Mathathane Travel Guide

City Village in Central District, Botswana

Mathathane sits in Central District’s scrub country where cattle posts, mopane woodland and seasonal pans shape life. Visitors come for birding, market days, local barbecue and as a waypoint toward larger reserve camps.

Costs
Expect $25-50 per day
Very affordable local prices; travel to remote villages can raise total cost.
Safety
Generally safe, very rural
Low violent crime; expect wildlife and road hazards in remote areas.
Best Time
Best: May-September (dry season)
Cooler dry season has easier travel and clearer skies for exploring.
In This Guide
Local Time
8:02 PM
GMT+2
Weather
Clear 67°F
Clear
Population
1,987
Infrastructure & Convenience
Basic roads and services, limited public transport, highly walkable locally.
Popularity
Not a tourist hub; visited mainly by travelers seeking authentic rural Botswana.
Known For
cattle farming, subsistence agriculture, Setswana culture, kgotla meetings, open savannah, birdlife, rural markets, traditional homesteads, local crafts, quiet village life
Botswana villages commonly settle around a kgotla - a public meeting place used for local decisions and ceremonies.

Why Visit Mathathane? #

Mathathane offers a snapshot of rural Botswana life amid semi-arid landscapes and cattle-raising traditions of the Central District. The village atmosphere highlights Setswana hospitality, open-air gatherings with traditional music and local dishes such as seswaa. Travelers often stop here to experience everyday village markets, learn about pastoral livelihoods, and take short excursions toward nearby pans and bushland where birds and wildlife live beyond big safari lodges.

Best Things to Do in Mathathane

Mathathane Bucket List

Best Time to Visit Mathathane #

Visit during the cool, dry months (May-August) when roads are firm and wildlife congregates at waterholes. Avoid the wet, hot season when thunderstorms, thick vegetation and insects make travel harder.

Cool Dry Season
May - August · 10 to 25°C (50 to 77°F)
Perfect safari weather: mornings crisp, days sunny, wildlife gathers at shrinking waterholes, dust roads firm - travel is easy and mosquitoes uncommon.
Hot Season
September - November · 25 to 38°C (77 to 100°F)
Very hot days and increasing humidity; afternoon storms start to appear, roads may get dusty and challenging, early morning game viewing remains rewarding.
Rainy Season
December - March · 20 to 32°C (68 to 90°F)
Frequent thunderstorms, lush landscapes and newborn animals; tracks can become impassable and mosquitoes soar-expect verdant scenery but trickier logistics and planning.

Best Time to Visit Mathathane #

Climate

Mathathane's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in January) and mild winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 7°C to 32°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit
MayJuneAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
44°
Warmest Month
3°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with 70 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

83 Excellent

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
21° – 32°
55%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

70 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.0
UV Index
Extreme
13.2h daylight

February

February is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

85 Excellent

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
20° – 32°
55%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.8
UV Index
Extreme
12.7h daylight

March

March is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm).

89 Excellent

Comfort

25°
Feels Like Warm
25°C
Temperature
18° – 31°
55%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

39 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.4
UV Index
Extreme
12.1h daylight

April

April is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall.

91 Ideal

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
15° – 29°
54%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

20 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
11.5h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
10° – 27°
47%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

4 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.3
UV Index
High
10.9h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 7°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
7° – 24°
48%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

2 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.0
UV Index
High
10.7h daylight

July

July is the coolest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 7°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
7° – 24°
46%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

2 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
10.8h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 26°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
9° – 27°
41%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

1 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.3
UV Index
High
11.2h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
14° – 30°
38%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

8 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
11.8h daylight

October

October is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 17°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
17° – 32°
42%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

23 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.2
UV Index
Extreme
12.5h daylight

November

November is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

85 Excellent

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
19° – 32°
47%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

49 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
13.1h daylight

December

December is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

83 Excellent

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
20° – 32°
53%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

61 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.8
UV Index
Extreme
13.4h daylight

How to Get to Mathathane

By Air
By Train & Bus

How to Get Around Mathathane #

Mathathane is a small settlement in Botswana’s Central District; travel is easiest by private car or hired vehicle. Local roads may be unpaved, and public transport is limited to infrequent minibuses or shared taxis that connect to larger towns. On foot, the village is small enough to be walked but distances to shops or services can be spread out; a 4x4 is useful in the rainy season.

Where to Stay in Mathathane #

Budget
Nearest towns (Central District) - BWP 200-600/night
Mathathane is remote with limited accommodation. Budget travellers usually stay in larger nearby towns and travel in for visits.
Mid-Range
Francistown / Palapye area - BWP 400-1000/night
There are few mid-range hotels in Mathathane itself. Most visitors arrange stays in district towns and use local transport.
Luxury
Gaborone / Francistown - BWP 900+/night
No luxury hotels in Mathathane. For high-end stays you must travel to Botswana's larger cities where international brands operate.

Where to Eat in Mathathane #

Nightlife in Mathathane #

There is little formal nightlife. Evenings are typically low‑key, with socialising around community hubs rather than pubs or clubs. Visitors should not expect late‑night entertainment in town.

Shopping in Mathathane #

Shopping is limited to local spaza shops and market stalls selling everyday items and basic groceries. For larger purchases or a wider selection you’ll need to go to a regional centre such as Palapye or Francistown.

Nearby Cities #

Tsetsebjwe
40 km away
Bobonong
Bobonong
47 km away
Gobojango
49 km away
Sefophe
81 km away
Mogapi
94 km away
Selebi-Phikwe
99 km away
Mogapinyana
120 km away
Maunatlala
121 km away