Kgale Hill

Kgale Hill rises to about thirteen hundred metres on the southwestern edge of Gaborone and is known locally as the sleeping giant for its profile against the skyline. The climb takes around an hour on a rocky path through thorn scrub, with baboons on the slopes, and the top gives the whole city, the dam and the country running out towards South Africa. It is the capital's default weekend exercise and the paths are busy on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Highlights

• The summit view - Gaborone, the dam and the surrounding country.
• The granite - boulder-strewn slopes and rock faces on the way up.
• The baboons - troops living on the hill, sometimes bold near the path.
• The weekend crowd - the city's regular climbers on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

When to go

April to September is the coolest and most comfortable. Early morning is essential in summer; the rock holds heat and there is no shade. The paths are slippery after rain.

Things to know

There have been muggings on the quieter routes and climbing alone is not advised locally. The path is rocky and steeper than it looks from below. There is no water on the hill and none at the trailhead.

Nearby

Gaborone Game Reserve is across the city, and Mokolodi is south.

Key facts