Things to Do in Gaborone in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Gaborone
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
90°F (32°C)
High Temp
65°F (18°C)
Low Temp
2.8 inches (71 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Afternoon thunderstorms bring frequent lightning. Avoid exposed high ground like the Kgale Hill summit from early afternoon onward.
⚠ Heavy downpours trigger quick flash floods on low-lying and dirt roads. Drive with care to outlying sites like the Manyana rock paintings after a storm. Roads turn slick. Plan extra time. Check local radio.
⚠ High UV index of 8 and 32°C (90°F) heat create real sunburn and dehydration risk during midday hours. Seek shade. Drink water. Reapply sunscreen. These hours punish the unprepared.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December owns Gaborone's green season outright. The thornveld around Kgale Hill and the bush at Mokolodi Nature Reserve flip from dust-grey to electric green within days of the first storms. The Gaborone Dam swells to a level you will never witness in the dry winter months. Expect brown semi-desert and meet lushness instead.
- + This is the year's finest birding window. Migratory species flood the wetlands around the Gaborone Dam and the Notwane River. Listen for the liquid call of woodland kingfishers that arrive with the rains. Raptors ride thermals over the 1,287 m (4,222 ft) summit of Kgale Hill. Bring binoculars. The dawn chorus alone justifies the early alarm.
- + Crowds vanish and the city slips into holiday rhythm. Most of Gaborone empties as Batswana head to family villages for the festive season. Hotel rates, normally propped up by Monday-to-Friday business travel, soften. You will have trails and game drives almost to yourself.
- + Calving and birthing season plays out across the reserves. At Mokolodi Nature Reserve, roughly 12 km (7.5 miles) south of the city centre on the A1, impala and warthog drop their young in the long grass. Resident leopard and rhino-tracking experiences stay active. Green3Green grass keeps animals well-fed and relaxed. They graze instead of crowding shrinking waterholes.
Considerations
- − The heat is real and the sun punishes. Afternoons climb toward 32°C (90°F) with a UV index of 8. Humidity hovers around 70 percent before a storm breaks. Midday outdoor activity between 11am and 3pm is uncomfortable. Sunburn strikes fast even under thin cloud.
- − Afternoon thunderstorms arrive often and can turn violent. Rain falls on about 10 days across the month. Expect short, heavy bursts with lightning that build from mid-afternoon. Low-lying roads and dirt tracks become mud or flood briefly. An unplanned drive to the Manyana rock paintings, about 40 km (25 miles) southwest, can be scuppered.
- − The festive shutdown catches first-timers off guard. From December 24th through January 2nd, a large share of Gaborone's restaurants, offices, and even some attractions close while staff travel home. The Main Mall pedestrian strip goes quiet. Plan meals and activities around reduced hours.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Gaborone is hot. The southern African summer brings long, heavy days. The city moves slowly. Afternoons feel still under a bleaching sun. But the skies often open. Brief, dramatic downpours leave the air smelling of damp earth and cooled pavement. As the month progresses, the focus shifts. Many residents depart for ancestral villages, creating a quiet in certain neighbourhoods. The city prepares for its grand year-end spectacle. The Gaborone International Music and Culture Week transforms evenings. Venues fill with the deep resonance of jazz, the rhythmic stomp of traditional dance, and the sizzle of meat over open fires. It is a time of palpable contrast. The heat of the day gives way to warm, lively nights. The capital's modern facade is softened by rooted seasonal traditions.
Gaborone City Tour (Half Day tour)
guided_experienceA guided half-day tour is the most efficient way to understand Botswana's purpose-built capital. You will trace rapid development from the Parliament buildings and the National Museum to the modern commercial hub. Commentary connects gleaming glass facades to the nation's story. The pace allows for moments of observation. See the quiet dignity of the Three Dikgosi Monument. Feel the cool shade of the Civic Centre grounds.
It provides the essential historical and architectural framework. This makes every later experience in Gaborone more meaningful.
Insider tip: Schedule this tour for your first full morning. It will orient you before independent exploration.
Multiday Tour From Gaborone: 2 day Gaborone Experience
day_tripThis two-day trip moves beyond central landmarks. It reveals the layers of life in and around the capital. The itinerary typically blends urban sights with a visit to a nearby cultural village or craft market. You might hear the rhythmic clack of weaving looms. You will see the busy patterns of Botswana textiles. It is designed to offer a more rounded sense of place than a fleeting city tour.
It creates space for unexpected interactions. You will gain a deeper appreciation of Setswana culture beyond the city limits.
