Getting Around Gaborone

Getting Around Gaborone

Gaborone is a planned city built around a central commercial strip called the Main Mall, with government offices arranged in a semi-circular area to its east. The city was laid out under Garden City principles, with numerous pedestrian walkways and open spaces, which makes parts of the centre pleasant to explore on foot. That said, the city has grown rapidly since its founding, and much of what a visitor wants to see and do is spread out, so most people rely on some combination of taxis, cabs and combis to get around.

Rail, Metro and Trams

Gaborone has no metro or tram network, and there is no rail service that a visitor can use to move around the city. The railway line through the area is significant historically — proximity to the railway to Pretoria was one of the reasons the capital was sited here — but for practical purposes, getting around Gaborone means road transport. Plan your movements around taxis, cabs and combis rather than expecting to hop on a train.

Buses and Other Public Transport

Long-distance buses connect Gaborone with other major towns and cities in Botswana, and these are useful if you are arriving from elsewhere in the country rather than moving around the city itself. A few practical points if you use them:

• Arrive at the bus station early. Buses can fill up quickly and sometimes leave as soon as they are full.
• Bring water. The buses are often not air conditioned, and if you don't get a seat you may end up standing for a good part of the journey, especially on weekends.
• Domestic routes include services to Francistown and onward to Maun.

For getting around within Gaborone, the main form of shared public transport is the combi rather than a conventional city bus.

Combis

Combis are white vans that operate like mini-buses and are the workhorse of local public transport. A few things to know:

• There are no route maps. Different lines serve different areas, so the simplest approach is to ask the driver whether that line passes where you need to go.
• If you know the direction you need to travel, start walking that way — combis will honk at you as they pass to let you know they are behind you.
• Fares are low and paid in cash.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Public taxis are generally small white cars identified by their blue licence plates. They travel designated routes, typically serving areas and neighbourhoods that combi routes do not, and because they hold only a small number of passengers they tend to complete their routes more quickly than a combi. You can catch one at many combi stops and ask to be dropped off anywhere along the route; if you need route information, just ask the driver.

If your destination isn't on a taxi route, ask for a "special" — a private trip that takes you directly from your origin to your destination. A special may be a public taxi with a blue licence plate or a privately run cab. In practice:

• Cabs are generally requested by phone, and there are several cab companies in the city, many of which display contact information on the vehicle.
• You can also hail a public taxi on the road and request a special.
• When giving directions, it's usually better to give plot numbers or easily identified places rather than street names, which aren't commonly used.
• If a driver gives you a good rate, ask for his cell phone number and remind him where you are staying. Using one driver for the whole of your stay can end up saving you money.
• Don't worry if you hail a cab that already has someone inside — offer to split the fare for the destination and save each other some cash.
• Fares are negotiable, so don't be afraid to discuss a lower price.

Walkability

The city centre was designed with pedestrians in mind: Gaborone was planned under Garden City principles with numerous pedestrian walkways and open spaces, and the Main Mall forms a long strip of commercial businesses that is well suited to walking. The Main Mall area is also where you'll find diplomatic missions, the Civic Centre and Pula Arch at its eastern end, and landmarks such as the Botswana Stock Exchange, the National Museum and Art Gallery, and the main campus of the University of Botswana nearby. To the west lies the Government Enclave, with the National Assembly and Ntlo ya Dikgosi buildings and the National Archives.

Beyond the central strip, however, the city is spread out and has grown rapidly, so walking is best treated as a way to cover the centre and individual neighbourhoods rather than as a way to cross the whole city. For longer trips, use a combi, taxi or cab.

Getting from the Airport into the City

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) is Botswana's main airport and sits north of central Gaborone. It is mainly served by flights from other Southern African countries, with some longer connections to Addis Ababa and Nairobi. Airlines serving the airport include Air Botswana, which provides international connections from Cape Town, Harare, Johannesburg and Lusaka as well as domestic flights from Francistown, Kasane and Maun; Airlink, which flies in from Johannesburg; and Ethiopian Airlines, which flies in from Addis Ababa via Victoria Falls.

On arrival, the most straightforward way into the city is by taxi. Note that a taxi from the airport into the city centre costs more than the reverse trip, so budget accordingly and be prepared to negotiate. If you would rather arrange a private transfer, the cab companies described above can be booked by phone.

On arrival at the airport, customs can be slow but is generally easy to get through. Have the address of where you will be staying on hand, and you are unlikely to be given any hassle.

Arriving from South Africa or Namibia

If you are reaching Gaborone overland rather than by air, there are a few established options:

• From Pretoria: a daily bus operated by Intercape connects Pretoria with Gaborone. Tickets can be booked online or purchased at one of their offices. The bus departs from Pretoria Station and makes a brief stop at the Johannesburg bus station to pick up passengers. The bus is comfortable, with tourist-class reclining seats and a working bathroom, though be prepared for Christian materials on board — the films shown tend to carry religious messages. The border crossing is straightforward: passengers get off the bus with just their documentation at the South African checkpoint for exit stamps, then walk over to the Botswana side for entry stamps. Be careful, as buses sometimes leave passengers stranded at the border without telling them.
• From Windhoek: there are a few direct connections. Tok Tokkie Shuttle operates a weekly shuttle leaving Windhoek on Saturdays and arriving in Gaborone in the evening, with the return to Windhoek on Sundays; it must be booked at least a day in advance, and the office is at Maerua Mall. Mushima Tours & Transfers operates a weekly shuttle leaving Windhoek on Sundays, though as of late 2025 they can be hard to reach. AT & T Monnakgotla previously operated a twice-weekly shuttle but as of late 2025 appears impossible to join by phone, WhatsApp or Messenger.

Practical Tips

• Carry cash for combis and taxis, and be ready to negotiate cab fares.
• Ask combi and taxi drivers about routes directly — there are no published route maps.
• Use plot numbers or well-known landmarks when giving directions rather than street names.
• If you find a driver you like, keep his number — using one driver throughout your stay can save you money.
• Allow extra time for long-distance buses, which may depart early once full.