Things to Do Alone in Gaborone (Arts, Monument, Reserves)

Gaborone is a small capital where the best solo plans are staffed, named places: a national museum, a monument with a guided tour, an arts centre with its own cafe, and two nature reserves that sit in or just outside the city. The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) describes the city as buzzing and growing, and says that once you leave the main roads you reach rural Africa within minutes.

Read the advisories first

Three governments publish advice for Botswana, and it is worth reading all of them before you book. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) page for Botswana was shown as current on 1 November 2026 (FCDO). Australia's Smartraveller lists the overall level as "Exercise normal safety precautions" and says tourists visiting for up to 90 days do not need a visa, with extra documents possibly needed when travelling with children (Smartraveller). The Government of Canada advises a high degree of caution in Botswana because of crime, says crime occurs throughout the country including Gaborone, and lists "avoid walking alone after dark" and "only use taxis from reputable and licensed companies" among its tips (Travel.gc.ca). Conditions change, so check the current advisories before you travel. A general checklist is in solo travel safety tips.

A heritage morning in the centre

Botswana National Museum. BTO places the National Museum near the old town's centre and says it houses essential collections of traditional crafts and southern African fine art. It is also where several yearly events happen: a National Art Exhibition open to all artists living and working in Botswana, an annual art competition for schools across the country, and an annual basket exhibition that brings the year's best baskets to Gaborone (BTO: Gaborone, BTO: arts and crafts). A museum suits a solo visit because you set the pace and nobody has to agree on which room to skip; opening hours differ between listings, so confirm them with the museum first. For tips on the format, see how to visit a museum alone.

Three Chiefs Monument. Cross the railway tracks into the recently developed Central Business District and you reach the Three Chiefs Monument. BTO says it marks a turning point in Botswana's history: in 1885, Chief Khama III of the Bangwato, Chief Sebele I of the Bakwena and Chief Bathoen I of the Bangwaketse travelled to London to petition for protection, and the Bechuanaland Protectorate was established the same year. The statue was unveiled in 2005, and visitors to the monument receive a guided tour from a local historian (BTO: Gaborone). A guided tour is one of the easiest ways to be alone in good company: someone else leads, and you only need to ask a question if you want to.

University of Botswana. BTO describes the university, across the road from the National Stadium, as Botswana's first institution of higher education, established in 1982 (BTO: Gaborone). The university's own site has its news and public information (University of Botswana). It is a reference point on the map rather than a visitor attraction with posted hours, so treat it as context for the city, not a stop that needs a ticket.

Art, then coffee

Thapong Visual Arts Centre. The centre is in the former magistrate's house, built in 1902, and BTO says it is home to Botswana's young, gifted and sometimes avant-garde artists, with regular exhibitions. BTO's advice is to enquire at the offices to find out about upcoming activities; the number it gives is +267 316-1771 (BTO: Gaborone). Artists in Botswana often choose to stage exhibitions at the National Museum or the Thapong Art Centre, according to BTO, which makes the two a natural pair for a day (BTO: arts and crafts). An opening at an arts centre gives you something to look at and a reason to start a conversation with whoever is standing next to you.

The No. 1 Ladies Coffee House. The same site hosts this cafe, named after Alexander McCall Smith's novel series, which BTO calls a quaint, art-filled restaurant with charm and innovative treats (BTO: Gaborone). It is the obvious place to sit with a notebook after the galleries. If eating out alone still feels awkward, how to eat alone in public has a gentle start.

Two reserves, one in town and one just outside

Gaborone Game Reserve. BTO calls it possibly one of the few national reserves situated inside a city. It is small, about 5 square kilometres, but well stocked: zebra, eland, gemsbok, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, impala, kudu, steenbok, vervet monkeys, warthog and rock dassies, plus many resident and migrant birds that are best viewed from the small dam. The terrain mixes tree savanna, riparian woodland, marsh and rocky outcrops, and BTO notes animal and bird-watching hides and a visitors' centre, with educational tours for school children and other visitors if pre-booked (BTO: Gaborone). BTO lists no opening hours, so check the current hours and access with the reserve before you set out.

