Things to Do in Gaborone in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in Gaborone
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (30°C)
High Temp
63°F (17°C)
Low Temp
2.9 inches (74 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Afternoon thunderstorms can flash-flood low-lying road dips and dry riverbed crossings within minutes. Never drive into moving water and avoid these crossings after heavy rain.
⚠ UV index reaches 8 and is intensified by the high-veld altitude. Unprotected skin burns in under 30 minutes, on exposed climbs like Kgale Hill.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March finds Gaborone at peak green. Summer rains soak Kalahari-fringe scrub until acacia thornveld around Mokolodi Nature Reserve and Kgale Hill slopes blaze emerald, a hue absent in dry winter. Game viewing at Gaborone Game Reserve is rewarding now. Impala, kudu, ostrich are fat and active. Birdlife peaks with lingering migrants.
- + Daytime highs hit 31°C (87°F). Nights cool to 17°C (63°F). Southern-African summer feels gentle. Gaborone Dam draws. Evenings stay cool enough for Main Mall cafés. You skip brutal pre-rain October-November heat.
- + Shoulder season equals savings. Business-travel increase eases late month. Leisure rates soften versus September Independence period. Book a few weeks ahead. Better rooms appear.
- + Afternoon storms are theatre. Anvil clouds tower over Notwane valley. Air smells of wet earth, ozone. Skies clear to washed light. Granite dome of Kgale Hill glows at sunset. Photographers love dramatic skies.
Considerations
- − Rain is real yet fickle. Expect 10 wet days. Totals reach 74 mm (2.9 inches). Storms arrive late afternoon. Floods can cut game loops. Build flexibility into plans.
- − Humidity hovers at 70%. 31°C (87°F) feels stickier. Kgale Hill climb is brutal midday. Locals skip afternoon hikes.
- − UV index hits 8. Late-summer sun burns fast. Altitude of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) intensifies rays. Coastal visitors underestimate the burn.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March in Gaborone is hot and humid. The air feels thick. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility, arriving with a sudden downpour that drums on tin roofs before passing quickly. Evenings bring a rapid, welcome coolness. This is the month for the Maitisong Festival, which transforms the open-air amphitheatre at Maru-a-Pula school into a hub of creative energy. Locals gather under the warm night sky for performances from local jazz ensembles to traditional dance troupes. March here has a rhythm. It is hot, active days punctuated by rain and the busy pulse of festival nights.
Gaborone City Tour (Half Day tour)
guided_experienceA guided Gaborone City Tour is the most direct introduction. It moves from the orderly government enclave with its gleaming white parliament buildings to the dynamic thrum of the Main Mall. You will see the somber Three Dikgosi Monument. You will feel the contrasting energy of a market where the air carries scents of roasted maize.
This tour combines the modern administrative heart and the daily commercial life of Gaborone into one clear story.
Insider tip: Request a stop at the National Museum and Art Gallery. Its collection of San rock art and contemporary Botswana works is often rushed but worth a few quiet moments.
Multiday Tour From Gaborone: 2 day Gaborone Experience
day_tripThe Multiday Tour From Gaborone: 2 day Gaborone Experience pairs a city orientation with a trip beyond the urban limits, often to a nearby cultural site or nature reserve. You spend one night in Gaborone. You might hear the distant chorus of insects from your hotel garden before a second day exploring the surrounding bushveld.
It offers the essential contrast between Botswana's most developed city and the immediate, untamed landscape that defines the nation.
Insider tip: Use your evening between tours to find a local *chisa nyama* spot for smoky grilled meats. It is a taste of authentic Gaborone dining.
Around Gaborone Adventure
otherThe Around Gaborone Adventure pushes further into the hinterlands, targeting sites like the ancient rock art at Manyana or nearby geological formations. The drive out of the city reveals flat-topped hills under a vast sky. The walk to see the ochre paintings is quiet, broken only by bird calls and the crunch of gravel underfoot.
This tour reaches the historical and natural layers just outside Gaborone's busy periphery.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes for walking over rocky terrain. They also guard against thorny bushes.
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour)
guided_experienceThe No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour) navigates Gaborone through the lens of Alexander McCall Smith's novels. You might see the modest office on Zebra Drive. You could feel the shade of an acacia tree like the one Mma Ramotswe contemplates under, and taste the red bush tea that fuels her investigations.
It is a charming literary pilgrimage that connects fiction to the very real, sun-baked streets of Gaborone.
Insider tip: Read at least the first novel beforehand. It changes the tour from simple sightseeing into a richly layered experience.
Half Day Tour from Gaborone (Manyana Village Visit)
guided_experienceA Half Day Tour from Gaborone focusing on a Manyana Village Visit provides a tangible link to Botswana's living heritage. The journey passes fields of grazing cattle. Arrival brings the sight of traditional rondavel huts and the sound of Setswana spoken in everyday conversation.
It is a chance to step into a working village community and understand rural life a short distance from the capital.
Insider tip: Greet the village headman or a senior community member first. A simple "Dumela" shows respect and sets a positive tone.
1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve
otherThe 1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve tour is a dramatic shift. It transports you to a major private reserve across the border in South Africa. The experience centers on a game drive at dusk. The air feels cool on your face as you scan the bush for an elephant or hear the laugh of a hyena.
It delivers a complete safari experience with high chances of spotting the Big Five, all accessible from Gaborone.
Insider tip: March's variable weather means packing a light waterproof jacket for the open vehicle game drives is essential. An afternoon shower can arrive without warning.
This month: The late summer vegetation in Madikwe is still relatively dense. Animal spotting becomes a patient game of seeing shapes and movement in the green thicket.
Where to Stay in Gaborone in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late March
Maitisong Festival
Maitisong Festival owns late March. The open-air amphitheatre at Maru-a-Pula school hosts Botswana and regional musicians, theatre, dance and film for about a week. Outdoor concerts under warm late-summer skies. Local jazz and traditional groups share every bill. Buy early for the marquee evening shows. They sell out. Bring a light layer for the cooler night air.
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View Gaborone Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals move outdoors before 10am in March. Bush walks, Kgale climb, dam time all happen in the cool morning. Afternoons shift to shaded malls, lunch and a siesta before storm clouds build. Mirror that rhythm and enjoy the city far more.
When a storm threatens, head for Botswanacraft, the National Museum, or a Main Mall café. Gaborone's downpours are intense but usually pass within 30-45 minutes. The city smells wonderful afterward.
Self-drive roads dip through normally-dry riverbeds that flash-flood in minutes during March storms. Never drive into moving water across a low crossing. Give the Notwane-area dips a wide berth after heavy rain.
The greenness is a short window. Time your wildlife and photography for March specifically. By the dry winter the same landscapes turn dusty brown. You are seeing Gaborone at a scenic peak most repeat visitors miss.
Avoid These Mistakes
Avoid climbing Kgale Hill in the early afternoon. UV 8, 31°C (87°F) heat and 70% humidity on an exposed granite slope is dangerous. People underestimate it every March.
Do not assume rain means a washout and cancel plans. March storms are short and localised. A flexible morning-outdoor, afternoon-indoor plan loses almost nothing to the weather.
Do not pack only for heat and forget an evening layer. Visitors are caught off guard when nights drop to 17°C (63°F), at open-air events.
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