When is the best time to visit Gaborone?

May to September is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny days and almost no rain. Nights can turn cold in June and July. October is often the hottest month before the rains, and short summer showers and storms fall between November and March.

How many days do you need in Gaborone?

Two days covers the main sights. Climb Kgale Hill, see the Three Dikgosi Monument and the National Museum near the Main Mall, then drive slowly through the Gaborone Game Reserve. Add a third day for Mokolodi Nature Reserve or the Oodi Weavers just outside the city.

Why is Gaborone called GC?

GC stands for Government Camp, the colonial post that stood across the river from Chief Gaborone's village. The city is named after that Tlokwa chief, and old maps spell it Gaberones. Many locals also call their capital Gabs, especially in casual chat.

Where was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency filmed?

Much of it was filmed in and around Gaborone, where the books are set. The crew rebuilt a street of the old city, with a beauty salon, a general store and an outdoor eatery, at the foot of Kgale Hill, and locals soon called the set Kgalewood.

Gaborone

“Dumela, rra. Dumela, mma.” The greeting comes before any question in the shops of the Main Mall, and a quick honk from a passing combi means there is still a seat inside. Then the sounds thin out. Three bronze chiefs stand over the business district, and baboons pick their way across the rocks of Kgale Hill.

Beyond the center, zebras and kudu graze in the Gaborone Game Reserve, and weddings still end with seswaa pounded by hand. Summers are hot, with storms between October and April, while winter brings dry, sunny days and cold nights. A Local Friend can lead you through a gate you would never have opened alone, into a family celebration where the seswaa is still warm.

0Local Gurus

0Local Friends

Population: 246,325City of Gaborone, 2022 national census by Statistics Botswana.
Founded: 1964Built beside the old Gaberones camp, planned for 20,000 people.
Climate: Hot semi-aridHot summers, storms from October to April; dry winters, cold nights.
Built from scratch: Capital planned for 20,000Most of the first town went up in about three years, from mid-1964.
Did you know?: Precious Ramotswe's cityAlexander McCall Smith set The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency here.
Known as: Gabs, or GCGC comes from Government Camp, the old colonial post by the river.
On the street: Setswana and EnglishKalanga and Kgalagadi are heard too; greetings come in Setswana first.
Main airport: Sir Seretse Khama Intl (GBE)About 15 km north of downtown; taxis and cabs run into the city.
Elevation: About 1,010 mHigh plateau air keeps winter nights cold after warm, sunny days.
Area: 169 km²City of Gaborone district, per the Botswana statistical yearbook.
Time zone: CAT, UTC+2Central Africa Time all year; Botswana has no daylight saving.
Capital since: 1965Took over from Mafeking in 1965, then led the new nation from 1966.
Born here: Malia BakerActress from The Baby-Sitters Club and Disney's Descendants films.

Join us Become a Local Friend in Gaborone

There are no Local Friends in Gaborone yet, and that is where you come in.
Earn money showing off your favorite local spots and create unique experiences.
Join our community and be the first to show travelers the Gaborone beyond the postcard.

Join our community

Good to know about Gaborone

Practical facts to plan your days, and the stories behind the experiences travelers search for the most.

Last reviewed October 2026

Quick facts

Best time to visit: May to SeptemberDry, sunny days with almost no rain; winter nights can drop to 6 to 10°C.
How long to stay: 2 daysEnough for Kgale Hill, the Three Dikgosi, the museum and the game reserve.
Getting around: Combis, taxis, cabsWhite combi vans and blue-plated taxis run set routes; cabs go door to door.
Taste like a local: Seswaa with papBeef boiled, pounded and salted, served with maize porridge at celebrations.
Before you go: Greetings come firstA hello is expected before any question, in shops, offices and taxis.

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Three Dikgosi Monument
In 1895 three chiefs sailed to Britain to keep their land out of Cecil Rhodes's hands. Today they stand in bronze over the business district, each statue 5.4 m tall, finally looking their full size.
Landmarks & Local History

Neighborhoods to wander

The Village
The old Gaberones settlement, now a leafy suburb near Riverwalk Mall and its guesthouses.
Broadhurst
An older suburb northeast of the center, with a busy mall and a craft center.
Phakalane
A newer northern suburb built around a golf estate, quiet and spread out.

Through the year

Maitisong Festival
Late March or early April
Concerts, plays and films in venues across the city, a tradition since 1987.

