Gaborone City Guide - overview

Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, may not be big on tourist attractions but it is a vibrant, if small, sprawling modern city that provides several international hotels (two with casinos) and all the souvenir shops, restaurants and services that visitors, drawn to the country for the abundant wildlife, will need. There are also a few sights to see and excursions to enjoy for those who only have a day or two in which to experience the country.

Pride and joy of Gaborone is its University and National Museum, which features some outstanding exhibits. One of the most striking of the modern tall buildings is Orapa House, where Botswana's diamonds are sorted and dispatched to markets around the world.

The old part of the city, known as the 'Village', is where one finds remnants of Botswana's colonial history, such as the remains of the old Government Rest House, where the infamous Jameson Raid was believed to have been planned and where Cecil John Rhodes sometimes stayed.

Getting around: Public transport within Gaborone is somewhat limited. Licensed taxis are identified by their number plates that have a blue background. These are usually shared and carry up to five passengers. Minibus taxis are also available and usually travel a specific route, usually circular, and pass through the station or mall. These are easily hailed and passengers usually tell the driver to stop when they want to get off. Four-wheel drives are a popular choice for exploring outside of the city and Gaborone has several car rental agencies. Hitchhiking is a popular pastime in the country, although drivers often expect to be paid; of course visitors should exercise caution at all times. Gaborone's roads are tarred and usually in good condition, but drivers have to be on the look out for stray animals.