Guides › Botswana (Africa) › Gaborone, Botswana
City guide

Gaborone, Botswana

Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana. It was formerly spelled as Gaberones during the colonial era, a name occasionally used in older English texts and maps.

Type CityPopulation 246,325Metro Area Population 534,842

Why go

  • Capital and largest city of Botswana.
  • Served by Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE).

History

Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana. It was formerly spelled as Gaberones during the colonial era, a name occasionally used in older English texts and maps. With a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its metropolitan area is home to 534,842 inhabitants at the 2022 census.

Restaurants & places to go

Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 · spursteakranches.com
Indoor
Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · 70665 Airport Road, Gaborone · store.nandos.co.bw
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-20:00 · 70665 Airport Road, Gaborone · botswana.oceanbasket.com
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Su 00:00-24:00 Features: takeaway · 70665 Airport Road, Gaborone · botswanalocations.wimpy.africa
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Su-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · Francistown Road, Gaborone · botswanalocations.muggandbean.africa
Indoor
Italian Pizza, Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:30 · Kgalagadi Way, 267 · basilico.club
Indoor
Fries, Burger, Fried Chicken, Ice Cream, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:30-22:00 Features: takeaway · Moremogolo shopping mall, Sehare Main Road,… · hungrylion.co.bw
Indoor
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Su-Th 10:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00 · 70665 Airport Road, Gaborone · marcels.co.za
Indoor

64 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) 12 km to the centre
Gaborone, GA, BW — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Air Botswana, Kenya Airways, South African Airways) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Francistown, Harare, Kasane… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 8 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Matsieng Aerodrome 38 km to the centre
Rasesa, KL, BW
Outdoor
Dwaalboom Airport 95 km to the centre
Dwaalboom, NP, ZA
Outdoor
Madikwe West Airport 37 km to the centre
NW, ZA
Outdoor
Madikwe East Airport 51 km to the centre
NW, ZA
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: GBE has direct flights to 8 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Francistown, Harare, Kasane…).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Gaborone, Botswana. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.