Francistown is located in northern Botswana and it is the second largest city in the country. The city was primarily developed for agricultural services related to gold. However its increasing economy has also brought a vast influx of tourists every year in search of the city’s offerings. The Supa Ngwao Museum functions as a foundation that exhibits photographs on early history of Francistown and other cities of Botswana along with the culture and history of the Kalanga people. There are also the Dombosha Ruins located about 50 kilometres north of the city centre, dating back to more than a century old. Tourists can get to trace the development of the city’s Gold Rush with many of the abandoned mines located to its outskirts. There are formal wildlife institutions established for recognizing as well as rehabilitation of local species; The Tachila Nature Reserve is a recreational tourist spot, where visitors can enter the reserve for game drives. Another one is the Birds and Game Botswana to serve as a sanctuary for the upkeep of younger orphaned animals. As Francistown is the main urban transit hub for reaching out this side of the Okavongo Delta, it is the main platform for arranging a water safari across the waters on local canoes while staying at the park’s lodges.
The Francistown International Airport is about 3 kilometres away from the city centre.
Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airlines and Lufthansa Airlines offer flights from the UK to Francistown.
The journey from the airport to the city centre is preferred with a cab as the airport is full of them. There are also a few car-for-hire company offices right beyond the terminal entrance. A few major hotels facilitate airport transfers.
Francistown is the regional hub of road network connecting into northern Botswana. A rental cab service is a convenient way of getting around Francistown. However a cheaper substitute is the public bus service that has specific routes leading out towards the surrounding towns.
Best time to visit Francistown is from June to August when the temperatures are pleasant so rainfall is at a minimum so visitors can enjoy staying outdoors and exploring the city.
The average flight time from UK to Francistown is 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are no airlines operating direct flights to Francistown.
Hotels are few in Francistown and the one that stands out are the Adansonia due to its cleanliness and extravagant swimming pool. Most visitors prefer lodges like Cresta Marang Residency and Diggers Inn, known for the comfort and ambience they offer. Towards the outskirts for accommodating safari tours, there are a couple of bush lodge hotels with centralized cafes and pools. If you wish to stick to staying at a standard hotel complete with your own suite or room, dedicated room services, there are one or two options in the plazas within the commercial centre.
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