10 awesome venues to visit with kids in Gaborone
Airport Junction mall
A mall with kids restaurant favourites such as Nandos, Wimpy, Spur and Chicken Licken. A play area with a water future is centralised at the major restaurant area with the aim of catering for children activities. It’s the mall for kids.
Lion Park Resort
Lion Park is a fun amusement park geared for families on the south side of Gaborone. This is the only place with a wave stimulator and some rides in Botswana. Some of the rides include a ferris wheel, a small train that takes you around the perimeter of the park, the tea-cups, merry-go-round and a few others make up the small park. If you have young ones, this will definitely be a fun stop for them, but you may find yourself riding and re-riding and re-riding the same 10 or so rides. Be sure to pack a swimsuit if you want to enjoy the two water slides, and/or the kiddie water areas.
Maitisong
Maitisong (“place of entertainment” in Setswana) is a theatre owned by Maru-a-Pula School. Maitisong is a pioneer in celebrating arts in Botswana and so. The Maitisong Office has become a useful and celebrated cultural resource. Information and advice regarding performers, music lessons, theatre management and fund raising has been sought at Maitisong over the years. Maitisong’s voice has even been heard on the Botswana Cultural Council – the country’s highest cultural body. It has also been closely associated with the Botswana Music Camp and the ‘My African Dream’ national talent search
The National Museum and Art Gallery,
A vibrant focal point of artistic and cultural activity since its inception; the National Museum and Art Gallery has gone from strength to strength in the collection of artifacts, research, exhibitions, national and international collaborations, and in its vigorous outreach programmes that bring the museum – and instruction in cultural heritage – to rural residents. It is frequented by thousands of schoolchildren every year, as well as residents of and visitors to the country.
Kgale Hill
Lying on the outskirts of the city to the south, are the Kgale Hills which add to the beauty of Gaborone. The Hills offer an enjoyable climb and breathe taking views of the city and especially the dam. They are popular with fitness and fun lovers who climb them all throughout the year.
Gaborone Dam
Gaborone Dam is a major landmark in Gaborone, which is used by the public including the local yacht club for recreational activities. It is popular with birdwatchers, windsurfers and picnic lovers, but is not suitable for swimming as it is infested with crocodiles and the bilharzia parasite.
The Grand Palm Hotel
There are many great recreational facilities at the hotel such as tennis and squash courts and a swimming pool. The hotel is great for families as there is a children’s playground, and entertainment is provided during the holidays
Ecological Park (Somarelang Tikologo)
The park is the favourite place for children with its well-resourced playground that is open all throughout the day. It also has a community organic garden, a re-cycling drop-off centre and a shop that provides re-cycled products.
Gaborone Game Reserve
Gaborone Game Reserve is considered the third busiest game reserve in the country! Given the competition between game reserves within Botswana, this speaks volumes about the reserve.The reserve lies to the east of Gaborone. It is teeming with animals that include zebra, kudu, warthog, wild boar and ostrich. It is home to antelope and rhino. The place makes for wonderful game viewing, birding, picnics and memorable family and business retreats for people who want to escape the city noise.
Mokolodi nature reserve
Mokolodi is famous for its wildlife projects such as the re-introduction of the white rhino and the re-location of the problematic cheetahs. The reserve has been established for conservation and educational reasons. Animals like baboons, steenbok, eland, white rhino, hyena, warthogs, giraffe, mountain reedbuck, antelope, hippo and ….of course cheetah can be found in the area.
