Essentials
- City
- Gaborone, South-East District, Botswana
- Population
- 246,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 25 Mbps (Fiber available in Phakalane and CBD reaching 100 Mbps)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BWP ≈ 0.074 USD, 1 USD ≈ 13.50 BWP
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink in urban areas, though many nomads prefer bottled or filtered water for taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type D (round) and Type G (square) sockets
- SIM Card
- Mascom and Orange are primary; 10GB data costs approx. 250 BWP ($18)
- Banking for Expats
- First National Bank (FNB), Stanbic, and Absa; FNB has the best mobile app for digital nomads
- Accommodation
- Modern apartments in the iTower or Phakalane Estate; prices range from 6,000 BWP to 15,000 BWP/month
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted in malls and supermarkets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com (approx. 700 BWP - 1,200 BWP per night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Mokolodi Backpackers (approx. 250 BWP for dorm, 550 BWP for private huts)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- CBD (Central Business District) for proximity to malls and high-end hotels like Hilton Garden Inn
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Phakalane (upscale suburb with private security) or Phase 2 (central and accessible)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SouthPoint Co-working (Fairgrounds) - 1,500 BWP/month; The Hub (iTower) - 200 BWP/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Mugg & Bean (Airport Junction Mall) - reliable WiFi and large tables; Daily Grind (CBD) - great coffee and quiet corners
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Gaborone (Monthly at various venues); Gaborone Tech Hub events
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Gaborone Group; Weekly trivia nights at Bull & Bush Pub
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- InDrive (negotiated rates) and MyZaka for local payments
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not common for transport; Specialized Gaborone rents bikes for recreational use (450 BWP/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Landlocked city. Closest beach is Durban, South Africa (12-hour drive/1.5-hour flight)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Botswana (Flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kasane)
- Top International Airline
- Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways (via Gaborone Sir Seretse Khama International)
- Highway Access
- A1 Highway (connects North to Francistown and South to South African border)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gaborone Station (Inter-city buses and seasonal passenger trains)
- Public Transport Passes
- Kombi (minibuses) are flat rate: 7 BWP to 10 BWP per trip; no digital pass system
- Regional Travel
- Luxury buses like AT&T Monnakgotla to Johannesburg (approx. 450 BWP)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Bokamoso Private Hospital (Mmopane) or Sidilega Private Hospital (Block 7)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Loft (Phakalane); Sanitas Tea Garden (wellness and nature area)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Virgin Active (Airport Junction Mall) - approx. 850 BWP/month; Jack’s Gym (various locations)
- Laundry Services
- Speedy Cleaners (Riverwalk Mall); Laundromat at Airport Junction
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- MyFoodness / Namola
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Seswaa (pounded beef) served with Bogobe (pap/porridge) - find it at Main Mall street stalls
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Daily Grind (CBD) and Sanitas Garden Restaurant (Gaborone Dam area)
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Chocolate Bar (iTower) - Handcrafted truffles and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Main Mall (Open air markets) and Sefalana Hyper
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Skynet Botswana or international shipping via MyUS
- Grocery Delivery
- Woolworths (Dash) and Spar (via local delivery apps)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Masa Square (CBD) for cocktails; Bull & Bush Pub (heavy expat presence)
- Local Brewery
- Big Sip Co. (Craft brewery in the industrial area, Block 3)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Shop (Airport Junction Mall)
- Street Food Stalls
- The area around Main Mall and Station for 'Fatcakes' (Magwinya) and grilled corn
- Popular International Cuisine
- Chutney (Indian - Riverwalk); Caravela (Portuguese/Seafood - Phase 2)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Three Dikgosi Monument (CBD); Gaborone Dam
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum and Art Gallery (Independence Ave); Thapong Visual Arts Centre
- Historical Sites
- Livingstone’s Mission at Kolobeng (20km outside Gaborone)
- Religious Sites
- Christ the King Cathedral; ISKCON Gaborone Temple
- Annual Events
- Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMMC) in September
- Cultural Districts
- Main Mall (Historical administrative center)
- Theater Venues
- Maitisong Theatre (Maru-a-Pula)
- Local Markets
- Notwane Market; Phakalane Farmers Market (Monthly)
- Music Scene
- Jazz at Botswanacraft; Afro-pop and House at Club 1-0-2
- Street Art
- Murals around the Thapong Visual Arts Centre
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at Enjula Restaurant
- Art Galleries
- Thapong Visual Arts Centre; Frame Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Parliament of Botswana
- Local Heritage
- The Blue, White, and Black flag representing water/rain (Pula) and racial harmony
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mokolodi Nature Reserve (15km south for rhino tracking and game drives)
- National Parks Nearby
- Gaborone Game Reserve (within city limits, excellent for zebra and wildebeest)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The trails around Kgale Hill (popular for hiking and sunset views)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Peak of Kgale Hill (The Sleeping Giant) overlooking the dam and city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Gaborone Dam and the sewage ponds (Phakalane Ponds)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Campsites at Mokolodi Nature Reserve (approx. 200 BWP/night)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Botswana (CBD); Botswana Post (Posa Cloud)
- Tech Repair Services
- Matrix Warehouse (Airport Junction Mall) for PC/Laptop repair
- Table Tennis Spots
- University of Botswana (Student Union area)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (French); Setswana classes at various private tutors (approx. 150 BWP/hour)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Botswana National Library Service; University of Botswana Library
- Community Centers
- Maru-a-Pula School community programs
- Gaming Lounges
- G-Force Game Lounge (Sebele Centre)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Avani Gaborone Hotel & Casino; Grand Palm Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000 BWP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 720,000 BWP)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,000 BWP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000 BWP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 16,500 BWP per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 990,000 BWP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 11,000 BWP per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 660,000 BWP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000 BWP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,200,000 BWP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 10,000 BWP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 800,000 BWP)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard (15% for manufacturing and IFSC companies)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Source-based taxation (Income earned within Botswana)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% (On income above 156,000 BWP)
- VAT
- 14%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- Municipal rates based on property value; usually low
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer Duty: 5% for citizens, 30% for non-citizens (Transfer Duty Act)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa yet; residents taxed on local income only