Francistown is one of Botswana’s oldest towns and was the centre of southern Africa’s first gold rush.

It came to prominence through European prospectors’ discovery and mining of gold in the region in the mid 19th century, first at Tatitown (about 50 kilometres from Francistown), and later at Francistown itself (at Monarch Mine, recently revived).

Gold had been mined by Africans living in the region for generations before. Indeed the wealth and prosperity which the region’s gold deposits have brought stretches as far back as the 12th to 14th centuries.

The city was named after the British prospector and miner Daniel Francis, who acquired prospecting licenses in 1869, eventually becoming director of the Tati Concessions Company.

Francis and other prospectors often used ancient gold shafts as guiding points for their prospecting, or they simply carried on the mining which had been started in those shafts generations ago. The city is still surrounded by old, abandoned mines.

The original town was founded as a settlement near Monarch mine in 1897, consisting of only one main street lined with bustling saloons and supply stores running parallel to the railway line, which was established by British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes as a vital link between South Africa and Britain’s northern colonies.

Where is Francistown

Situated 436 kilometres north of Gaborone, Francistown is the country’s second largest city, and an industrial and transport hub, with a railway line leading north to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The main road northwest of Francistown gives passage to Maun and the Okavango Delta, Kasane and Chobe National Park, Livingstone, Zambia and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Francistown is currently undergoing an economic boom, mostly due to the recent resuscitation of gold mining; this has given new life to the property and transport sectors, with the accompanying infrastructural additions and developments.

Over the years, Francistown (population approximately 115 000) has undergone continual expansion and modernization, to the point that much of its original dusty frontier town atmosphere has disappeared.

Modern malls, shops, hotels, restaurants, housing developments and industrial complexes now dominate the city, with some old, colonial buildings still to be seen in the city centre.

Yet colourful, distinctively African local markets dot the city, and pleasant parks give it a user-friendly feeling. A lively nightclub scene showcases good local music and dance.

History of Francistown Botswana

Prior to independence Francistown was Botswana’s largest commercial centre. Francistown is named after Daniel Francis, a founding director of the Tati Concessions Limited Company, which owned much of the land around the area.

In 1897, the company sold part of the land for residential and commercial purposes, and one may say that this marked the birth of Francistown. The city started as a gold mining town, and gold sustained the area’s economy from the late 1800s until the 1930s.

Prior to independence Francistown was Botswana’s largest commercial centre. Francistown is named after Daniel Francis, a founding director of the Tati Concessions Limited Company, which owned much of the land around the area.

In 1897, the company sold part of the land for residential and commercial purposes, and one may say that this marked the birth of Francistown. The city started as a gold mining town, and gold sustained the area’s economy from the late 1800s until the 1930s.

When gold was discovered nearby in 1869 it sparked the first gold rush in Africa fifteen years before the gold boom at Witwatersrand in South Africa. The industry was hard hit by the global recession of the 1930s.

Between 1936 and 1980s, the economy of Francistown was largely supported or dependent on the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, a company that recruited labour for South African mines. The miners were recruited from many African countries, and transported to South Africa through Francistown by air or railway.

Haskins Street (named after a prominent family in the town prior to independence) was the first tarred road in Botswana. Since 1966, the city has grown significantly due mainly to active cross-border trading with Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, in 1997, Francistown became a city, Botswana’s 2nd after Gaborone.

With the city located astride Botswana’s main road and rail transport routes, mining, commerce and agriculture have been essential parts of its economy.

Tati Nickel, The Dumela Industrial Complex and Botswana Meat Commission are the main economic drivers in the city. Government departments and other private entities also boost the wellbeing of the area’s residents.

Visitors will have available a variety of places of worship, e.g., Christian churches, Muslim mosques, and African Traditional churches, such as the several branches of the Zionist Christian Church.

Education around the city is also diverse. There are several private English-medium schools (Mophato School, KTM and John Mackenzie) and government schools such as Mater Spei (partly run by the Roman Catholic Church), Francistown Teacher Training College, University of Botswana Campus and several technical colleges.

