Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, lies in the flat valley between Kgale and the Oodi Hills 15 kilometres from the South African border post at Tlokweng. The discovery of the country's diamond wealth turned Botswana into one of the richest and most successful monetary countries in Africa, and is the third largest producer of diamonds in the world. Gaborone is a vibrant, colorful, and bustling modern city with numerous industrial and business complexes, shopping malls offering local and imported produced merchandise, superb restaurants, banks, world class international hotels, sports clubs, cinemas, casinos, and a mixture of lively night clubs. A landmark, Pula Arch pays homage to the Independence of Botswana, and is located opposite the Civic Centre. At the National Museum, collections of traditional crafts and exquisite southern African fine art are on display. The Orapa House is a striking building which has specially been designed, letting in direct daylight, but not sunlight, for the purpose of sorting and grading the precious sparkling diamonds of Botswana. On the edge of Gaborone’s city, lies the Gaborone Dam, an extremely popular resort that offer non-motorised water sport, bass and bream fishing, a yacht club and a swimming pool. On the western edge of the city Kgale Hill have breathtaking views of the dam and the city. There are three well marked hiking routes and it is a pleasant climb with great opportunity to see the resident troop of baboons and a pair of Black Eagles that have made the rocky cliff-face their nesting grounds. St. Claire Lion Park is set in open woodland and offer visitors great picnic sites, children’s playground, horse and motorbike trails, three dams, game viewing and camping grounds. Within close proximity to the city, lies Gaborone Game Reserve and offer excellent opportunity for viewing game such as wildebeest, eland, rhino, zebra and kudu amongst others. The reserve feature a game hide, picnic sites and bird watching. For pottery lovers, a visit to the well-known Thamaga Pottery shop, located in the Botswelelo Centre, is not to be missed. The blue hazy glaze of the bowls, platters and goblets is highly sought after by collectors. For a cultural experience a visit to the town of the Bakwena tribe is an interesting insight into the traditional ways, and more modern customs, practiced by the people of the region. Gaborone and the Botswana region is a fantastic and stunning location for a vacation that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
