation rentals, BB and inns with latest facilities including evening restaurants, gyms, curio shops and business centres. Here is the list of the prime hotels in Gaborone in Botswana: