Modern skyscrapers and shopping centers rise alongside traditional communities in this capital city, which houses Botswana's diamond trade and stock exchange.
Gaborone, Botswana's capital city of 246,000 people, has grown from a small administrative post into a modern African metropolis since 1965. You can watch zebras grazing at the Gaborone Game Reserve, buy paintings directly from artists at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, and learn about Botswana's independence at the Three Chiefs' Monument.
Getting Around Gaborone
Kombis (small vans) and taxis run regular routes within the city limits. Buses connect Gaborone to surrounding villages and other towns in Botswana. You can reach Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, 25 kilometers north of the city, by taxi or airport shuttle. The airport has direct flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Addis Ababa.
Wildlife at Gaborone Game Reserve
You'll find the 600-hectare Gaborone Game Reserve within the city limits - one of few national reserves inside an urban area. Walk to several observation hides to spot impala, kudu, ostriches, wildebeest, and zebras. The animals move between tree savanna, marsh areas, and rocky outcrops throughout the day. Open daily from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Arts and Culture Scene
Local artists work and exhibit at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, in a restored 1902 magistrate's building. You can watch artists at work, buy directly from their studios, and join art workshops. The Maitisong Festival brings concerts, plays, and films to venues around the city each year in late March or early April.
The Three Chiefs' Monument
The Three Chiefs' Monument stands in the Central Business District, commemorating three chiefs who traveled to London in 1885 to request protection from British colonial expansion. North Korean artists created the bronze statues. Local historians lead tours explaining the monument's role in Botswana's independence movement.
Exploring the City Center
Walk through the Main Mall, the commercial center of Gaborone, with businesses lining both sides and government offices to the east. At the National Museum and Art Gallery northwest of the Mall, you'll see traditional crafts, contemporary art, and exhibits about natural history, archaeology, and prehistory. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
Day Trips from Gaborone
Visit Molepolole, 50 kilometers west of Gaborone, to see buildings ranging from traditional mud-and-thatch houses to modern concrete structures. In Thamaga, 40 kilometers southwest, watch potters create blue-glazed ceramics at the community craft project. The Gaborone Dam area has marked walking trails and designated areas for kayaking and sailing, though swimming isn't permitted.
