Gaborone is the capital city of the Republic of Botswana, situated in the southwest.
Perhaps upon hearing this name, you might imagine not an African capital, but something spicy like “Habanero.”

Written in the alphabet, it’s GABORONE, but in Setswana (Botswana’s language), “GA” is often pronounced as “Ha,” so locally it’s referred to as “Haborone.” However, it seems that many Westerners call it “Gaborone,” which is also perfectly acceptable.

The city covers an area of 169 square kilometers and gathers about one-tenth of Botswana’s total population (approximately 2.6 million people), housing major government institutions and services.

With not only main roads but also many paved roads on the outskirts, driving has become increasingly easier over the years, resulting in a rising traffic volume.

Moreover, Gaborone boasts a beautiful airport named Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, named after the first president, from which several daily flights to Johannesburg, South Africa, depart.

In recent years, routes to Gaborone via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Ethiopian Airlines have opened up, allowing access to Botswana without passing through South Africa.

However, most of the famous national parks and wildlife reserves for safaris are located in the northern part, and since most travelers enter and exit from the airports in the north, Gaborone Airport mainly serves those visiting for business purposes.

Incidentally, Gaborone is home to the Embassy of various countries in Botswana, which is reassuring in times of need. In the event of troubles such as losing your passport while traveling in the northern regions, you would need to come to Gaborone in the south, or even to South Africa if your country’s embassy is not here, so please be careful with your valuables.