Stand at the eastern end of the Main Mall and you can read the shape of Gaborone in one glance: the Pula Arch marking independence at the Civic Centre, the low government buildings of the Government Enclave to the west, and the long strip of commerce running between them. This is a capital that was planned rather than grown, and its centre is compact enough to walk in an afternoon.
Gaborone suits travellers who are passing through Botswana and want a day or two of city time between safari legs, and anyone interested in modern African architecture, since the planned layout of the 1960s is still legible on the ground. It also works well for those who want a game drive or a hill walk without travelling far from a hotel.
1. Kgale Hill
The climb up Kgale Hill is the best way to see the city and the surrounding area laid out below you. There are no guides and no entrance fee, so the walk is simply a matter of following the path.
Go only when there are other cars in the parking lot near the quarry. The best window is Monday to Friday, 4PM to 6PM; the middle of a weekend day is not a good time. Be careful of the baboons and do not stray off the path.
2. Mokolodi
A two-hour game drive here might turn up baboons, giraffe, warthogs, zebra, elephant and hippo, and the guides are consistently well regarded. For many visitors the highlight is the cheetah visit, where you can actually pet a cheetah.
Allow a half day for the drive and the cheetah visit together, and treat it as the wildlife outing to choose if you only have time for one.
3. Gaborone Game Reserve
One of the smaller reserves, and easy to manage if you have a car, since you can drive yourself around. Expect mostly birds, along with monkeys, warthogs, ostrich, zebras, wild boars and kudus.
There are picnic spots, but be careful of monkeys and ostriches around them. It pairs naturally with a morning at Mokolodi if you want a full day of wildlife.
4. Three Dikgosi Monument
Three bronze statues of the chiefs Khama III of the Bangwato, Sebele I of Bakwena and Bathoeng I of Bangwaketse, who travelled to Great Britain in 1895 to ask the British to rule Botswana directly rather than letting it be incorporated into the British South Africa Company and Southern Rhodesia. The monument was a gift from North Korea and was inaugurated in 2005.
It is a straightforward stop to combine with the Government Enclave and the Main Mall, since all sit close together in the centre.
5. National Botanical Garden
Operated by the National Museum, the garden displays indigenous plants from all six ecological regions in Botswana. It sits about 3 km south-east of the city centre.
This is a good choice for a slower hour, and it works well paired with the museum collections near the Main Mall earlier in the day.
6. The Hindu hall (BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mission)
A large Hindu temple and a major landmark in the city, where major Hindu festivals are celebrated.
Visit outside festival times if you want a quiet look at the building, and check locally before planning around a festival date.
7. Statue of Seretse Khama
A statue of the country's first president, and an easy stop while you are walking the centre.
Combine it with the Main Mall and the Government Enclave, since the three are within the same central area.
8. The parliament
The parliament building is part of the modern architecture of the Government Enclave, the area laid out under the city's original 1960s plan.
Walk the enclave as a single route rather than visiting buildings one by one, and start from the Main Mall so the layout makes sense as you go.
9. Southern African Development Community headquarters
The SADC headquarters is another of the Government Enclave buildings worth seeing for its place in the planned city.
It is best seen on the same walk as the parliament and the New Ministry Building.
10. National Stadium
The National Stadium is among the modern structures named in the city's architecture, and sits within reach of the central sights.
Include it on a driving or walking loop of the enclave and the mall rather than making a separate trip.
11. New Ministry Building
One of the government buildings that make up the modern architecture of the Government Enclave.
See it as part of the same enclave walk, which is the most efficient way to cover these buildings.
12. Debswana (mining company) Headquarters
The Debswana headquarters is the last of the named modern buildings in the Government Enclave group.
Finish your enclave walk here, then return to the Main Mall for food and errands.
13. Gaborone Dam
The only large body of water near Gaborone, the source of water for the city and a recreational area. There are yacht and fishing clubs based here, as well as playgrounds and parks.
It is a good place for birdwatching, windsurfing or angling. It is unsuitable for swimming because of the risk of bilharzia and crocodiles. Pair it with a late afternoon at Kgale Hill if you are staying on that side of the city.
14. Gaborone Cycling Club
Despite the name, this is actually a mountain biking rather than cycling club.
Contact the club on +267 71811472 if you want to ride while you are in the city.
15. Maitisong Festival
The Maitisong Festival takes place in April.
If your trip falls in that month, build your other plans around it, and confirm current dates locally before you travel.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Main Mall and walk the centre, taking in the Pula Arch and Civic Centre at the eastern end, then the Statue of Seretse Khama. Continue west into the Government Enclave to see the parliament, the Southern African Development Community headquarters, the New Ministry Building and the Debswana (mining company) Headquarters, then the Three Dikgosi Monument.
Afternoon: Head to Mokolodi for a game drive, including the cheetah visit. If you would rather stay closer to town, choose the Gaborone Game Reserve instead and drive yourself around, or visit the National Botanical Garden about 3 km south-east of the centre.
Evening: Climb Kgale Hill between 4PM and 6PM, when there are other cars in the parking lot, for the view over the city. Afterwards, return to the Main Mall area for the evening.
When is the best time to climb Kgale Hill?
Monday to Friday, 4PM to 6PM, and only when there are other cars in the parking lot. The middle of a weekend day is not a good time, and you should not go up without other cars in the lot near the quarry.
Can you swim at the Gaborone Dam?
No. The dam is suitable for birdwatching, windsurfing and angling, but swimming is not advisable because of the risk of bilharzia and crocodiles.
Do you need a car for the game reserves?
At the Gaborone Game Reserve you can drive yourself around if you have a car. At Mokolodi, the two-hour game drive is guided, and the guides are always very nice.
When does the Maitisong Festival take place?
The Maitisong Festival is held in April. The source notes that the date needs updating, so confirm the current schedule locally.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the current details for the festival and the cycling club, and you have enough to start planning your time in Gaborone.