×

Botswana🇧🇼 | attractionsNational Museum and Art GalleryBasketry patterns, San rock-art panels, Gaborone galleries, independence history | things to do and best time to go

Explore Kubu IslandExplore Francistown

Backpacking in National Museum and Art Gallery
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Most people come to the National Museum and Art Gallery for its collection of Botswana’s art, from San rock-art reproductions to contemporary paintings, basketry and sculpture. What travelers often overlook is how useful it is as a primer: an hour or so of wall text on the country’s peoples, languages and history makes the rest of the trip easier to read. It sits in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, close to the Main Mall and the government enclave. Crowds are rarely an issue, and entry has long been cheap or free. The building is modest, some displays look dated, and you will not fill more than half a day. Look for the woven Botswana baskets, their patterns named for rivers and animals.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Botswana Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 attraction in BotswanaWhy National Museum and Art Gallery should be on your travel list

The National Museum and Art Gallery is the quickest way to understand what you are about to walk through. Botswana’s tourism is built around the Okavango and the Kalahari, and this is where those names get context: the San rock-art and hunter-gatherer displays explain who lived in the desert long before the lodges arrived. Natural history rooms put the animals you will chase in the delta into proportion, from insects to elephants.

It also earns a place on a route because Gaborone is where most overland trips pass through, often with spare hours between buses or border runs. The art gallery wing shows living Batswana artists, which most safari itineraries never touch. Few capital cities let you cover their cultural basics so easily in one low-key, unhurried visit.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Traditional Basketry Collection: Botswana’s Bayei and Hambukushu weavers are famous for baskets, and the museum shows pieces with named patterns and dyes made from local roots.
  2. San Rock-Art Displays: Reproductions and panels introduce the painted imagery of the Tsodilo Hills, a good primer if you plan to go north.
  3. Ethnographic Galleries: Household objects, clothing, tools and musical instruments show how different Tswana and other groups lived.
  4. Natural History Rooms: Mounted animals, skeletons and geology samples give the wildlife you will meet in the parks a practical scale.
  5. Art Gallery Exhibitions: Rotating shows feature Botswana painters, printmakers and sculptors, so what hangs there changes by visit.
  6. Historical Displays: Panels follow the path from pre-colonial chiefdoms through the Bechuanaland
… read more 👉
  1. Traditional Basketry Collection: Botswana’s Bayei and Hambukushu weavers are famous for baskets, and the museum shows pieces with named patterns and dyes made from local roots.
  2. San Rock-Art Displays: Reproductions and panels introduce the painted imagery of the Tsodilo Hills, a good primer if you plan to go north.
  3. Ethnographic Galleries: Household objects, clothing, tools and musical instruments show how different Tswana and other groups lived.
  4. Natural History Rooms: Mounted animals, skeletons and geology samples give the wildlife you will meet in the parks a practical scale.
  5. Art Gallery Exhibitions: Rotating shows feature Botswana painters, printmakers and sculptors, so what hangs there changes by visit.
  6. Historical Displays: Panels follow the path from pre-colonial chiefdoms through the Bechuanaland Protectorate to independence in 1966.
  7. Museum Grounds and Outdoor Pieces: Larger objects and sculptures outside make a short, shaded stroll before or after the galleries.
For a first visit, start with the Traditional Basketry Collection, because it is the most distinctive Botswana craft and the National Museum and Art Gallery presents it better than any souvenir stall.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around National Museum and Art Gallery

Gaborone City Tour (Half Day tour)

Gaborone City Tour (Half Day tour)

5.0(33) 3h
From €104
per personViator
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour)

No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour)

5.0(27) 3h
From €113
per personViator
Half Day Tour from Gaborone (Manyana Village Visit)

Half Day Tour from Gaborone (Manyana Village Visit)

5.0(15)
From €154
per personViator
Multiday Tour From Gaborone : 2 day Gaborone Experience

Multiday Tour From Gaborone : 2 day Gaborone Experience

5.0(14) 12h
From €199
per personViator
Around Gaborone Adventure

Around Gaborone Adventure

4.8(10) 8h
From €254
per personViator
1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve

1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve

5.0(6) 48h
From €711
per personViator
Madikwe Game Reserve Day Tour (Minimum per booking: 5 People)

Madikwe Game Reserve Day Tour (Minimum per booking: 5 People)

5.0(5) 8h
From €272
per personViator
Experience a village from Gaborone (Molepolole Village Visit)

Experience a village from Gaborone (Molepolole Village Visit)

5.0(5) 3h
From €154
per personViator
Tourists Expats and Adventurers in Gaborone

Tourists Expats and Adventurers in Gaborone

5.0(4)
From €226
per personViator
Johannesburg or Gaborone to Victoria Falls 10 Day ACROSS BOTSWANA SmallGroupTour

