Gaborone

Gaborone is Botswana's capital city and has a population of around 208 411 people. Gaborone is situated just 15km from the Botswana-South African border and lies in a valley between the Kgale and Oodi hills.

The name Gaborone comes from one of the local chiefs, Kgosi Gaborone, who led the BaTlokwa village in the 1880s. 'Gabs' as the locals call it, is known as the fastest growing city in the world, and justifiably so as most of the city centre was constructed in just three years, between 1963 and 1966. During those three years structures including government buildings, a hospital, schools, police stations, a post office and over a 1000 houses were all built. Today Gaborone is a bright, bustling modern city with numerous shopping malls, businesses, restaurants and hotels. Gaborone is the administrative capital of the South-East District. The climate is hot and dry throughout the year with rainfall suddenly occurring in bursts of showers during the summer months (between November and February). The best time to explore Gaborone is during spring or autumn (September/October and March to May).