Gaborone
Slow safari vibes, rocky hills and leafy city hideaways
Highlights
Spot giraffes, zebras and rhinos on easy game drives minutes from downtown.
Climb Kgale and other hills for sweeping golden-hour views over Gaborone.
Unwind by Gaborone and Notwane Dams with birdsong, trees and big skies.
Discover weaving, pottery and visual arts in quiet, leafy compounds.
Stroll monuments, markets and malls at an easy pace without big-city stress.
Sleep in garden or bush-style lodges that feel close to nature.
Where to Stay
3 picks
The Big Five Lodge
Safari‑style lodge on the edge of town with thatched roofs, lots of trees, and a pool that feels like a bush retreat.
Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort
Leafy resort on a golf estate with extensive gardens, a lake and wide green views that feel surprisingly wild at sunrise and sunset.
Peermont Mondior Gaborone
Modern, comfortable 3‑star with lots of trees and garden spaces, well‑placed for city attractions and day‑tour pickups.
Where to Eat
15 picks
Sanitas Tea Garden (Halal‑friendly options)
Garden café inside a plant nursery with lots of trees and birds; choose vegetarian omelettes, vegetable quiche, simple toast with eggs, and salads, confirming no alcohol or pork in preparation.
Botswana Craft Courtyard Café (Halal‑friendly options)
Simple café attached to Botswana Craft; focus on vegetarian plates (like salads, chips, veggie sandwiches) or plainly grilled fish, asking specifically for no alcohol, pork or non‑halal meat.
Cappuccino’s Game City (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Chain restaurant inside Game City Mall; choose vegetarian pasta, Margherita or veggie pizza, salads, or grilled fish prepared without wine or bacon, and remind staff you need no alcohol or pork in your food.
Nando’s CBD (Halal‑certified chicken – confirm branch)
Popular grilled chicken chain; in Botswana many branches use halal‑certified chicken—order plain or spicy grilled chicken with chips, rice or salad, and confirm halal certification with staff at this specific branch.
Primi Piatti Riverwalk (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Italian‑style restaurant at Riverwalk Mall; choose vegetarian pizzas, pastas, and salads or plainly grilled fish, asking clearly for no wine, pork or non‑halal meat in sauces or toppings.
Packed Picnic Lunch (Halal provisions)
Ask your hotel or a supermarket deli to prepare a simple halal picnic—tuna or egg sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips and juice—ensuring no pork or non‑halal meats.
News Cafe Riverwalk (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Trendy spot that can prepare vegetarian burgers, wraps, salads, and fish dishes without alcohol or pork; clearly explain you eat only halal and will stick to vegetarian or fish.
Mokolodi Lodge Restaurant (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Restaurant at the reserve’s lodge; stick to vegetarian dishes like salads, chips and veg platters, or simply grilled fish if available, asking specifically for no alcohol, bacon or pork in preparation.
Bull & Bush (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Leafy pub‑restaurant with big trees and garden seating; order vegetarian pizzas, chips, salads and possibly grilled fish, telling staff you do not consume pork, alcohol in food or non‑halal meat.
Mugg & Bean Game City (Halal‑friendly ordering)
Café‑restaurant at Game City; choose vegetarian breakfasts, pastas, salads, or fish dishes and reconfirm no bacon, pork or alcohol in sauces.
Debonairs Pizza Game City (Vegetarian / fish only)
Casual takeaway and sit‑down pizza; order vegetarian pizzas (like Margherita, veg supreme) or any fish‑topped pizza and confirm no pork or non‑halal meat is added.
Broadhurst Local Café (simple halal‑friendly picks)
Choose a simple, visible café in Broadhurst and order only vegetarian dishes (chips, salads, veg curries, rice) or fish, checking there is no pork or alcohol in preparation.
Ocean Basket CBD (Halal‑friendly fish focus)
Seafood chain restaurant; order grilled hake, calamari and prawns with chips or rice, reaffirming that no alcohol is used in sauces or cooking.
Picnic‑Style Brunch (Halal supermarket haul)
Before the excursion, buy halal‑friendly snacks like hummus, cheese, bread, fruit and juices from a larger supermarket and enjoy them in a shady spot near the craft center or back at your hotel garden.
Hotel Restaurant (Halal‑style custom order)
Ask the kitchen to prepare a simple halal‑friendly meal such as grilled fish or a vegetarian curry with rice, specifying no pork, alcohol or non‑halal meat and requesting separate utensils if possible.
What to Do
21 picks
Sanitas Nursery Gardens
Wander through the plant nursery, shaded paths and fish ponds, enjoying a green, jungle‑like atmosphere and picking up small local plants or crafts.
