10 Things to Do in Gaborone
Published: 16 April 2026
Who said there’s nothing to do in Gabs? To prove these negative voices wrong, here we have 10 things to do within Gaborone, from nature focused and active options all the way to indoor rain-weather activities (even though rainy days are rare in this city). Enjoy what the city has to offer and make yourself a great time week in, week out.
Fyi: This one being the list of things to DO, we’ll soon post a post about 10 Things to See in Gaborone, with a less active and more sightseeing-type of vibe.
Things to Do:
Hiking Kgale Hill
Kayaking Gaborone Dam
Game Drive in Gaborone Game Reserve
Bowling at Africa Plays
Olive Grove Market
Picnic/Sunset at the Dam
Strolling Main Mall
Tea Time at Sanitas
Cinema
Sunday Jazz
BONUS
Hiking Kgale Hill
Kgale is Gaborone’s backyard hill, a roughly 300 meter high hill towering over the city and dam. The views on top are stunning, particularly for sunset or the popular sunrise hours of the day. A highlight for every visitor and a great regular hike or workout for locals and residents, it takes about 45 mins to an hour (or for fast ones even just a half hour) as you start at the quarry parking on the foot of the hill. As mentioned, its very popular in the mornings during sunrise where you’ll find a lot of people, and also for sunset hour it will have some groups, but its always advisable to go with a friend or two and not to hike after dark.
Explorer’s note: If you want to have an even shorter hike, or you’re a bit late to make it to the top before sunset, find your way right onto the large boulders when you reach the first highpoint before the path goes down a bit again, and you’ll find beautiful sunset views over the hills from there too.
Price: Free
Location: Parking: Google Maps / Peak: Google Maps
Kayaking on Gaborone Dam
The Gaborone Dam is one of the prettiest places in Gabs and the yacht club actually offers kayaking and sailing on it. Contact the Gaborone Yacht Club to arrange with a guide and the price should regularly be at p250 per person for a two hour session, with the possibility of heading out without a guide.
Explorer’s note: Like with many places and experiences, but especially those on water, nothing beats golden hour for this one – catch it for sunset!
Price: P250pp (2hrs, guided), P190pp (full day, unguided)
Location: Gate: Google Maps / Yacht Club: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Contact: +267 71 579 707
Game Drive in Gaborone Game Reserve
Only few places in the world allow for inner city game drives, and Gaborone Game Reserve is probably the easiest to access and most affordable city game reserve on the continent. It’s just a few minutes drive from the city centre, entry fees are at p10 per person and another p10 per vehicle and you’ll have a nice park to drive around in, have a picnic (yes, there’s picnic sites with seating and braai stands), and most importantly spot zebras, ostriches or different types of antelopes. It’s not the same like the big parks up north, but for what it is, it’s really a great little park to spot animals and make it a good experience.
Explorer’s note: Hit it early in the mornings (opens gates at 6:30) and you’ll have the best animal sightings, wonderful light and the rest of the day free to go about your things.
Price: P10 per adult, P5 per child, P10 per vehicle
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: 6:30 – 18:00
Bowling at Africa Plays
New in the city, Africa Plays has just recently opened its doors and comes in with a few novelties to the city! The first bowling alley in town, it’s a great option for a fun time with friends and family. Beyond bowling though, there’s also a trampoline park and ninja climbing course, plus kids play areas.
Explorer’s note: With all the activities and even a café, you can spend plenty time here, but mind the cashless-only policy.
Prices: P120 for bowling, P100 for trampoline & ninja course (P90 for kids)
Location: Google Maps (next to KB Mall & Bus rank)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 74 265 556
Opening hours:
Mon – Thu: 10:00 – 20:00
Fri – Sun: 10:00 – 22:00
Olive Grove Market
Every Saturday morning, there is a farmers market in Phakalane at the Serbian Orthodox Church from 8am to 1pm, and it’s highly recommended to check it out. Great food from different stalls, fresh produce from farms, locally made products all around, and the freshest coffee and bread or pastries to start the weekend perfectly.
Explorer’s note: Every month end, they host a night market on the last Friday of the month, usually from 5pm until 10 and for a p50 entrance fee, hosting with live music and entertainment and a cool experience and vibe altogether.
Price: Free
Neighborhood: Phakalane
Location: Google Maps (at Serbian Orthodox Church)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Opening hours:
Sat: 8:00 – 13:00
Picnic at the Dam
The Gaborone Dam is also a great place to just hang out and enjoy a picnic and good times with friends. Bring your camp chairs and coolerboxes and find a nice spot at either shoreside or on the path to the yacht club and enjoy the fresh air and lovely views. Depending on the entrance and time (mostly outside of Yacht Club opening times) you’ll need to pay a small entry fee at Water Utilities ahead of time to access.
