Gaborone
Usage
The capital and largest city of Botswana. The main airport and government offices are here, so many trips start or end in this city
Grammar Note
Named after Kgosi Gaborone of the Batlokwa. The colonial-era spelling Gaberones still appears in older English books and maps
Francistown
Usage
The second-largest city in Botswana. A hub in the north-east for roads and rail toward Zimbabwe
Grammar Note
Signs and maps keep this English-origin spelling. Do not respell it in Setswana
Maun
Usage
The gateway town to the Okavango Delta. Mokoro trips and scenic flights start from here
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia describes Maun as a tourism gateway. It is also the seat of the Batawana
Kasane
Usage
The entrance town for Chobe National Park. The road toward Victoria Falls also branches off from here
Grammar Note
It lies near the point where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe come close together (according to Setswana Wikipedia)
Serowe
Usage
The main village of the Bangwato people. Khama Rhino Sanctuary and the Khama III Memorial Museum are close by
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia calls Serowe the great village (motse) of the Bangwato. In Botswana a village can be as large as a town
Lobatse
Usage
A town in the south-east, about 70 km south of Gaborone and close to the South African border
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia places Lobatse about 70 km south of Gaborone. The Pioneer Gate border post is near it
Palapye
Usage
A large village between Gaborone and Francistown on the A1 main road and the railway
Grammar Note
According to Setswana Wikipedia it grew as a meeting point of railway and roads
Selebi-Phikwe
Usage
A mining town in the east of the Central District. The name joins the two mines, Selebi and Phikwe
Grammar Note
The spelling Selibe Phikwe also occurs (Setswana Wikipedia). Road signs usually use the hyphenated form
Jwaneng
Usage
A diamond-mining town in the Southern District. The town has its own town council
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia says Jwaneng lies in the Southern District but is not part of it and has its own council
Orapa
Usage
A diamond-mining town in the Central District. The mine is among the largest in the world and the town is not a normal tourist stop
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia calls Orapa the diamond town (toropo ya ditaemane). Ditaemane is a loan from English diamond
Mochudi
Usage
A large village north of Gaborone and the main village of the Bakgatla. The Phuthadikobo Museum stands on a hill here
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia describes Mochudi as the main village of the Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela
Molepolole
Usage
A large village in the Kweneng District and the main village of the Bakwena
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia calls Molepolole a big village (motse o mogolo) in the Kweneng District
Kanye
Usage
A village south-west of Gaborone and the main village of the Bangwaketse. The traditional dance setapa comes from here
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia says Setapa is the traditional music of the Bangwaketse from Kanye and nearby villages
Ghanzi
Usage
A town in the middle of the Kalahari. Cattle ranching is the main business, and it lies on the highway toward Namibia
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia places Ghanzi in the Kalahari and notes its beef exports. The spelling on signs is Ghanzi
Tsabong
Usage
The administrative centre of the Kgalagadi District in the south-west, and a base for the southern Kalahari
Grammar Note
The spelling Tshabong also exists (Setswana Wikipedia). Both forms appear on signs
Shakawe
Usage
A village in the north-west where the Okavango River enters the delta. It is near the Namibian border and is a base for the Tsodilo Hills
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia places Shakawe where the Okavango delta begins and notes it as a point of entry
Nata
Usage
A village about 200 km north-west of Francistown. The junction toward the Makgadikgadi Pans and on to Kasane
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia gives the distance from Francistown as about 200 km and mentions Nata has its own airport
Gweta
Usage
A small village at an entrance to the Makgadikgadi Pans, between Maun and Nata
Grammar Note
According to Setswana Wikipedia the name comes from the sound of the large frogs (digogwane) of the sandy ground
Tlokweng
Usage
A village next to Gaborone on the road to the South African border about 15 km east. It is the home of the Batlokwa
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia says Tlokweng can be seen as part of Gaborone. The border gate nearby is also named after it
Mahikeng
Mahikeng (formerly Mafikeng)
Usage
The capital of South Africa's North West Province, near the Botswana border. It is the centre of a region with many Setswana speakers
Grammar Note
Mahikeng is the current Setswana spelling and Mafikeng the old one (Setswana Wikipedia). Mmabatho is the adjoining government district
Makgobokgobo a Okavango
Okavango Delta
Usage
A vast inland delta in north-west Botswana and a World Heritage Site. Tour bookings and signs usually say Okavango Delta in English
Grammar Note
Makgobokgobo means "a state of being muddy" in the dictionary, and Setswana Wikipedia uses it for the delta. The linker a means "of"
Chobe National Park
Usage
A national park known for its large elephant herds. Kasane is the entrance, and boat safaris on the Chobe River are popular
Grammar Note
The official English name is used as is. Setswana Wikipedia also writes Chobe National Park
Moremi Game Reserve
Usage
A reserve on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta where many safari camps and lodges are found
