Connecting African Culture Through the Seas
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
When it comes to must-see African cities, Gaborone is hardly bucket-list worthy: it doesn’t have the beauty of Cape Town or the culture of Johannesburg. With a population of just over 230,000, Gabs (as locals call the city) feels more like a provincial city than a capital with a booming diamond and beef industries and endless government ministries. But don’t write it off as a backwater – it is constantly growing and changing, as proved by the endless sprawling suburbs, which house thousands who’ve migrated from rural Botswana to find their fortune in the city. Gaborone is also refreshingly safe, friendly and easy to navigate, unlike other more chaotic, confusing African capitals.
Since there’s not very much “there” there, Gaborone doesn’t have a large number of attractions. Most non-business travelers use Gaborone simply as a passing through point on their way to Maun, Kasane, and other safari gateways around the country, and there’s a handful of decent hotels that cater to them. But if you know where to look, there is enough to keep you culturally stimulated for at least a few days. The social scene takes places in the numerous indoor shopping malls around the city, where you’ll find plenty of retail shops as well as restaurants, bars and supermarkets. And just outside the city center is the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. You won’t see any big cats here, but this reserve has lots of hoofed and smaller game.
If you are a fan of the Alexander McCall Smith mystery series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (or the HBO television show based on the book) Gaborone will be of interest, as this is where the novels are set. In fact, the No. 1 Ladies’ Opera House, which is a collaboration between McCall Smith and the local art scene, hosts local singers, theater productions and even operas throughout the year. This attraction alone singularly captures the gentle charm of Gaborone.
Safety: Botswana is one of the safest countries in Africa, and Gaborone is one of the safest cities in Botswana. Aside from the usual precautions (don’t walk around alone at night, don’t display jewelry/phones/money in public), there is little to fear in Gaborone.
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …