What are the best things to do in Gaborone?
Top picks in Gaborone include Three Dikgosi Monument, Statue of Seretse Khama, National Botanical Garden. See the full list and itinerary on this Gaborone travel guide.
Why visit Gaborone
Travel guide for Gaborone, Botswana — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Gaborone is a stop in Botswana, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 1 days. If time is short, prioritise Three Dikgosi Monument, Statue of Seretse Khama, National Botanical Garden instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 55–140 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: The dry season for the most comfortable travel. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
The dry season for the most comfortable travel
Weather
Largely warm year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons
Experiences
Things to do in Gaborone
1
Three Dikgosi Monument
2
Statue of Seretse Khama
3
National Botanical Garden
Budget travel
Free things to do in Gaborone
Three Dikgosi Monument
National Botanical Garden
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Gaborone itinerary (1 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Three Dikgosi Monument
- Visit Statue of Seretse Khama
- Visit National Botanical Garden
- Eat at White box food
Budget
Gaborone trip cost
Budget
USD 25–45
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 55–140
per person / day
Luxury
USD 160–265+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Gaborone, Botswana. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Gaborone
Estimated total (USD)
$2,180
≈ $1,090 per person · $311 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $95/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Gaborone mid-range ground costs (budget 25–45 · mid 55–140 · luxury 160–265+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
White box food
Quick and simple lunch of rice and veg (P10) or rice, veg and meat (P20). Tasty and filling.
Deli's
One of the best lunch places in down. Real Italian food. Imported products. Amazing pastas and pizzas. Beef lasagne especially, at P55 for h
Funyama Holdings Chinese Restaurant
Authentic and good value Chinese with an extensive menu, including such delights as Crispy Pork Intestines with Hot Dry Chili. Also covers m
Bull & Bush
Bar & restaurant serves up a range of meat-centred dishes; does a pretty good job.
Par 5 Indian Restaurant
Unfussy south Asian cuisine serving a range of meat and veg dishes, including several daals. Nice setting overlooking the golf course, with
Beef Baron
Perhaps Gaborone's most expensive restaurant. Serves excellent and huge meat dishes, including some game, but beef is in the ascendancy. Des
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Riverside Lodge
Small lodge with about 10 rooms a few minutes from Riverside mall. The grounds are quiet, but it does feel a little like a car park. Rooms h
Royal Apartments Lodge
Good value lodge a 1-km walk from Riverside Mall. Rooms have a/c, flatscreen DSTV, fridge, free wi/fi, and are clean and sunny. There is a s
- $
Protea Hotel by Marriott Gaborone
Gaborone's flashy business hotel, opened in 2012 and is something of a landmark. Architecture is akin to what you find in the financial dist
Motheo Apartments
Slightly aging compound offering serviced studio, one and two bed apartments and town houses. Daily, monthly and yearly rates available with
Innisfree Apartments
Comfortable serviced studio and one-bed apartments offering monthly rentals. Wifi is included. P9,000/month for a double room up to P13,500/
Shopping
- Oodi Weavers
- Game Store
- Botswana Craft
- The Bike Shop
Nightlife
- Bull and Bush
- Club Satchmo
- Gaborone Yacht Club
- Notwane Club
Museums & culture
- Three Dikgosi Monument
In pictures
Gaborone gallery
Photos: CNJerem, Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia, Athena Lao — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Gaborone travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Gaborone?
The dry season for the most comfortable travel.
How many days do I need in Gaborone?
Plan at least 1 days in Gaborone for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Gaborone?
Popular stays in Gaborone include Riverside Lodge, Royal Apartments Lodge, Protea Hotel by Marriott Gaborone. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Gaborone cost?
On the ground in Gaborone (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 25–45 per person per day, mid-range about 55–140, and luxury about 160–265+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Gaborone, Botswana. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
Keep exploring
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