Grammar Note
The English official name is used as is. Moremi is also a Setswana personal name
Makgadikgadi Pans
Usage
Vast salt flats in north-eastern Botswana. They are dry and white in the dry season and attract water birds in the rainy season
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia uses Mapapana a Makgadikgadi once, but signs and bookings normally say Pans in English
Dithaba tsa Tsodilo
Tsodilo Hills (World Heritage Site)
Usage
Rock hills in the north-west, a World Heritage Site known for thousands of rock paintings. Shakawe is the nearest base
Grammar Note
Dithaba is the plural of thaba (mountain) and tsa is the matching "of". The Shakawe article in Setswana Wikipedia has dithaba tsa Tsodilo. Signs say Tsodilo Hills
Sekaka sa Kalahari
Kalahari Desert
Usage
The dry sandy land covering about seven tenths of Botswana. Tourist information usually just says Kalahari in English
Grammar Note
Sekaka means "a desert place" in the dictionary. Setswana Wikipedia writes Sekaka sa Kalahari. Sa is the "of" that agrees with se- class nouns
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Usage
A park spanning the border between south-western Botswana and South Africa, with Kalahari wildlife
Grammar Note
Kgalagadi is the Setswana form of Kalahari and also the name of the district. The English official park name is used
Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Usage
A community-run sanctuary near Serowe. Rhinos can be seen at close range, and it is easy to visit in a day
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia heads its section Lefelo la Tshireletso la Khama Rhino, but signs and bookings use the English name
Mokolodi Nature Reserve
Usage
A nature reserve south of Gaborone. It is close to the city, so a short visit gives a taste of safari
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia calls it Lefelo la tshomarelo ya tlholego la Mokolodi ("place of nature conservation"). Signs use the English name
Letamo la Gaborone
Gaborone Dam
Usage
The reservoir south of Gaborone that supplies the city with water. The shore is used for walks and bird watching
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia writes Letamo la Gaborone and calls it the biggest dam in Botswana. La is the "of" that agrees with le- class nouns
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport
Usage
Gaborone's international airport (code GBE). Many flights from abroad arrive here, often via Johannesburg
Grammar Note
Signs are in English. Setswana Wikipedia writes lobala la difofane (airport). Lobala is a variant of lebala, "open ground"
Maun Airport
Usage
The airport (code MUB) from which small planes fly to the Okavango Delta. Most people flying to safari camps pass through it
Grammar Note
Signs and tickets use the English word Airport and the IATA code MUB
Kasane Airport
Usage
The airport (code BBK) serving Chobe National Park and the Victoria Falls area
Grammar Note
Signs and tickets use the English word Airport and the IATA code BBK
Francistown Airport
Usage
The airport (code FRW) of the north-eastern hub, with domestic flights and flights to nearby countries
Grammar Note
Signs and tickets use the English word Airport and the IATA code FRW
Kazungula
Kazungula (Zambia border)
Usage
The border point with Zambia east of Kasane. Overland travellers cross the Zambezi here on the way toward Victoria Falls
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia describes the "Mokoro wa kwa Kazungula" as a ferry (pantoni) across the Zambezi. This mokoro is a large ferry, not a dugout. A road bridge has since been built
Ramokgwebana
Ramokgwebana (Zimbabwe border)
Usage
The border point with Zimbabwe north-east of Francistown. Plumtree is on the Zimbabwean side
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia says the railway and the north-south main road run from Ramokgwebana to Ramatlabama
Ramatlabama
Ramatlabama (South Africa border)
Usage
The border with South Africa at the end of the road from Lobatse. The Mahikeng area is just across
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia mentions the Lobatse-Ramatlabama road and places Ramatlabama on the Botswana-South Africa boundary
Pioneer Gate
Pioneer Gate (border post near Lobatse)
Usage
A gate on the South African border close to Lobatse. Signs write the English name
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia writes kgoro ya molelwane wa Pioneer ("the Pioneer border gate"). Kgoro is gate and molelwane is boundary
Mamuno
Mamuno (Namibia border)
Usage
The border point with Namibia west of Ghanzi, on the road toward Windhoek
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia mentions the tarred road from Ghanzi to Mamuno and lists Mamuno among the crossings to Namibia
Phuthadikobo Museum
Usage
A museum on a hill in Mochudi that shows the history and life of the Bakgatla
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia lists the Phuthadikobo Museum as a major attraction of Mochudi. Signs use the English name
Botswana National Museum
Usage
A museum in central Gaborone on Independence Avenue, with an art gallery attached
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia calls the museum a polokelo ya ditso ("keeping place of history") and says it opened in 1968. Signs use the English name
Khama III Memorial Museum
Usage
A museum in Serowe about the life and history of Khama III, a chief of the Bangwato
Grammar Note
Signs use the English name. Khama III was the grandfather of Seretse Khama
Kgosi Sechele I Museum
Usage
A museum in Molepolole on the history of the Bakwena. It is also a base for visiting the nearby Ntsweng Heritage Site
Grammar Note
Setswana Wikipedia says the building dates from 1902. Kgosi is the Setswana word for chief, and the name is spelled the same on English signs
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