Say it like a local

Dumela, rra / Dumela, mma

Hello, sir / Hello, madam. Say 'Dumelang' to greet a whole group at once.

Tips & Traps in Gaborone

Insider advice from Local Friends in Gaborone: what to do, and what to avoid.

Catch International Jazz Day in Gaborone on 30 April

Tip

Events

Questions about Gaborone

What travelers ask most before a trip to Gaborone.

1.
When is the best time to visit Gaborone?
May to September is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny days and almost no rain. Nights can turn cold in June and July. October is often the hottest month before the rains, and short summer showers and storms fall between November and March.
2.
How many days do you need in Gaborone?
Two days covers the main sights. Climb Kgale Hill, see the Three Dikgosi Monument and the National Museum near the Main Mall, then drive slowly through the Gaborone Game Reserve. Add a third day for Mokolodi Nature Reserve or the Oodi Weavers just outside the city.
3.
Why is Gaborone called GC?
GC stands for Government Camp, the colonial post that stood across the river from Chief Gaborone's village. The city is named after that Tlokwa chief, and old maps spell it Gaberones. Many locals also call their capital Gabs, especially in casual chat.
4.
Where was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency filmed?
Much of it was filmed in and around Gaborone, where the books are set. The crew rebuilt a street of the old city, with a beauty salon, a general store and an outdoor eatery, at the foot of Kgale Hill, and locals soon called the set Kgalewood.

More cities in Botswana

Head out from Maun into the Okavango Delta and discover more of Botswana with a Local Friend.

Mogoditshane
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Maun
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Molepolole
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Serowe
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Palapye
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends

Neighborhoods to wander

The Village
The old Gaberones settlement, now a leafy suburb near Riverwalk Mall and its guesthouses.
Broadhurst
An older suburb northeast of the center, with a busy mall and a craft center.
Phakalane
A newer northern suburb built around a golf estate, quiet and spread out.

Through the year

Maitisong Festival
Late March or early April
Concerts, plays and films in venues across the city, a tradition since 1987.

Say it like a local

Dumela, rra / Dumela, mma

Hello, sir / Hello, madam. Say 'Dumelang' to greet a whole group at once.

Questions about Gaborone

What travelers ask most before a trip to Gaborone.

1.
When is the best time to visit Gaborone?
May to September is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny days and almost no rain. Nights can turn cold in June and July. October is often the hottest month before the rains, and short summer showers and storms fall between November and March.
2.
How many days do you need in Gaborone?
Two days covers the main sights. Climb Kgale Hill, see the Three Dikgosi Monument and the National Museum near the Main Mall, then drive slowly through the Gaborone Game Reserve. Add a third day for Mokolodi Nature Reserve or the Oodi Weavers just outside the city.
3.
Why is Gaborone called GC?
GC stands for Government Camp, the colonial post that stood across the river from Chief Gaborone's village. The city is named after that Tlokwa chief, and old maps spell it Gaberones. Many locals also call their capital Gabs, especially in casual chat.
4.
Where was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency filmed?
Much of it was filmed in and around Gaborone, where the books are set. The crew rebuilt a street of the old city, with a beauty salon, a general store and an outdoor eatery, at the foot of Kgale Hill, and locals soon called the set Kgalewood.

“Dumela, rra. Dumela, mma.” The greeting comes before any question in the shops of the Main Mall, and a quick honk from a passing combi means there is still a seat inside. Then the sounds thin out. Three bronze chiefs stand over the business district, and baboons pick their way across the rocks of Kgale Hill.

Beyond the center, zebras and kudu graze in the Gaborone Game Reserve, and weddings still end with seswaa pounded by hand. Summers are hot, with storms between October and April, while winter brings dry, sunny days and cold nights. A Local Friend can lead you through a gate you would never have opened alone, into a family celebration where the seswaa is still warm.

Join us Become a Local Friend in Gaborone

There are no Local Friends in Gaborone yet, and that is where you come in.
Earn money showing off your favorite local spots and create unique experiences.
Join our community and be the first to show travelers the Gaborone beyond the postcard.

Join our community

Gaborone

More cities in Botswana

Head out from Maun into the Okavango Delta and discover more of Botswana with a Local Friend.