Insider tip: Confirm if your tour includes a meal at a local home or shebeen. That offers an authentic taste of daily life.
Around Gaborone Adventure
otherThis adventure tour pushes boundaries. It focuses on the dramatic landscapes that cradle Gaborone. Expect to feel gritty red dust on the trail as you hike Kgale Hill for panoramic views. You might hear the calls of waterbirds at the Gaborone Dam. The experience trades urban streets for the physical sensation of the Botswana bush on the capital's doorstep.
It answers the call for active exploration. It delivers the impressive African skies and vistas many travelers seek.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Bring significantly more water than you think you'll need for the December heat.
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour)
guided_experienceFans of Alexander McCall Smith's novels will enjoy this literary pilgrimage. Walk streets his heroine, Mma Ramotswe, might have walked. The tour points out the real-life inspiration for Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and other locales. It blends fiction with the tangible sights and sounds of the city. Notice the chatter in a shopping arcade. Catch the scent of rain on acacia trees.
It has a uniquely charming and personal lens for viewing the everyday rhythms of Gaborone.
Insider tip: Reread the first book before your tour. You will fully savor the connections your guide will draw.
Half Day Tour from Gaborone (Manyana Village Visit)
guided_experienceA short drive from the city leads to Manyana village, known for its ancient rock paintings. The journey passes through scrubland. The visit involves a walk to see ochre figures on sheltered stone faces. It is a quiet contrast to the modern capital. You will feel the stillness of the site. Feel the coolness of the rock overhang protecting these centuries-old artworks.
It provides a tangible, contemplative link to the deep human history of southern Botswana.
Insider tip: Engage your guide. Ask them to explain the symbolism of the eland and other animal figures depicted on the rock.
1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve
otherThis overnight excursion has a complete shift. Move from the urban environment to a major private game reserve just across the border in South Africa. The experience is defined by the thrill of a morning game drive. Feel the chill dawn air give way to warmth. Hear the crack of a twig signaling a nearby herd. Smell the wild sage in the breeze.
It delivers a classic, high-quality safari experience with expert guides. It is within a manageable journey from Gaborone.
Insider tip: This is a splurge. The all-inclusive nature of most lodges means meals, drives, and often drinks are covered.
Where to Stay in Gaborone in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late December
Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC)
GIMC is the city's marquee year-end bash. Roughly a week of jazz, gospel, Setswana dance, theatre, comedy, and a fashion show pack Gaborone venues. This is when the capital buzzes after dark. Expect open-air stages thumping bass into warm night air. Food stalls dish seswaa and grilled meat. Buy headline-night tickets early. Arrive before gates jam. Come for local acts, not just the international names.
Late December
Festive Season and New Year Celebrations
Christmas and New Year revolve around family braais, church services, and street gatherings in residential neighbourhoods. Taste the season: peak seswaa, pap, and morogo. Hospitality is open-armed and easy. The city itself quiets as locals head to home villages. Plan meals around festive closures.
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View Gaborone Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Treat the festive shutdown as a planning fact, not a surprise. From December 24th to January 2nd, many Gaborone restaurants and offices close while staff travel home. Stock up. Confirm hotel dining hours. Target Game City and Riverwalk malls. They stay open and double as storm-proof backup plans.
Do everything outdoors before 10am. Storms reliably build from mid-afternoon. Locals front-load their day. Hikes, game drives, and dam outings happen at sunrise. Hot, sticky afternoons are for air-conditioned malls, long lunches, or naps.
December is when Gaborone hotel rates ease. Weekday business travel dries up over the holidays. Flexible travellers score one of the year's better-value windows in a capital that's usually corporate-priced.
Ask for fresh phane, the mophane caterpillars. Green-season rains trigger a harvest. Dried or fresh phane, earthy and chewy, appears at markets and on local plates now in a way it doesn't most of the year.
Avoid These Mistakes
Do not underestimate the sun. Travellers see 'only' 90°F and skip hat and sunscreen. They lose an afternoon to sunburn because the UV index of 8 burns through cloud cover.
Avoid rigid all-day outdoor itineraries. Booking a midday game drive or noon Kgale Hill climb in December usually means hiking into a thunderstorm. Build flexibility around the predictable afternoon rain.
Do not expect safari-postcard wildlife inside the city. Gaborone offers genuine game at Mokolodi and the Gaborone Game Reserve. It is compact reserve viewing, not the Okavango or Chobe. Set expectations. Treat the capital as a base, not a Big Five destination.
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