Kolobeng Mission

The Kolobeng Mission in Botswana's Kweneng District is a site of immense historical significance, inextricably linked to the renowned explorer and missionary David Livingstone. Established in 1847, Kolobeng was the only permanent mission station Livingstone ever built and where he resided with his wife, Mary. It was at this location that he converted the Bakwena people and their leader, Chief Sechele I, to Christianity, an event that marked a transformative era in regional history. Livingstone constructed a residential house and a church, the stone foundations of which remain visible as ruins today. The mission's activity was short-lived; it was largely destroyed during a Boer raid in 1852, an occurrence that prompted Livingstone to focus on his explorations further into the African interior. Kolobeng is famously recognized as the site where Sechele I became the first Tswana chief to be baptized. Now a protected national monument, the site stands as a testament to early 19th-century missionary efforts and cultural exchange in Botswana, allowing visitors to explore the building remains and the historic cemetery.

History & landmarks

Livingstone Memorial

The Kolobeng Mission ruins mark the site where David Livingstone lived and worked, serving as a landmark of 19th-century history.

Botswana Craft Building

Botswana Craft is a commercial and cultural landmark in Gaborone, famous for showcasing high-quality local handicrafts and hosting music …

Botswana Innovation Hub

The Botswana Innovation Hub is a striking modern facility designed to foster technology, science, and creative entrepreneurship.

Princess Marina Hospital

Princess Marina is Botswana's premier referral hospital and a vital healthcare landmark in the capital city.

Gaborone Hindu Temple

The Hindu Temple in Gaborone is a beautiful architectural landmark featuring intricate carvings and serving the local Indian community.

More places

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Dimawe Battlefield

Dimawe was the site of a pivotal 1852 battle where the Bakwena successfully resisted an invasion by Boer commandos.

Ntsweng Heritage Site

Ntsweng was the former capital of the Bakwena people before they moved to present-day Molepolole in 1937.

Kgosi Sechele I Museum

Housed in a former police station in Molepolole, this museum tells the story of the Bakwena and their leader Sechele I.

Masama Water Project

Masama Wellfield is a critical water infrastructure project supplying Gaborone and surrounding areas.

Okwa River

An old fossil river valley in the Kalahari.

Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari is a vast basin of sand and the largest continuous sand surface on Earth.

Nossob River

The Nossob River is a fossil riverbed forming the border with South Africa within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Manyana Rock Paintings

These ancient rock paintings near Manyana village are believed to have been created by the San people over 2,000 years ago.