Mogoditshane
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Maun
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Molepolole
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Serowe
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends
Palapye
0 Local Gurus0 Local Friends

Population: 246,325City of Gaborone, 2022 national census by Statistics Botswana.
Founded: 1964Built beside the old Gaberones camp, planned for 20,000 people.
Climate: Hot semi-aridHot summers, storms from October to April; dry winters, cold nights.
Built from scratch: Capital planned for 20,000Most of the first town went up in about three years, from mid-1964.
Did you know?: Precious Ramotswe's cityAlexander McCall Smith set The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency here.
Known as: Gabs, or GCGC comes from Government Camp, the old colonial post by the river.
On the street: Setswana and EnglishKalanga and Kgalagadi are heard too; greetings come in Setswana first.
Main airport: Sir Seretse Khama Intl (GBE)About 15 km north of downtown; taxis and cabs run into the city.
Elevation: About 1,010 mHigh plateau air keeps winter nights cold after warm, sunny days.
Area: 169 km²City of Gaborone district, per the Botswana statistical yearbook.
Time zone: CAT, UTC+2Central Africa Time all year; Botswana has no daylight saving.
Capital since: 1965Took over from Mafeking in 1965, then led the new nation from 1966.
Born here: Malia BakerActress from The Baby-Sitters Club and Disney's Descendants films.

Setswana breakfast or lunch on the Botswana Craft patio

Gaborone, Botswana

See all 12 Tips & Traps in Gaborone

Good to know about Gaborone

Practical facts to plan your days, and the stories behind the experiences travelers search for the most.

Last reviewed October 2026

Quick facts

Best time to visit: May to SeptemberDry, sunny days with almost no rain; winter nights can drop to 6 to 10°C.
How long to stay: 2 daysEnough for Kgale Hill, the Three Dikgosi, the museum and the game reserve.
Getting around: Combis, taxis, cabsWhite combi vans and blue-plated taxis run set routes; cabs go door to door.
Taste like a local: Seswaa with papBeef boiled, pounded and salted, served with maize porridge at celebrations.
Before you go: Greetings come firstA hello is expected before any question, in shops, offices and taxis.

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Three Dikgosi Monument
In 1895 three chiefs sailed to Britain to keep their land out of Cecil Rhodes's hands. Today they stand in bronze over the business district, each statue 5.4 m tall, finally looking their full size.
Landmarks & Local History

169 km²

City of Gaborone district, per the Botswana statistical yearbook.

Time zone: CAT, UTC+2Central Africa Time all year; Botswana has no daylight saving.
Capital since: 1965Took over from Mafeking in 1965, then led the new nation from 1966.
Born here: Malia BakerActress from The Baby-Sitters Club and Disney's Descendants films.

Each 30 April the Botswana Society for Jazz Education marks International Jazz Day with an evening concert of local bands and the BOSJE Big Band, plus a guest act. The 2025 and 2026 editions took place at Botswana Craft, while 2023 was at Molapo Piazza, so confirm the venue…

Gaborone is easy by day, but after dark both Canada's travel advice and local guides say to avoid walking alone. Ask the restaurant or your hotel to call a taxi for the return, and save that driver's number for the end of the night. At traffic lights and corners keep your phone…

Gaborone's cabs are unmetered, but ride-hailing apps such as inDrive show the route and let you propose a fare, which the driver accepts or counters. They are handy in the evening, when a booked ride beats flagging one down. Send the driver a landmark pin rather than a street…

Cabs in Gaborone have no meter, so the price is whatever you agree before moving. Ask the fare first, repeat it back, and confirm the destination by landmark. Official advice favors taxis from reputable companies, booked by phone or through your hotel, over hailing one in the…

The yacht club sits on an island in Gaborone Dam, reached by a causeway that works all year, and its open-air bar is a popular sundowner spot. Birdwatchers come for herons and flamingos, and the sun sets behind Kgale Hill. Arrive an hour before dusk, bring a zoom lens for the…

On hot days the dam looks like a beach, but swimming is not allowed or recommended because of crocodiles and bilharzia. Locals use it for birdwatching, fishing and non-motorised water sports through the Gaborone Yacht Club. If you want to cool off, use a hotel pool and keep the…

For a night among giraffe and zebra without leaving the capital's orbit, Mokolodi Nature Reserve south of the city has camping and basic lodging, and a restaurant overlooking the bush. Contact the reserve ahead, since bookings are handled by phone, and ask whether you can add a…

