Francistown Botswana

Abandoned rusty mine shafts cast long shadows around the edge of the city of Francistown. This historical mining town dates back officially to 1897 but there is historical evidence that people have lived in the area for hundreds of thousands of years. Francistown became the center of southern Africa’s first gold mining rush around the mid-19th century where the town’s population exploded and has now become known as the “Capital of the North”. Strategically placed on all transport routes, Francistown has a prosperous economy fueled by mining and agriculture as well as an international airport, making it a popular stopover destination for tourists traveling north and west.

History of Francistown Botswana

The town was named after British prospector Daniel Francis, who was the director of the powerful mining corporation, Tati Concessions Company. The development of this town is also owed to Entrepreneur and businessman, Cecil John Rhodes who laid his railway track parallel to the town’s main street.

The hustle and bustle of this metropolis of northern Botswana are perfectly met with the town’s vibrant mix of cultures and traditions. The African traditions of the Ndebele people who inhabited the area in the 1820s and the colonial presence of British prospectors are matched perfectly. The economic boom allowed for the western influence to create highly modernized shopping malls, housing developments, restaurants, hotels, and industrial complexes and yet this hasn’t cut off local markets. Visitors can still enjoy the African experience while spending time in this highly developed city.

The main road northwest of Francistown gives passage to Maun and the Okavango Delta, Kasane and Chobe National Park, Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe making it the perfect stopover before your African safari adventure.

What to do in Francistown Botswana

One of the most popular attractions within the city is the Supa Ngwao Museum. It contains hundreds of unique and interesting exhibitions depicting the life of the Kalanga people who are the indigenous inhabitants of the area. Beautiful pottery, woodcarvings, basketry, and musical instruments are on display, depicting the fascinating lives that have lived here before. It also contains an exhibition of the town’s historical roots making the museum an important library of northern Botswana’s heritage.

How to get to Francistown Botswana

The 500 km distance can take up to 6 hours by road and you can also fly from Kasane or Gaborone to Francistown which takes about 1 and 20 minutes.

Where to stay in Francistown Botswana

A wide range of accommodation facilities can be found in the Francis town and some of the common ones include;

• peemont met court
• Eros guest inn
• cresta Thapama
• cresta marang gardens