In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Botswana
Francistown
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Francistown as a transport hub; add an overnight if you need budget camping.
Francistown is Botswana's second‑largest city and a key gateway to the north. It has an international airport, rail link and major highways, making it useful for transit or a brief stopover. Attractions are limited, so one day is enough unless you camp nearby.
- Country
- Botswana
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (cooler, fewer services)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BWP
- Money
- Currency is the Botswana pula (BWP), about 13–14 per US$ in 2026 (check). Most safari camps are paid in advance in US dollars; cards work in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone.
- Daily spend
- Budget P1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid P2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High P4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Mascom, Orange and BTC (beMOBILE) sell SIMs with passport registration in Maun, Kasane and Gaborone.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Ambulance 997 · Fire 998
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK-style G is common in towns; camps have limited charging, often by solar.
- Tipping
- Safari guide: US$15–25 per guest per day.; Camp staff (shared box): US$10–15 per guest per day.; Mokoro poler: US$10–20 per day.; Transfer driver: US$5–10.; Restaurant: About 10%.
- Water
- Tap water is treated in towns; camps provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Flush toilets in towns and camps; long drop at some public campsites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Calabash | P15–20 |
| Meal at Nando's Chicken | P45–70 |
| Burger at Spur Restaurant | P60–90 |
| Taxi within town (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi within town (3.1 mi (5 km)) | P30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FRW · Francistown International Airport
- Air Botswana two daily flights from Gaborone; expansion underway
Typical fares
- Air Botswana Gaborone → Francistown
- about P850, 1 h 15 min (check)
- Taxi airport → town centre
- ≈ P30
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Use taxis or minibuses from the airport to town (≈15 min). Within town, walk or take local minibuses; A1 and A3 highways connect to Gaborone, Maun and Zimbabwe.
See and do
Known for
- Transport hub
- Woodlands Stop Over campsite
- Local markets
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tati River Lodge area | Taxi 10 km (6.2 mi) north, 15 minTaxi 6.2 mi (10 km) north, 15 min | ≈30 min round trip |
Sleep
- Woodlands Stop Over
- Camping with own tent, pool, shaded sites; 10 km (6.2 mi) north of town, P115 per personCamping with own tent, pool, shaded sites; 6.2 mi (10 km) north of town, P115 per person
- Abrama Bed & Breakfast
- Budget guesthouse, rooms from P350
- Lee Bed & Breakfast
- A/C rooms, free Wi‑Fi, P250–350
- Eros Guesthouse
- Budget single/double, P350
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dumeladu-ME-la |
| Thank you | Ke a lebogakeh ah le-BO-ga |
| How much is this? | Ke bokae?keh bo-KAI |
| Where is the bathroom? | Ke le kae ntlo ya boithati?keh le kai n-tlo ya bo-i-THA-tee |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Dumela Rra / Mma' before anything; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Handshake: Hold your right forearm with your left hand when shaking or giving; avoid: Limp or one-handed passing of objects to elders
- In camp: Follow the escort rule after dark; avoid: Walking alone to your tent
- Photos: Ask first in villages; avoid: Photographing officials or buildings
Scams and watch-outs
- Night train services are suspended as of 2024; check for any reinstatement.
- Bus schedules can change; confirm times before travel.
Francistown is generally safe for daytime travel; keep valuables secure at night and use reputable taxis.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Francistown yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Transport hub
- Woodlands Stop Over campsite
- Local markets
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Botswana Railways: www.botswanarailways.co.bw/
- Wikivoyage: Francistown, revision 5132158 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5132158
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/francistown). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.