# Francistown

Francistown is a city in the east of Botswana, near the border with Zimbabwe. In our division of Botswana into regions, it is in Southeast Botswana.

## Get in

Francistown is a major transportation hub in Northeastern Botswana and is the gateway to northern Botswana.

### By car

A1: Connects Francistown to Gaborone in the south and to Zimbabwe in the north.
A3: Connects Francistown to Nata and Maun to the west.

### By bus

Buses about every hour to/from Gaborone and the trip takes 5-7 hours. Buses to/from Kasane via Nata.
Because it is a transportation hub, Francistown connects to most other villages and towns in the northern part of the country. Direct buses travel to tourist destinations like Maun and Kasane.
There are also several buses that arrive daily from Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe.
Khanda Express bus services to/from Francistown to Johannesburg in South Africa via Martins Drift border post.

### By plane

Francistown has its own international airport which is undergoing a P500 million expansion.
The airport is only served commercially by Air Botswana.
Air Botswana offers two daily flights from Gaborone, and flights from Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

### By train

Trains run nightly from Lobate, near the border with South Africa, via the capital Gaborone. Journey time is about 10 hours, arriving in Francistown early next morning. The formerly daily cross-border train from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe ended in 2020. Botswana Railways offers timetables and online booking. UPDATE (as of Mar 2024) all passenger services in country are suspended!

## Get around

There is a daily night train each way between Francistown and Lobatse using refurbished trains from South Africa.

## Buy

Prices are comparable to the U.S.
* The "Hype" store and "Game" are similar to a Sam's Club or Costco and Wal-Mart.
* FNB First National Bank. 24 hour atm. matercard visa card atm. no fee. (updated Aug 2023)
* Shoprite supermarket, Plot 16186 Blue Jacket Street (city centre). 08.00-20.00. lowercost supermarket. (updated Aug 2023)

## Eat

* Barbara's Bistro (at the Sport Club), ☏ +267 241 3737.
* Calabash Coffee Shop (on the corner of Baines and St Patrick), ☏ +267 240 3360.
* Nando's Chicken. The chicken at Nando's is excellent with Caribbean flavors.
* Spur Restaurant. Spur has decent burgers and steaks.

## Sleep

Camping with your own tent is the most low-cost way.
* -21.0815727.464031 Woodlands Stop Over, Plots 9/10/11 24NQ Gerald Estates (10 km north of town), ☏ +267 73325912. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Camping with own tents. Has a swimming pool, nice grounds and shaded campsites. P115 per person per night. (updated Nov 2023)
* Tati River Lodge Campground, Plot 16076 block 6 old Gaborone Road (2km from the centre). A lovely hotel on the banks of the Tati River - It has lush greenery surrounding a swimming pool and bar. camping with water and open fire facilities. It's a lovely place to stop off and the restaurant at the far end of the hotel does lovely food. camping with own tent for P150.
* Abrama Bed & Breakfast, Orian ces, ☏ +267-74555276, naleditnleya@gmail.com. one of the cheapest Guesthouses in Francistown. 350. (updated Aug 2023)
* Lee Bed & Breakfast, Tatisding 4169 (9.5 miles from the centre.). Check-in: 12,00, check-out: 11.00. a/c single/double room own bathroom . free wifi. flat screen tv. 250. (updated Aug 2023)
* Eros Guesthouse, Plot 26445 Gerald Estate (3.5 miles from the centre). budget single/double room with own bathroom, TV, Wifi. 350. (updated Aug 2023)

## Go next

As of March 2025, there are direct buses to Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) at 3 AM & 5 PM (City Bus & Zikhale, 160 Pula). If you prefer daytime travel:
(1) From Francistown bus rank (southern end) to Ramokgwebana Border, combi bus, 50 Pula (leaves when full, I waited from 7 AM to 10:15 AM)
(2) From Botswana to Zimbabwe border post, shared taxi, 20 Pula
(3) From Zimbabwe border post to Plumtree, shared taxi, 20 Pula
(4) From Plumtree to Bulawayo, combi bus, 4 USD