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- Destinations
- Africa
- Botswana
- Gaborone
Gaborone
Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, may not be big on
tourist attractions but it is a vibrant, if small, sprawling modern
city that provides several international hotels (two with casinos)
and all the souvenir shops, restaurants and services that visitors,
drawn to the country for the abundant wildlife, will need. There
are also a few sights to see and excursions to enjoy for those who
only have a day or two in which to experience the country.
Pride and joy of Gaborone is its University and National Museum,
which features some outstanding exhibits. One of the most striking
of the modern tall buildings is Orapa House, where Botswana's
diamonds are sorted and dispatched to markets around the world.
The old part of the city, known as the 'Village', is where one
finds remnants of Botswana's colonial history, such as the remains
of the old Government Rest House, where the infamous Jameson Raid
was believed to have been planned and where Cecil John Rhodes
sometimes stayed.
Information & Facts
Climate
The climate of Gaborone is semi-arid, meaning it is hot and dry
for most of the year. There is little distinction between average
summer and winter temperatures, although in winter months it can be
chilly at night. Rain is erratic, but falls mostly in summer in
heavy localised downpours that are followed quickly by a return of
strong sunshine. Summers are extremely hot with high humidity in
the mornings. The best time to visit Gaborone is during spring or
autumn when the weather is warm and dry.
Getting Around
Public transport within Gaborone is somewhat limited. Licensed
taxis are identified by their number plates, which have a blue
background. These are usually shared and carry up to five
passengers. Minibus taxis are also available and usually travel a
specific route, usually circular, and pass through the station or
mall. These are easily hailed and passengers usually tell the
driver to stop when they want to get off. There are also train
services between Gaborone and Francistown and Gaborone and Lobatse.
Four-wheel drives are a popular choice for exploring outside of the
city and Gaborone has several car rental agencies. Gaborone's roads
are tarred and usually in good condition, but drivers have to be on
the look out for stray animals.
Language
English is the official language but Setswana is widely
spoken.
Money
The unit of currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP), which is
divided into 100 Thebe. The word 'Pula' means rain and 'Thebe'
means shield. The shield appears on the national coat of arms.
Major credit cards are widely accepted, and travellers cheques and
foreign currency are accepted at most large hotels and lodges.
There are banks and exchange bureaux in all the main towns, as well
as ATM machines. Surcharges are often high on travellers cheques,
and it is best to carry cheques in US Dollars or Pounds
Sterling.
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