Book a flight to Gaborone
Bursting with colour and life, this capital city embraces its independence and diversity. It started life as a humble village, but quickly grew into a thriving centre for commerce and trade, making it one of the busiest cities in Africa.
Today, it’s home to nearly a quarter of a million people, and thanks to its proximity to some of Africa’s finest nature reserves, a popular destination for safari holidays. It’s quirky, it’s charming, but it’s also a booming, 21st-century city with all the amenities you’d expect from a modern, vibrant destination.
Book a flight to Gaborone and let your own African odyssey start right in the heart of the continent.
Gaborone
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Gaborone highlights
The city embraces the arts, displaying the cultural diversity of the region, and the many influences that have turned a small village into a bold, colourful destination.
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Tourist attractions
The Thapong Visual Arts Centre will give you a good introduction to traditional and modern Botswanan art and design. Highlighting the work of local artists, it’s also a great spot to find unique art and jewellery influenced by traditional African culture. Entry is free.
The National Museum and Art Gallery on Independence Avenue is an interesting museum that tells you about the culture and the history of Botswana and its cultural diversity. Look out for special, one-off exhibitions and events.
The Gaborone Game Reserve was established over 30 years ago and is today one of the most popular safari destinations in the region. It showcases the natural wonders of this part of Africa and offers a protected, conservation area for the rarer plants and animals of central Africa.
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Leisure activities
Take a 30-minute drive out of the city centre and you’ll find Otse village, also known locally as Letsekela. It’s high up in the hills and quite remote, so it’s best to take a guided tour of the area. It’s also home to the incredibly rare Cape vultures, and the nearby Mannyelanong Game Reserve exists purely to protect the habitat of one of the world’s rarest vultures.
The city is probably best known to the rest of the world as the home of the No1 Ladies Detective Agency. Tours of all the spots mentioned in the novels will take you around the city, mixing in not just fun facts about the exploits of the famous female sleuths, but also cultural and historical facts too.
The surrounding countryside is stunning, and the perfect location for long-distance mountain biking adventures. Gaborone Cycling Club runs tours into the hills for more active visitors.
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Food
Botswana is believed to be the home of watermelons, so expect plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to form the basis of your meals here. Botswana has some unique and unusual national dishes for you to try. A great on-the-go snack is vetkoek, which is a pastry stuffed with mince and vegetables. Chicken is the staple meat in most dishes, but you’ll also find stews and spicy dishes made from goat or sheep.
As with any busy capital city, you’ll also find more familiar cuisine on offer. If you’re looking for authentic Botswanan street food then look out for ‘white box food’, which is a combination of starch (either rice or maze-based porridge) vegetables, and meat.
The majority of restaurants are clustered around the centre of the city, so head towards the Main Mall for everything from Moroccan tagine to fast food outlets, or try the restaurants along Commercial Road for Lebanese food.
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Shopping
Mall shopping is the norm here, so expect to see plenty of multi-store malls throughout the entire city. However, there are arts villages and cultural workshops where you can buy authentic Botswanan artworks. Try the Green Shop on Kaunda Road, which is housed in a traditional hut and celebrates the culture and heritage of the local people.
The Craft Market on Nakadi Street is a great place to browse for handmade trinkets, or you can head to Botswana Craft on the western by-pass, which alongside the stalls and vendors selling a huge range of rural handicrafts, also puts on music events throughout the year.
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From the moment you step on board until you reach {Destination}, the award-winning cabin crew will take care of your every need. Prepare to enjoy renowned hospitality as you relax in a spacious seat, and keep warm with a cosy blanket for ultimate comfort. Indulge in the onboard fine dining, with local and international cuisine prepared using only the freshest ingredients. Explore up to 8,000 entertainment options on Oryx One, including the latest movie releases, TV series, music and games.
