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Gaborone — travel, stays & events guide
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Gaborone city overview
Gaborone is a city in Botswana shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forGaborone, Capital and largest city of Botswana, Gaborone planning base 3, Gaborone planning base 4
RegionBotswanaBotswana
Time zoneAfrica/Gaboronelocal time
Founded1880historical origin
City history
In more recent history, the Tlokwa left the Magaliesberg ranges to settle in the area around 1880, and called the settlement Moshaweng.
In 1890, Cecil John Rhodes picked Gaberones to house a colonial fort.
The modern town was only founded in 1964, after a decision was taken to establish a capital for Botswana, which became a self governing territory in 1965, before becoming a fully independent republic on.
In 1965, the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate moved from Mafeking to Gaberones.
On 30 September 1966, Bechuanaland became the eleventh British dependency in Africa to become independent.
The city changed its name from Gaberones to Gaborone in 1969.
In 1971, because of the growth of illegal settlements, the Gaborone Town Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands surveyed an area called Bontleng, which would contain low-income housing.
In 1973, the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) built a "New Naledi" across the road from the "Old Naledi".
Gaberones, a shortening of "Gaborone's Village", was named after Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa, whose home village (now called Tlokweng) was across the river from the Government Camp, the name of the colonial government.
When Botswana gained its independence, Lobatse was the first choice as the nation's capital.
However, Lobatse was deemed too limited, and instead, a new capital city would be created next to Gaberones.
The city was chosen because of its proximity to a fresh water source, its proximity to the railway to Pretoria, its central location among the central tribes, and its lack of association with those.
Because the town was built so quickly, there was a massive influx of labourers who had built illegal settlements on the new city's southern industrial development zone.
This has led to many squatter settlements on undeveloped land.
Worth seeing
Gaborone
Gaborone is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital and largest city of Botswana
Capital and largest city of Botswana is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gaborone planning base 3
Gaborone planning base 3 is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gaborone planning base 4
Gaborone planning base 4 is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gaborone planning base 5
Gaborone planning base 5 is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gaborone planning base 6
Gaborone planning base 6 is a practical Gaborone planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Gaborone before booking Gaborone hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Gaborone by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Gaborone, BotswanaFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Gaborone airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Gaborone day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Gaborone events in the shared event index yet.