What To Do In Gaborone?

Gaborone does not give off an impression of having lots to do, and looking at pictures of the city can give a rather "American Suburbia" type of feeling. At least it did for me. I was always intrigued to visit Gaborone, but I couldn't put the finger on exactly why, because I couldn't find much about sights or history in the Botswanan Capital.

But, as with all cities, if you scratch the surface a little bit you will find things to do.

Most people use Gaborone merely as an entry point into Botswana, heading quickly north into the game reserves. I won't argue for an extended stay in Gaborone, but spending at least one day is worth it

Here are some things that you can do in Gaborone.

Visit a Shopping Mall

There are a lot of shopping malls in Gaborone, and they are for the most part modern and high-end. It was a completely different experience to stroll in a shopping mall in Gaborone and Botswana compared to neighboring countries. A different vibe, something that actually could be felt throughout the city in general.

There are three major shopping malls in the city. Airport Junction in the Northern part, The Fields in the newly constructed city center, and Game City in the Southern part. I visited The Fields and Game City. Airport Junction, which is said to be great, is a little bit more remote and not near anything else, except the Airport.

The Fields was the better of the two I visited, while Game City felt more like a typical American shopping mall. The Fields on the other hand is upscale and with plenty of stores with a good selection of goods and quite a lot of restaurants.

Main Mall

If you're not into shopping malls you can instead visit the Main Mall. It's more of a traditional market, albeit a lot of the stalls sell the same souvenirs.

Main Mall is where I found most street life in the city. The downtown is largely sterile and empty, so if you want to see some action you should visit this street. In the middle of the pedestrianized street, there is also an ivory monument. Botswana is known for having one of the largest populations of Elephants in the world. You will however not see any in Gaborone, for that you need to go for the game reserves in the Northern parts of the country.

I would recommend walking, if you're at The Fields for example, or elsewhere in Downtown. The route will take you through the Government quarters with some of the most modern and futuristic buildings in the city. In front of the National Assembly, there is a square with a statue of Sir Seretse Khama as well as a few monuments to fallen soldiers in wars.

Three Dikgosi Monument

As you might have understood already, Gaborone is not a city full of sights. There's essentially just one major traditional sight in the city and that is the Three Dikgosi Monument. A monument over three tribal chiefs who traveled to England in 1895 to ask for protection, which in the end guaranteed the survival of Botswana as an independent nation.

When you enter the location, which is free, you will likely be approached by a staff member who will offer a history tour about the Dikgosis, Gaborone, and Botswana. The tour, which is not too long, is free but the guide will expect a small tip. I thought it was very interesting and do not regret accepting and listening to it. I usually decline all attempts to get "free" guides when it's obvious that they want a tip at the end. But this time it added something of value, and since it's not many places in the city where you can get a history lesson about the area it felt right.

It's the only major sight in Gaborone, and you will probably be done with it in 30 minutes. The rest of your time will likely be spent in shopping malls.

Mokolodi Nature Reserve

As I mentioned before, most people are likely just transiting through Gaborone towards safari adventures in the Northern parts of Botswana. In which case you won't need to look for a safari near Gaborone.

I spent all my time in Botswana within the city limits of Gaborone, and with an extra day to spare I looked into mini-safari options and found Mokolodi Nature Reserve. They don't have the largest animals, but they do have Rhinos, Zebras, and allegedly Giraffes and Hippos. I didn't see the last two though.

It's a short taxi ride away from Downtown, it takes about 15 minutes and you're far from city life. It's well organized and as long as you don't expect too much it's an experience worth doing.

On the way to Mokolodi, you will pass Kgale Hill, the highest hill in the city and often mentioned as one of the top attractions. I received very mixed opinions on whether you should climb it or not. According to some, it's a great experience. According to others, it's a very dangerous hike, and a high possibility to be attacked by wild animals (namely baboons).