Francistown
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At a glance
- Country
- Botswana
- Region
- North-East District
- Population
- 105,000
- Best time to go
- April to October
- Main airport
- Francistown (FRW)
- Coordinates
- 21.17°S, 27.51°E
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Overview
Francistown is Botswana's second city, founded during a gold rush in the late nineteenth century and still a busy trading town on the main road and railway to Zimbabwe.
It is a practical stopover rather than a destination in itself. Spend an afternoon on its history and markets, stock up on supplies, and use it as a gateway to the ruins of Domboshaba and the vast salt pans and bird sanctuaries to the west.
Things to see
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Photo: Mompati Dikunwane, CC BY-SA 4.0 Supa Ngwao Museum
A small museum in a colonial building that tells the story of the region's people, mining history and crafts.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Mompati Dikunwane, CC BY-SA 4.0 Domboshaba ruins
Dry-stone walls of a settlement linked to the Great Zimbabwe culture, set among granite outcrops north of the city.
Tickets and tours -
Blue Jacket Street
The old main street, named after an early prospector, lined with shops and remnants of colonial-era buildings.
Things to do
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Photo: Joachim Huber, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nata Bird Sanctuary
Flamingos and pelicans gather on the edge of Sua Pan after the rains, a couple of hours' drive west.
Find tours -
Photo: The SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and O, Public domain Makgadikgadi Pans
Continue west to the immense salt pans, among the largest in the world, for a desert landscape like no other.
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Shashe Dam
A popular spot south of the city for birdwatching and an evening by the water.
Where to stay
City centre
Practical hotels close to the shops, bus station and railway.
Hotels in City centreOutskirts lodges
Lodges with gardens and pools on the edges of town, quieter for an overnight stop.
Hotels in Outskirts lodges
Getting around
Taxis and combis serve the town; a car is the best way to reach the sights outside it.
Francistown airport is a few kilometres from the centre, and buses and the main highway link the city to Gaborone and Maun.
When to go
April to October is dry and pleasant, with warm days and cool nights. The summer rains from November to March bring heat, thunderstorms and birdlife to the pans.
Plan your trip to Francistown
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.