Joanna James
The capital city of Botswana, Gaborone is the ideal location for first-time visitors to Africa to learn about southern cuisine, culture, and epic wildlife. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Gaborone.
While you may be tempted to head to the new malls and shopping centres to buy your souvenirs, for something a bit more authentic, head over to the Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Here, you can sit alongside the resident artists and get an insight into the masterpieces as they craft their work. The centre also stages art exhibitions and performance installations by resident and visiting artists, however, prominence is always given to local artists.
You'll be hard-pressed to find mountains in Botswana, a country that is by and large made up by wide grassy plains and wetlands. This is exactly why the Tswapong Hills has become such an attraction for both visitors and locals alike, who don't mind the 2-hour drive out of Gaborone to see them. The rocky hills that rise high above sandy plains create steep gorges that provide ample opportunity for hiking and picnics. The gorges are also home to Cape Vultures so be prepared for the sight of these majestic creatures flying over you.
If you're looking for unique things to do in Gaborone, why not visit an archaeological site that contains Botswana's oldest ruins. Situated near the Tswapong Hills is a striking gothic-styled church constructed from mud bricks. The church stands vigil over collapsed stone walls, with more stones scattered across the open plains. The original site of Phalatswe, a thriving 19th-century city, once home to nearly 30,000 people, is also nearby and remains one of the oldest surviving ruins in this part of Africa.
Just 3-hours west of the city is the Khutse Game Reserve, a weekend attraction for many in Gaborone. The reserves salt pans and open grasslands are home to lions, jackals, leopards, giraffes, ostrich and gemsbok. The further you roam into the reserve and go beyond the mesmerising Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the more immersed you become with the Kalahari wilderness. There are several tour operators that organise day trips through the reserve, but unless you've done your research and contacted the tour company prior to arriving, it is best to seek the advice of your hotel for a reliable tour guide. Most hotels in the city like Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino, for example, can organise a vehicle and guide for day trips such as these.
The Okavango Delta is waterway that is home to some of the planet's richest wildlife concentrations. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, the waterways twist and weave creating a delicately balanced eco-system that provides nourishment for all the animals and plant life in the area. The water levels fall and rise with the yearly rainfall that takes places hundreds of kilometres away. The delta is a full day's drive from Gaborone, but you can charter a small plane that can get you there in an hour.
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