Transport is also reliable, with railway links to Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, road links with Ramokgwebana Boarder in the north, and Kazungula as well as Kasane, Maun via Nata.

The airport has flights flying locally, to Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and other points around the country. Local transport (taxis) also operates through the night

Attractions in Francistown Botswana

Supa Ngwao Museum

This interesting museum contains exhibitions on the culture and history of the Kalanga people, as well as a photographic exhibition on the early history of Francistown and Botswana, thus serving as an important repository of northern Botswana’s heritage.

Its collection includes pottery, woodcarvings, basketry and musical instruments.
Authentic, hand-made crafts can be purchased at the Museum’s Craft Shop, which supports approximately 200 craftsmen/women mostly from the surrounding areas.

The Museum also serves as information centre for Francistown and conducts guided walking tours of the city, covering most of the important historical sites.

Birds and Game Botswana

Birds and Game Botswana an animal orphanage established by Uncharted Africa, Birds and Game Botswana has served as refuge for injured or orphaned wild animals for the past twenty years. A popular outing for local residents and a venue for school trips, it has also helped to educate the public about the country’s wildlife heritage.

Tachila Nature Reserve

Established on Tati Company Land, Tachila Nature Reserve covers approximately 8 200 hectares of well preserved natural habitat in an area adjacent to Francistown city.

Thachila’s mandate is to serve as a recreational facility for residents of and visitors to Francistown, to provide environmental education for Botswana schoolchildren.

It is also responsible to promote wildlife and other natural resource conservation, to increase eco-tourism potential and to help diversify the largely mining dependent economy, thus creating employment opportunities.

Tachila – a Kalanga name meaning ‘saviour of all living things’ – is a broad-based community project that offers natural, archaeological, historical and cultural attractions unique to Francistown and North East District.

Naturally occurring wildlife species include leopard, hyena, kudu, impala, bushbuck, steenbok, klipspringer, rock dassie and warthog. Eventually, rhino, sable and roan antelope, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and eland will be introduced.

A luxury lodge, with conference centre and restaurant will be built in the reserve; and all structures will be eco-friendly, utilising renewable energy, recycling programmes, grey-water reticulation and organic gardens.

Whilst still in the development stages, visitors can now enter the reserve for game drives. This is on a self-drive basis, and on arrangement only.

Domboshaba

An Iron Age, stone wall site dating back to 1450AD, Domboshaba (meaning ‘red rock’ in Kalanga) was occupied towards the end of the Great Zimbabwe period.

Great Zimbabwe was an extensive kingdom centred at modern-day Masvingo, in present day Zimbabwe, which stretched into northern Botswana.

Situated in the northeast of the country, along the Masunga- Kalamati Road, Domboshaba contains excellent examples of cement-less, stone walling and enclosures; some have been reconstructed by the National Museum archaeologists. It was one of the first National Monuments to be gazetted in the country – in 1938.

Domboshaba is an open site (approximately 8 hectares in area) that includes several enclosures and the remains of partitions and bulkheads, the most spectacular of which is ‘Wall 28.’ This was rebuilt by archaeologists and incorporates beautifully flowing courses of granite blocks built around existing boulders and trees.

The most striking features of the walls are their evenness, despite their massive width (some are 2 metres thick) and their beautiful decorative motifs and stylistic variations, both underlining the absolute precision and aesthetic considerations with which they were built.

Despite the fact that no cement was used in their construction, some walls have survived intact for centuries. Further up the hill, the floor plan of what is believed to have been a headman’s or chief’s residence can be seen. And the circular remains of houses that once dotted this community reveal earthen floors with stone edgings.

Many walls have collapsed and the National Museum has prioritised this site for further restoration and development, including improved trail signage, camping and ablution facilities.

An easy return day drive from Francistown that doesn’t require four-wheel drive, Domboshaba gives entrance to one of Africa’s greatest empires, and an important cultural heritage of the nation.