Explorer’s note: While the Yacht Club side is well known, try to reach the other side, the south-eastern shores of the dam, which you can access through a gate past Sanitas/Bojalana and then follow along the dam wall until you reach the various picnic spots. Great views over the lake, hills and city in the background!
Price: P10-P20pp, P15-P25 per car (tbc)
Location: Yacht Club Gate: Google Maps, Gaborone Yacht Club: Google Maps
Bojalana Gate: Google Maps, Picnic spots: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram (Yacht Club)
Contact: +267 71 579 707 (Yacht Club)
Opening hours:
Yacht Club:
Wed & Fri: 11:00 – 22:00
Sat & Sun: 10:00 – 18:00
Mon, Tue & Thu: closed
Dam (by Water Utilities):
Usually closes at 18:00 (not strictly enforced)
Strolling Main Mall
The Main Mall is, in many ways, the heart of the city and a bustling place with market stalls, shops and bars along the car free shopping street. Take your time to stroll around, check out the local produce and souvenirs from the vendors and head for a drink at Main Deck or the nearby Museum Cafe, and combine it with a look around government enclave to see where the city started.
Explorer’s note: Originally called The Mall by city developers in the early days after independence, the Main Mall and adjacent government enclave mark the point from where the city grew out of in extensions and, later on, phases which today mark the various neighborhoods.
Location: Google Maps
Tea Time at Sanitas
In Gaborone, calmness and nature are never far, and tea time at Sanitas is a great way to wind down and make it a calm morning or afternoon. Sanitas has a tea garden and restaurant, as well as a plant nursery and shop to browse through and sits just a short drive outside past Fairgrounds Mall.
Explorer’s note: They have the best tea menu in the city with a number of specialty teas to choose from.
Location: Google Maps (Past Toyota / Fairgrounds Mall)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Website: www.sanitas.co.bw
Contact: +267 393 1358 / +267 395 2538 / +267 71 320 798
Opening hours:
Tue – Sun: 8:00 – 16:30 (Tea garden)
Mon – Sun: 7:30 – 17:00 (Garden centre)
Going to the Cinema
Though a relatively small city, Gaborone has a few cinemas of its own with New Capitol having a locations in the city and an additional one out in Phakalane, showing movies throughout the week. Most reliable scheduling and information is to be found on their Facebook, or drop by directly at Masa Square or Acacia in Phaks. Fyi: Their Riverwalk location has closed in April 2026.
Explorer’s note: Go for their 2-for-1 Thursdays or find the half-price specials on their schedule!
Location: Google Maps (at 38 on Boulders Hotel)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Website: www.newcapitolcinemas.com
Contact: +267 370 0111
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: Showings at 11:00, 14:30, 17:30 and 19:30/20:00
Sunday Jazz
Sunday is jazz day! All throughout Botswana, and parts of Southern Africa, bars and taverns across the city play jazz on Sundays. But Sunday jazz is more than just music to be played but it a culture and tradition, and an absolute vibe. The best spots are in the suburbs of Gabs like Tlokweng or Mogoditshane, with the well-known Tshimong Bar and RasmaRose Garden as examples in Tlokweng, or the ever most famous Millenium Jazz out in Mogoditshane, among many other spots all across. Vibes start from early afternoons and are strongest around month end and in the later hours of the afternoon and early evenings.
Explorer’s note: For international audiences, the word Jazz could be slightly confusing in this context as its more of vibey upbeat Southern African jazz than your clam background sax kind of music.
Locations:
Millenium Jazz: Google Maps
Tshimong Bar: Google Maps
RasmaRose Garden: Google Maps
Opening hours:
Sunday afternoons/evenings
BONUS: GGC5K
GGC5K stands for Gaborone Golf Club 5k, as in a 5k run/walk inside the golf club. This is what happens every Monday evening from 4.30pm where you can join the community for a walk or jog around the golf course in this special arrangement the club has with the organizers of the initiative. Yet another great way to enjoy the calmness and nature within the city. The membership fee is p100 per month and they have a streak system where you get rewards after a few weeks, and join the weekly published leaderboard.
Explorer’s note: This is a great way to meet people as they have created a community through that and you’ll see familiar faces week after week.
Location: Google Maps (at Gaborone Golf Club)
Sign up: www.eepurl.com/ikDKP1(or on site)
Opening hours:
Mondays at 16:30