Mokolodi Nature Reserve, a short drive south of the city on the Lobatse road, offers more than a loop drive. Besides two-hour game drives it runs white rhino and giraffe tracking, guided walks and horseback rides. Book activities in advance, and ask when you reserve whether the…

The National Museum and Art Gallery is more than the permanent history displays. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, from photography to national art shows, and local artists sometimes exhibit in the gallery. Ask at the entrance or the museum's social channels what is on before…

Thapong Visual Arts Centre is a membership-based art space with a gallery and working studios, so you see art on the walls and in the making. Ask staff whether artists are in the studios that day and whether an exhibition is on, since shows change through the year. The centre…

For a handwoven basket, start at Botswana Craft, a Gaborone business founded in 1970 that buys baskets from rural makers, many of them women in Ngamiland. Ask which village or group made the piece you like, and check that the coils are tight and even. The business also exports…

Behind the curio shop at Botswana Craft, a courtyard restaurant serves breakfast and lunch on a covered patio, with traditional Setswana dishes on the menu. Ask what is cooked that day and have it with pap or bogobe. It is a calm stop before browsing the baskets next door. The…

See all 75 cities in Botswana

Global Community

Africa

Botswana

Kgale Hill hike

Locals call it the Sleeping Giant, and from the 1,287 m summit the whole city spreads out below. The baboons on the trails act as if they hold the title deed.

Sports & Outdoors

Seswaa

Botswana's national dish is beef simmered in a three-legged pot, then pounded with big wooden pestles until it falls apart. The secret seasoning is famously simple, just enough salt.

Gastronomy

Gaborone Game Reserve

Opened in 1988 on the eastern edge of the city, this small reserve has zebras, kudu and warthogs grazing a few minutes from the malls, while vervet monkeys keep a close eye on every picnic.

Wellness & Nature

Kgalewood film set

To film The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the crew rebuilt a street of old Gaborone at the foot of Kgale Hill. Locals soon nicknamed the set Kgalewood.

Culture & Local Events

Oodi Weavers

Since 1973, women in the village of Oodi, a short drive northeast, have spun, dyed and woven wool into tapestries of cattle, villages and wildlife. The cooperative now belongs to the weavers themselves.

Local Shopping

Join us Become a Local Friend in Gaborone

Good to know about Gaborone

Quick facts

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Three Dikgosi Monument

Neighborhoods to wander

The Village

Broadhurst

Phakalane

Through the year

Maitisong Festival

Say it like a local

Tips & Traps in Gaborone

Catch International Jazz Day in Gaborone on 30 April

Do not walk home from the bar or restaurant at night

Use a ride-hailing app for fares you can see

Agree the cab fare before you get in

Catch the sunset from the Gaborone Dam shore

Do not swim in Gaborone Dam

Spend a night in the bush at Mokolodi

Track rhino and giraffe on foot at Mokolodi

See the temporary shows at the National Museum

Meet working artists at Thapong Visual Arts Centre

Buy a Botswana basket from a shop that pays the makers

Setswana breakfast or lunch on the Botswana Craft patio

Questions about Gaborone

More cities in Botswana

Mogoditshane

Maun

Molepolole

Serowe

Palapye

Neighborhoods to wander

The Village

Broadhurst

Phakalane

Through the year

Maitisong Festival

Say it like a local

Questions about Gaborone

Join us Become a Local Friend in Gaborone

More cities in Botswana

Mogoditshane

Maun

Molepolole

Serowe

Palapye

Tips & Traps in Gaborone

Catch International Jazz Day in Gaborone on 30 April

Do not walk home from the bar or restaurant at night

Use a ride-hailing app for fares you can see

Agree the cab fare before you get in

Catch the sunset from the Gaborone Dam shore

Do not swim in Gaborone Dam

Spend a night in the bush at Mokolodi

Track rhino and giraffe on foot at Mokolodi

See the temporary shows at the National Museum

Meet working artists at Thapong Visual Arts Centre

Buy a Botswana basket from a shop that pays the makers

Setswana breakfast or lunch on the Botswana Craft patio

Good to know about Gaborone

Quick facts

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Three Dikgosi Monument

Kgale Hill hike

Seswaa

Gaborone Game Reserve

Kgalewood film set

Oodi Weavers

Gaborone Game Reserve

Kgalewood film set

Oodi Weavers