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Gaborone Mini Guide
What can you Tell me About Gaborone?
Gaborone is the capital city of Botswana and known better to people in the UK as the setting for the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. It’s not far from the border with
South Africa and shares its neighbour’s high crime rate. The city is quite young, being less than fifty years old and was built, like many British cities, along the ‘garden city’ design and has many open spaces and parks. The city was planned for a population of 20,000 but currently has over seven times that amount leading to overcrowding and social problems.
How do I get Into Gaborone?
Although classed as an international airport, Sir Seretse Khama Airport receives international flights only from the countries surrounding it. To get into Botswana by plane, you are recommended to fly to one of South Africa’s international airports such as
Johannesburg from the
UK and take a connecting flight from there. From the airport, taxis or buses can get you quickly into the centre of the city whilst car hire Gaborone Airport is very reasonably priced and convenient.
What Should I See and Do When in Gaborone?
In the city, the main part for tourists and the safest, is called the Mall and has all the hotels, government buildings and hotels that a tourist might use. There’s not a huge amount to see in the city as it has only recent history but a good view of the city can be had from Kgale Hill – just be careful to not be there by yourself as lone tourists are targets for muggers. It’s outside the city that the places of interest for tourists are located with several game reserves in Botswana as well as the South African ones just across the border all easily accessible with car hire in Gaborone.
What should I buy as Keepsakes?
The most popular gifts are the wood carvings or traditional woven fabrics. Many are simply imported and from as far away as
China but if you find local pieces such as from the town of Oola, then you are buying a genuine high quality article and helping poor Botswanans to make a living.