The 15 Best Day Trips from Gaborone
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Gaborone, Botswana, led by Mafikeng, Mmabatho, Molepolole. The closest is Kopong, about 30 min by car, and 6 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Gaborone
- 1
Mafikeng, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car137 km south of Gaborone - 2
Mmabatho, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car136 km south of Gaborone - 3
Molepolole, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car50 km north-west of Gaborone - 4
Mochudi, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car36 km north-east of Gaborone - 5
Kanye, Botswana
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km south-west of Gaborone - 6
Ramotswa, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km south of Gaborone - 7
Lobatse, Botswana
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km south of Gaborone - 8
Amandelbult, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km east of Gaborone - 9
Thamaga, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car37 km west of Gaborone - 10
Mosopa, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car51 km west of Gaborone - 11
Zeerust, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car100 km south of Gaborone - 12
Jwaneng, Botswana
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car119 km west of Gaborone - 13
Janeng, Botswana
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car92 km south-west of Gaborone - 14
Northam, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km east of Gaborone - 15
Kopong, Botswana
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car19 km north of Gaborone
A sample day: Gaborone to Mafikeng
- 07:30Leave Gaborone
- 09:40Arrive in Mafikeng (2 hr 10 min drive)
- 09:55Walk the centre of Mafikeng
- 11:55Lunch
- 13:10Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Mafikeng
- 15:40Head back to Gaborone
- 17:50Home in Gaborone
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Gaborone?
- The best day trips from Gaborone are Mafikeng, Mmabatho, Molepolole, Mochudi, Kanye. The closest is Kopong, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Gaborone?
- Kopong is the closest, 19 km north of Gaborone, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Gaborone?
- 6 places are within about an hour's drive of Gaborone: Kopong (30 min), Ramotswa (35 min), Mochudi (40 min), Thamaga (45 min), Molepolole (1 hr), Mosopa (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Gaborone for a day out?
- Mafikeng is the largest city in day-trip range, 137 km south of Gaborone and about 2 hr 10 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Gaborone?
- For a weekend away from Gaborone, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Northam (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Amandelbult (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Mafikeng (137 km, 2 hr 10 min), Mmabatho (136 km, 2 hr 10 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Gaborone?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Northam at 141 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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