Getting around Gaborone: metros, taxis and passes

By Kabelo Molefe, Botswana host 21 October 2026 6 min read

Classic VW van parked on rocky terrain with mountains in Alegría, El Salvador. — Photo by Alfonso Escalante on Pexels

It is mid-October in Gaborone, and the air carries that specific dry-season weight—a mix of dust, blooming jacarandas, and the electric anticipation of the first ‘pula’ storms. The city is buzzing. With the 30th TAFISA World Congress bringing international delegates to the CBD and the Global Expo taking over Boipuso Hall, the streets are fuller than usual. But beneath the event schedules and the post-election political shift under President Duma Boko’s administration, the rhythm of the city remains unchanged. You move through Gaborone on your feet, in combis, or behind the wheel. There is no metro system here, no grand train network connecting the Blocks to the Government Enclave. Just the hum of engines, the call of the driver, and the cash in your pocket.

The Pulse of the City: Combis and Fixed Fares

If you want to see how locals live, you must ride a blue minibus taxi, known affectionately as a combi. These are the arteries of Gaborone. They fan out from the Main Mall—the city’s original commercial heart—into the numbered grid extensions (the Blocks), Broadhurst, and toward Mogoditshane. Unlike ride-hailing apps where prices fluctuate with demand, combi fares are flat and fixed. A single trip across town costs about P9 (roughly $0.70). It is incredibly cheap, which is why it remains the primary mode of transport for students, civil servants, and market traders.

You do not need a ticket or a card. You simply flag the vehicle down, hop in, and tell the conductor where you are going. If they say “no space” or honk aggressively, let it go; there will be another one in five minutes. Cash is king here. Keep small notes ready. While P9 might seem trivial, having exact change speeds up the process and earns you a nod of respect from the driver. For the daily commuter, this adds up to roughly P400 a month if you make two trips a day for 22 working days—a fraction of the cost of owning a car in this economy.

Taxis, Ride-Hailing, and the ‘Special’

When the sun dips below Kgale Hill or when you are carrying heavy shopping from Riverwalk Mall, the combi loses its appeal. Services thin out sharply after dark, and safety becomes a more conscious consideration, particularly around the bus rank and Main Mall pavement traders. This is when you reach for a private taxi or a ride-hailing app.

Shared taxis operate on fixed local fares, often charging about P10 per passenger for short hops within defined zones. However, if you require privacy or a direct route to a place like Phakalane Golf Resort Hotel or a guesthouse in Broadhurst, you will negotiate a ‘special’ hire. These are zone-priced and significantly more expensive. Apps like Uber and Bolt are reliable and widely used by the expat community and young professionals, offering a safe harbor against opportunistic phone-snatching or bag theft that can occur in crowded areas. Always verify the license plate before entering, a standard precaution that keeps your peace of mind intact.

Walking: The Only True Way to Know Gaborone

Gaborone was built as a purpose-built capital starting in 1963, replacing Mafikeng when Bechuanaland gained independence in 1966. Because it has no pre-colonial core except The Village, the city feels spacious but sometimes sterile if you only drive between destinations. Walking reveals its texture. Start at the Three Dikgosi Monument in the CBD, where bronze statues of Sechele I, Bathoen I, and Khama III stand against the sky. It is free, open-air, and best photographed in the late afternoon light.

From there, walk the pedestrian spine of the Main Mall. Here, you will find pavement traders selling Tswana baskets and mopane worms, the Civic Centre, and the Pula Arch. It is the place to do paperwork and absorb the local commerce. Continue west to the ‘Three Elephants’ fountain, then cross into the modern air-conditioned malls like Riverwalk and Game City. Note that while walking is pleasant, the midday heat can be intense, and the wide, unshaded avenues leading to the Government Enclave can feel exposed once the ministries empty out at 4pm. For longer distances, such as reaching the Botswana National Museum & Art Gallery on Independence Avenue, a short taxi ride is wiser than a long trek.

Navigating the Districts and Daily Costs

Understanding the geography helps you budget and plan. The city is divided into distinct zones. The CBD and Extension 3 are the administrative and historic centers. To the north lies Broadhurst (Extensions 16–19), a planned suburb with Broadhurst Mall and Boipuso Park, offering cheaper local food and a quieter residential rhythm. The ‘Blocks’ (5 through 9) form a numbered grid to the west, with Block 5 being a classic rental belt for expats and company housing. Further north, Phakalane is an affluent enclave of gated houses and golf estates, though inconvenient for daily CBD errands.

Cost-wise, Gaborone is affordable for rent but dearer on imported goods. A modest one-bedroom flat in the city centre runs about P3,500 to P4,500 per month. Food varies wildly: a plate of chicken and pap at a local eatery is around P50–80, while a cup of cappuccino at a café like The Daily Grind Cafe + Kitchen might cost P25–30. A meal of seswaa (pounded beef) with bogobe at a sit-down restaurant can rise to P120. Street food at Main Mall market stalls offers cooked local dishes like morogo and chicken for just P40–60, making it the smartest way to eat on a budget.

Practicalities: Getting Connected and Staying Safe

Before you navigate the streets, ensure you are connected. SIM registration is compulsory. Visit an operator shop—Mascom, Orange, or beMobile—and bring your passport. Your line will be activated instantly. For banking, remote opening is not realistic. You must visit in person with your passport, residence permit, and proof of address (a bank form completed at the local kgotla works well). Banks like Stanbic, FNBB, and Absa are prevalent, but branch hours are strict, typically ending by 3:30 pm.

Safety in Gaborone is calm by regional standards, but vigilance is required. Avoid flashing phones near the bus rank or Riverwalk car parks. When driving, note that suburbs like Phakalane are nicknamed ‘ishaba ntsa’ (beware of the dog) due to the prevalence of guard dogs and security walls. Finally, remember that wildlife is part of the urban fabric. The Gaborone Game Reserve sits inside the ring road, and Mokolodi Nature Reserve is just 15 minutes southwest. You do not need to leave the city to see rhino or giraffe, but you must respect their space. Move slowly, pay attention, and let the city reveal itself at its own pace.