Gaborone's Malls

One of the Botswana travel guides asserts that today Gaborone has 'more retail shopping space per person than almost any other city in the world.' That is quite a claim! But there are indeed many malls from which the avid shopper may choose. We frequently mention Riverwalk Mall which is about one km from our flat and a very popular spot for all of Gaborone. That is where we do our grocery shopping and often pick up any clothes or household items that we need. There is also a very good bookstore, a movie theater and several restaurants and cafes, all of which are located around the perimeter and so have pleasant indoor/outdoor seating. Riverwalk Mall is only about five or six years old; same for Game City which is on the other side of town and abuts the older, more intimate Kgale Hill shopping center. Game City has all of the big South African department stores as well as a couple of grocery stores, a bookstore and movie theater. The eating establishments are inside in a kind of food court and not very inviting. Game City is far for us on heavily trafficked roads and not nearly as nice as Riverwalk; we seldom go there.

Much older are the Main Mall and the African Mall 'in town.' Gaborone was more or less built around the Main Mall and Government Enclave. The Main Mall is just east of Government Enclave, across Khama Crescent. It is a large open pedestrian mall and a place where Batswana sell their locally produced goods. There is also much foodstuff for sale as well as essentials such as airtime and sweets. There are large office buildings on either side of the mall, including the President's Hotel. Today the Main Mall appears somewhat rundown but it is a very lively place during weekdays as government and office workers create a steady flow of foot traffic. My favorite, though, is the African Mall, just up Independence Avenue from the Main Mall. The shops and restaurants of the African Mall form a square around a central car park (where one can have one's car hand washed while shopping for 25 pula). At the African Mall one will find a great Indian restaurant, great Thai restaurant and great Portuguese restaurant as well as Timba Trading for German Print fabrics. There is also the Just Confectionary and Just Bread Bakery where one can buy cakey bread and warm vetkoekies. There are all kinds of other shops and services from which to choose as well. We have come to realize that Gaborone is really a huge city and there are many other smaller malls and markets in every part of town, not to mention the industrial areas and commerce parks!