Johannesburg or Gaborone to Victoria Falls 10 Day ACROSS BOTSWANA SmallGroupTour

5.0(4) 240h
From €3,428
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Cool Dry Season (May to August): Days run 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F) and mornings in Gaborone drop to 4 to 8°C (39 to 46°F), so the galleries and the shaded museum lawn are pleasant to walk. Daylight lasts roughly 10.5 to 11 hours. School groups visit on weekdays, but halls rarely feel full.
  • Hot Season (September to November): Afternoons reach 32 to 38°C (90 to 100°F), which makes an air-cooled gallery a smart midday refuge. Days are longer, about 12 to 13 hours.
  • Rainy Season (December to March): Highs of 30 to 34°C (86 to 93°F) with thunderstorms that usually pass within an hour. Indoor exhibits suit this weather, and prices at guesthouses in the capital stay steady all year.
Arrive when the doors open on a weekday, and the rooms are almost yours alone.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
botswana-attraction-national-museum-and-art-gallery v1
© Google |

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutBotswana Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Botswana
The digital guide (172 pages) contains:
✅ 38 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

The Main Mall and Central Business District area is the most practical base, because the museum sits on Independence Avenue within walking distance of the Mall, the bus rank and the main government buildings. You can reach cafés, supermarkets, banks and the craft stalls near the Mall on foot in daylight, which saves on taxi fares. Social hostel-style options and budget guesthouses cluster here and in neighboring Gaborone West and Phase 2, where you meet other overlanders, volunteers and solo travelers in common kitchens. Phase 2 is a residential area that suits longer stays, with shared houses … read more 👉
The Main Mall and Central Business District area is the most practical base, because the museum sits on Independence Avenue within walking distance of the Mall, the bus rank and the main government buildings. You can reach cafés, supermarkets, banks and the craft stalls near the Mall on foot in daylight, which saves on taxi fares. Social hostel-style options and budget guesthouses cluster here and in neighboring Gaborone West and Phase 2, where you meet other overlanders, volunteers and solo travelers in common kitchens. Phase 2 is a residential area that suits longer stays, with shared houses and small local eateries, and it is a short taxi or combi ride from the center. Evenings call for caution: use ride-hailing apps or a registered taxi after dark rather than walking between neighborhoods. Staying near the Mall also puts you close to the bus and combi connections toward Johannesburg, Francistown and Kanye.
Best hostels in Botswana


Best quality hotels in Botswana

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A day around National Museum and Art Gallery costs roughly US$45 to 60 for a budget traveler, mostly for a bed and food, since the museum itself is very cheap. Payment is in pula, though cards work in larger shops.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Museum entryUS$0 to 2Admission is low or free for many visitors, and a small fee may apply to non-residents. Special exhibitions can vary.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 35Dorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in Gaborone. Prices dip slightly in the rainy season.
FoodUS$8 to 15Pap and stew or grilled chicken at local eateries is cheapest. Café meals cost more.
Local transportUS$1 to 6Combis around town are cheap, and short taxi or app rides cost a few dollars.
ExtrasUS$2 to 5Crafts from the gift shop, coffee, or a printed guide.
Total Daily BudgetUS$50Comfortable
… read more 👉
A day around National Museum and Art Gallery costs roughly US$45 to 60 for a budget traveler, mostly for a bed and food, since the museum itself is very cheap. Payment is in pula, though cards work in larger shops.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Museum entryUS$0 to 2Admission is low or free for many visitors, and a small fee may apply to non-residents. Special exhibitions can vary.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 35Dorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in Gaborone. Prices dip slightly in the rainy season.
FoodUS$8 to 15Pap and stew or grilled chicken at local eateries is cheapest. Café meals cost more.
Local transportUS$1 to 6Combis around town are cheap, and short taxi or app rides cost a few dollars.
ExtrasUS$2 to 5Crafts from the gift shop, coffee, or a printed guide.
Total Daily BudgetUS$50Comfortable for one person, with room to spare if you cook at a hostel.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on one to two hours at National Museum and Art Gallery, which is enough to see the main natural history, culture and art galleries at an easy pace. Add another hour if a temporary exhibition is on or you want to browse the craft shop. It fits easily into a morning, leaving the afternoon for the nearby Main Mall and Gaborone’s other sights.
For most backpackers, National Museum and Art Gallery is worth the entrance fee because admission is very low, roughly US$0 to 2. You get Botswana’s history, San and Tswana culture, and local art in one place, which gives useful context before heading to the Kalahari or the Okavango. It is also a dry, cool refuge on hot afternoons.
National Museum and Art Gallery sits on Independence Avenue in central Gaborone, a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Main Mall. From the bus rank, combis cost about US$0.5 to 1, and a taxi or ride-hailing trip from most central guesthouses is US$2 to 5. Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is about 15 km away, roughly 20 minutes by taxi.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Botswanan attractions near National Museum and Art Gallery

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Botswana including National Museum and Art Gallery and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all attractions

Or checkout all Botswana has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Botswana
Country photo of Botswana
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting National Museum and Art Gallery

The National Museum and Art Gallery works best as a warm-up before heading north to the Okavango or west toward the Kalahari. Go early on your first day in Gaborone, then use what you learned at Tsodilo or in the delta. I would bring small notes and a notebook.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Botswana. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story