Old Palapye
The ruins of a Victorian stone church and an abandoned Ngwato capital in the hills near Palapye.
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Khama III moved the Bangwato capital here in 1889 and the town grew to several thousand people before being abandoned in 1902 when the water ran short and the railway went elsewhere. The most substantial survivor is the London Missionary Society church, built of stone in the 1890s and now roofless with its walls and window openings standing among the bush. Around it are terraces, stone walling and the outlines of the town, spread over a large area in the hills.
What you actually see
- The church - a roofless stone building of the 1890s, the main survivor.
- The town outlines - terraces and stone walling spread through the bush.
- The hillside setting - the abandoned capital laid out across the slopes.
- The scale - a settlement of thousands, now returned to bush.
When to go
April to September is the dry season and the most comfortable. Grass is high after the rains from December to March and hides much of the ground. Morning is best before the heat.
Honest expectations
Much of the site is overgrown and hard to read without a guide. The access track is rough and a high-clearance vehicle helps. Facilities are minimal.
Nearby
Palapye is east, and Serowe is northwest.
What to pack for Old Palapye
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
