Botswana is a country of cars and it’s common to drive or be driven anywhere you go. But beyond the Fit’s & Demio’s and the Hilux or Landcruiser, there always is the option to catch a combi, and to cycle or even walk the city. And then there’s the apps, though no Uber, but other convenient and affordable options to choose from and ride with across town.

People in Botswana like to keep fit, and so should you! Gaborone hosts a range of attractive options to go for a workout or a cardio class, with many even offering extras such as lap pools, steam rooms, coffee shops and more.

The big name in town is Jack’s Gym, with 4 branches across Gaborone and Phakalane, and with great value for money and flexible memberships. Most of the Jack’s locations will offer a large pool, open studios and a sauna, beyond a solid arrangement of cardio and workout equipment, and memberships go from monthly, to quarterly, 6 and 12 month up to a two year discounted plan, with different branches to choose from.

Virgin Active, a big brand popular in South Africa and the UK, has a subsidiary in Gabs too which could be described as the more premium option in the city (possibly together with Jack’s Gym iTowers). It has state-of-the-art equipment and offerings with all you can imagine, but less flexible membership options, mostly on the longer contract side of things.

Additionally, there are others such as the popular BNSC Gym at the National Stadium and other options in Mogoditshane and Phakalane, just outside of town. Beyond our list, you would potentially find smaller community gyms in other neighborhoods and parts of town.

When getting around Gaborone, one would often resort to the popular option of a ride-hailing or taxi app. Whatever type of app you want to call it, it sure is highly convenient and most often an quick and affordable way to get to where you need to be.

It is important to note here, despite rumors and false information on other platforms, that Uber and Bolt are NOT available in Botswana and you won’t find a driver in those apps when in Gaborone. The main options here are called InDrive – also a big player across many cities and countries, with a cool concept of pricing and usually fairer compensation for drivers – and Yango – another powerhouse, especially across Africa and Europe, with affordable rides and promotions.

Price wise, rides are generally comparably affordable in Gaborone, with rides starting from as low as P20 (R25/€1.30/$1.50) and rarely exceeding P80 (R100/€5/$6) within the city bounds. As mentioned below, it is advisable to up the price a bit on InDrive and to tip drivers on Yango, as prices are mostly foreign set and sometimes don’t account for the on-the-ground economics.

As Google Maps and others are sometimes not 100% accurate in Gaborone, and addresses are not commonly used here, we often go by landmarks, common places like filling stations, shops, hotels or malls, or even route descriptions when guiding a driver to where you are or where you want to go. So if your pin is not perfectly accurate or you can’t find your driver, it’s always best to call through and talk about where to meet.