Botswana

Francistown

After days of bush, salt pans or long stretches of tarmac, Francistown feels different. A city beside the Tati River, right where many self-drive routes connect north and south.

View trips from the region

Discover everything about this location.

Routes through Botswana meet here.

Francistown lies in eastern Botswana, close to the Zimbabwe border. It is a logical waypoint when travelling from Gaborone or Gauteng towards Maun, Kasane, Chobe National Park or Victoria Falls.

For a self-drive, the city is mainly practical. It is a useful place to restock before continuing the journey.

North of the city, Woodlands Stop Over sits beside the Tati River, close to the A3 towards Nata, Maun and Kasane.

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Beneath the tarmac lies a history of gold.

Francistown developed around gold mining in this part of Botswana. The city was named after British prospector and miner Daniel Francis, who acquired prospecting rights in 1869.

Traces of that gold rush remain part of the city’s story. The local museum gives more context to this period and Francistown’s development.

Its position near the confluence of the Tati and Inchwe rivers made this area a recognisable point in north-eastern Botswana.

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View trips from the region

What you can do in Francistown:

  • Restock food and supplies

  • Learn about Francistown’s gold-mining history

  • Stay beside the Tati River

  • Continue towards Nata, Maun or Kasane

Self-drive trips in the region

Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls self drive
19
days
from
1990
1990
p.p.
The sun rises over the dunes of Sossusvlei. An elephant appears at a waterhole in Etosha. And further along, the lush landscapes of the Okavango and Chobe await. Over these nineteen days, you travel through three countries, with the freedom to make your own choices along the way. You camp in remarkable places, swap gravel roads for 4x4 tracks and finish with two nights at Victoria Falls. The final stretch? You can leave the driving to someone else.
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Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Windhoek - Victoria Falls self-drive
19
days
from
1990
1990
p.p.
A lion beside the track. An elephant slowly crossing your path. And at night, the sounds of the bush, right beside your rooftop tent. On this self-drive journey, you travel from Namibia's desert landscapes to Botswana's national parks, where the adventure takes on a new dimension. For four days, you venture deep into the wilderness, tackling rugged sandy tracks and staying at unfenced campsites. Your journey ends at Victoria Falls. You return your 4x4 in Kasane and leave the final stretch to someone else.
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South Africa
Botswana
South Africa & Botswana self-drive
20
days
from
2050
2050
p.p.
Spotting a rhino from your 4x4. A lion resting right beside the track. Or waking up at a campsite with no fence between you and the wilderness. On this self-drive journey, you travel from South Africa through Botswana, from the national parks around the Okavango Delta to the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. You tackle rugged sandy tracks, camp deep in the bush and take time along the way to enjoy the comfort of a safari lodge. And the best part? Even your first and last days are all about safari. So you can make the most of every day on the road.
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