Mokolodi Nature Reserve. BTO places Mokolodi about 10 kilometres south of the city on the main road to Lobatse, a five-square-kilometre reserve of riverine terrain, rocky outcrops and Lake Gwithian, with a picnic site. Activities it lists include game drives, guided walks, horse-back safaris, rhino-tracking, giraffe-tracking, walks with trained elephants and cheetah visits. Facilities include camping sites, chalets, an education centre, a museum and library, and a stone-and-thatch restaurant with a view of the bush. For information or bookings, BTO gives the number +267 316-1955 (BTO: Mokolodi Nature Reserve). The reserve is a day trip from the city; the Canadian advisory says to follow park regulations and wardens' advice and not to go beyond authorised limits, especially after dark, because of the risk of attack by wild animals (Travel.gc.ca). The guided formats make a reserve an easy first step if you have never been on a nature outing alone.

A hill and a dam on the city edge

BTO's Greater Gaborone page describes Kgale Hill as Gaborone's most visible hill, overlooking Gaborone Dam and the Game City mall. It says the hill is popular with walkers and picnickers, has clearly defined routes up and down, and that the climb takes approximately one hour. Baboon troops are the most visible wildlife. Gaborone Dam, at the southern edge of the city, is the city's primary source of drinking water. BTO says non-motorised water sports are permitted through the Gaborone Yacht Club and that the dam attracts anglers (BTO: Greater Gaborone). BTO lists no opening hours or access rules for either, so check locally, and note its climate page on the heat of the summer season below.

Crafts beyond the city limits

BTO's arts and crafts page points to places near Gaborone. Oodi Weavers, in the village of Oodi just north of Gaborone, has an international reputation for hand-woven tapestries, carpets, bed covers, jackets and coats made with karakul wool, and BTO adds that modern ceramics come from several small potteries in Gabane and Thamaga, both near the city (BTO: arts and crafts). The page does not give visiting hours, so contact a workshop before you travel. A craft stop is a good solo format: makers are used to questions, and you leave with something you chose yourself.

Practical notes for a first visit

Language. BTO says Setswana is the national language and that English is the official business language, widely spoken in urban areas. It adds that using a bit of Setswana always helps. Its phrase list includes "Dumela, mma" (hello, to a woman), "Dumela, rra" (hello, to a man) and "Kea leboga" (thank you) (BTO: language).
Pula. BTO notes that "pula" is the Setswana word for rain, the name of the currency and also used as a toast (BTO: climate).
Weather. BTO says the summer season runs from November to March with very high temperatures, unstable conditions and rain, and that January and February are generally regarded as the peak rain months. Shade temperatures can reach 38 C and higher. Plan outdoor stops such as the reserves and Kgale Hill for earlier in the day and bring water (BTO: climate).
Taxis. The Canadian advisory says taxis are widely available in Gaborone and Francistown, that you should use only licensed companies and confirm the fare in advance (Travel.gc.ca).
Tourism office. BTO's own address is Fairscape Precinct, Plot 70667, Fairgrounds Office Park, Gaborone, with the phone number +267 391 3111 (BTO).

First solo outings

Easy: Spend a morning at the National Museum, then walk to the Three Chiefs Monument and join the guided tour.
Medium: Visit the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, ask about upcoming exhibitions, and sit down at The No. 1 Ladies Coffee House afterwards.
Bolder: Take a day at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, book a guided walk in advance and stay for lunch at its restaurant.

Solo Era for iPhone

Take a sketchbook to a cafe

Solo Era has a solitude mission at level 3: "Take a sketchbook to a cafe." Its prompt: choose a venue that welcomes a relaxed visit and draw objects or the interior while enjoying a drink. BTO describes The No. 1 Ladies Coffee House as an art-filled cafe on the Thapong site, so it is a natural place to try it. Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.

More cities are in the cities hub. For neighbouring cities, see Pretoria, Johannesburg, Windhoek and Livingstone, and for planning see the solo travel guide.

FAQ

Is there a guided tour at the Three Chiefs Monument?

BTO says visitors to the monument receive a guided tour from a local historian. Check locally for times.

Where can I see contemporary art in Gaborone?

BTO names the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, in the former magistrate's house from 1902, for regular exhibitions, and says the National Museum hosts an annual National Art Exhibition. Enquire at the centre about current activities.

Can I see wildlife without leaving the city?

BTO describes Gaborone Game Reserve as a small reserve inside the city, with hides, a small dam for birdwatching and a visitors' centre. Check current access with the reserve before you go.

What language do I need?

BTO says Setswana is the national language and English is the official business language, widely spoken in urban areas.

What do the official advisories say?

Smartraveller says to exercise normal safety precautions in Botswana, and Canada advises a high degree of caution because of crime. The FCDO page is the third to read. Conditions change, so check them before you travel.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01)

Details change; check the venue before you go.