Francistown set for tourism transformation
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Wednesday January 14, 2026 06:00
The events promise to bring vibrancy and opportunities to the city, with the Tourism Pitso adding to the thrill.
With its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, Francistown is poised to become a premier tourist destination.
Speaking about the launch recently, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, said they have made a deliberate effort to revive the Francistown Education Park.
He said that the educational park will add value to the tourism product, making Francistown another tourism destination.
Mmolotsi announced that the park, situated near Shashe Mooke, is being revitalised to showcase Botswana's wildlife and cultural heritage, with the launch scheduled for next week.
The minister stated that the park ceased operating in 2014 due to budgetary constraints.
He said that initially, the park will feature four different types of wildlife, with more to be introduced later.
“We're introducing four wildlife species to the Francistown Educational Park, despite not having completed the entire fencing. Waiting for the entire area to be fenced would significantly delay the launch,' Mmolotsi said.
Additionally, he indicated that the park currently has a two-by-two-kilometre fenced area.
Mmolotsi announced that from January 24, the Francistown Educational Park will be open to the public, offering young people, tourists, and Batswana in general a chance to experience the diversity of wild animals.
'We have children here who have never seen an impala, but we live in a country where wildlife is abundant,' he continued.
Mmolotsi emphasised the importance of community involvement and conservation for the educational park to be successful.
Regarding city tourism, the minister said that they have decided to revitalise the city by launching city tourism in Francistown.
The government launched city tourism last year in Gaborone, which is intended to preserve and showcase Botswana's cultural assets, from monuments and museums to music, dance, and fashion.
Furthermore, he said that a number of heritage sites will be made available for visitors to explore historical sites in the city.
He stated that city tourism in Francistown will also showcase the city's heritage sites, including the African National Congress memorial site, White House in Blue Town, and the old Monarch gold open-pit mine.
Mmolotsi encouraged private sector participation, particularly in providing tourism buses to showcase these sites.
He also said that the city tourism launch will be combined with the Tourism Pitso, expected to attract around 1,000 attendees, benefiting small, medium, and micro enterprises.