Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
watch for small ancestral shrines in rocky clefts and the signposted boulder that fell to the
valley floor on the day that Botswana's president Sir Seretse Khama died on 13 July 1980.
Back near the site entrance, there are some lovely en-suite chalets (single/double P350/
450) which opened in 2012; they have fine views towards the hills from their large bal-
conies, with state-of-the-art Alva barbecues on hand.
Getting There & Away
To get to the southern side of the Tswapong Hills, take the A-1 south of Palapye for 8km,
then the A-141, whereafter there are signs to Old Palapye (Phalatswe); there is a well-
signposted turn-off after the village of Lecheng.
For northern Tswapong Hills, travel 20km north of Palapye along the A-1, then take the
road signposted with a number of village names, including Tamasane and Kgagodi. Later,
follow the signs to Moremi - the entrance to the gorge is around 3km beyond Moremi vil-
lage.
Francistown
POP 99,000
Francistown is Botswana's second-largest city and an important regional centre - there's a
fair chance you'll overnight here if you're on the way north coming from South Africa.
There's a small museum, a handful of decent restaurants and plenty of supermarkets.
Unlike most Botswana cities, Francistown's history tells an interesting story. In 1867
Southern Africa's first gold rush was ignited when German Karl Mauch discovered gold
along the Tati River. Two years later, a group of Australian miners along with Englishman
Daniel Francis arrived on the scene in search of their stake. Although Francis headed for
the newly discovered Kimberley diamond fields in 1870, he returned 10 years later to ne-
gotiate local mining rights with the Ndebele king Lobengula and laid out the town that
now bears his name.
Sights
MUSEUM
Supa-Ngwao Museum
