Botswana National Museum

About this place

The Botswana National Museum, also known as the National Museum and Art Gallery, is a multi-disciplinary institution in Gaborone, the capital. It includes the National Art Gallery and the Octagon Gallery, and since November 2007 the National Botanical Garden too. It is the best place in the capital to understand the country's heritage before a safari. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1967 and opened to the public in 1968, marking its 40th anniversary with a year of celebrations in 2008. It also helps preserve Tsodilo, the country's first World Heritage Site, among other sites. The Domboshaba Ruins in the northeast come under it as well, so visitors can link what they see here with places beyond the capital. The museum displays traditional crafts and paintings and aims to celebrate the work of local artists. In the outdoor courtyard are traditional clay houses with thatched roofs and geometric patterns, a kgotla, the community meeting place, fenced with wooden poles, and a life-size old ox cart. Temporary shows change in the art gallery, including contemporary work. It stands in central Gaborone, 3 km in a straight line from the city's heart and 4 km from Gaborone Game Reserve, so both fit in half a day. Check opening hours before you go, especially on public holidays, and ask before taking pictures inside the galleries. It makes a good choice for the hottest hours of the day.