Gaborone's position in southern Botswana puts several worthwhile destinations within reach.
Mochudi, 35 kilometres north, is one of the oldest settlements in Botswana and has a good ethnographic museum in the old Dutch Reformed Church — a quick detour if you have a car. Mokolodi Nature Reserve (10 km south) and the Gaborone Game Reserve (within city limits) are both easy half-day options.
For a longer day trip with a 4WD, Khutse Game Reserve (240 km northwest) offers an authentic Kalahari experience with far fewer visitors than the northern parks. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the Namibian border requires an overnight stay but is one of the finest wildlife areas in southern Africa. The Okavango Delta and Chobe are too far for a day trip from Gaborone but are natural extensions of a Botswana itinerary.