Botswana Craft
Browse local textiles, baskets, carvings and artwork in a courtyard setting with trees and shaded walkways.
Thapong Visual Arts Centre
Relaxed arts compound with studios and exhibitions by local artists, often surrounded by trees and slightly wild gardens.
Game City Mall Evening Stroll
Walk through the open‑air parts of the mall and terraces with distant views of Kgale Hill, picking up essentials like SIMs, water and snacks.
Gaborone City Half‑Day Tour (private or small group)
Guided overview of the city including key landmarks like the Three Dikgosi Monument, Main Mall area and civic buildings; most tours pick you up from your hotel.
Three Dikgosi Monument
Impressive statues of the three chiefs who were central to Botswana’s formation, set in a spacious plaza with strong lines and open sky.
National Museum & Art Gallery
Compact museum featuring Botswana’s history, archaeology and rotating art exhibitions, often quieter than major tourist sites.
Riverwalk Mall Free‑Explore
Stroll the semi‑open mall, sit in the small green areas, and browse shops or grab a coffee/juice in a relaxed, safe environment.
Manyana Village & Rock Paintings Tour
Guided half‑day trip to see 2,000‑year‑old Bushmen rock art, caves and the historic David Livingstone tree, usually with hotel pickup.
Rural Landscape Photo Stops (Manyana surroundings)
Short stops with your guide in scenic spots of acacia trees, rocky kopjes and village scenes on the way back to Gaborone.
Evening Chill at Hotel Gardens
Sit outside at your lodge or hotel garden with tea or juice, listening to birds and crickets after a full day out of town.
Mokolodi Nature Reserve Morning Game Drive
Guided game drive through a 5,000‑hectare private reserve home to giraffes, zebras, antelope, rhinos and more, with classic bush scenery.
Bull & Bush Garden Hangout
After dinner, linger in the courtyard garden where locals gather, enjoying the outdoor atmosphere and gentle music.
Kgale Hill Hike
Gentle to moderate hike up a rocky hill overlooking the city and Gaborone Dam, with scattered trees and often baboons along the way.
Game City Free‑Explore & Rest
Use the afternoon to wander the mall slowly, find a quiet corner café for tea or juice, and recover from the morning hike.
Gaborone Dam Sunset Viewpoint
Drive down to a public viewpoint or lakeside area for sunset over the water, with silhouettes of trees and occasional birds.
Gaborone Game Reserve
Small city game reserve where you can self‑drive or arrange a vehicle to see antelope, birds and sometimes warthogs among thorn trees and bush.
Main Mall & Old Government Enclave Stroll
Walk the pedestrian Main Mall, browsing small shops and watching daily life, then pass by older government buildings and shady trees nearby.
CBD Night Lights Walk (Short)
After dinner, take a short, aware stroll around the CBD’s wider streets and modern buildings before heading back by taxi.
Lentswe‑la‑Oodi Weavers or Gabane Pottery Excursion
Half‑day visit to a weaving workshop or pottery studio, often in a rural, tree‑filled setting where you can watch artisans at work.
Hotel Pool & Garden Downtime
Spend your final afternoon by the pool or in the gardens, reading, napping or going through photos in a leafy, quiet setting.
Good to Know
8 picks
Halal Safety by Choosing Vegetarian & Fish
Outside explicitly halal‑certified places, the simplest way to stay within halal guidelines is to stick to clearly vegetarian or fish dishes and double‑check that no alcohol, pork or lard is used in sauces, broths or frying oil.
Use Hotels to Arrange Trusted Transport
Ask your hotel front desk to call trusted taxi drivers or advise on rideshare apps, especially at night or for out‑of‑town trips like Manyana, Mokolodi and craft villages.
Plan Around the Midday Heat
Try to schedule hikes and open‑air game drives in the early morning, then use midday for museums, malls, or hotel pool time when the sun is strongest.
Cash for Parks and Small Fees
Keep a small stash of pula in cash for places like Gaborone Game Reserve, rural craft centers and tips for guides, where cards are not always accepted.
Dress for Modesty and Sun
Lightweight long sleeves, trousers or long skirts work well for both sun protection and cultural modesty, especially in villages or at more traditional sites.
Tipping Culture is Moderate
In restaurants and for guides, 10% is appreciated if service is good, but tipping is not as aggressive as in some countries.
Connectivity May Drop Outside Town
Mobile data is generally fine in the city and malls, but coverage can be weaker at Mokolodi, Crocodile Pools and some villages, so download maps and confirm meeting points in advance.
Early Starts Pay Off
For hikes and safaris, leaving around 7–8 AM gives you cooler temperatures, better wildlife sightings and emptier trails.
Map
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