District · Botswana # Central District Central District is a district of Botswana. It had an estimated 659,944 people in 2023 on 145,410 km² (about 4.5 per km²). Its main town is Serowe. It is divided into 5 sub-districts. 942 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 527 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 659,944 people (2023) - 145,410 km² - 5 sub-districts - 527 mapped services ## How many people live in Central District? Central District had an estimated 659,944 people in 2023 — 27.3% of Botswana, the most populous of 17 districts. There are 1,111 women for every 1,000 men (above the Botswana figure of 1,086). Spread over 145,410 km², that is about 4.5 people per km², 13th of 17 districts. 33.0% of people are children under 15 and 7.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 25 years (it is 27 across Botswana). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 68 children and older people. - 0–4 71,468 - 5–9 73,079 - 10–14 73,145 - 15–19 68,160 - 20–24 45,852 - 25–29 44,756 - 30–34 42,751 - 35–39 39,014 - 40–44 38,234 - 45–49 34,349 - 50–54 30,213 - 55–59 26,511 - 60–64 22,562 - 65–69 16,209 - 70–74 13,373 - 75–79 9,899 - 80+ 10,369 Source: UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO). ## Where is Central District? Central District lies in Botswana. It borders 9 other districts: Chobe District, Ghanzi District, Kgatleng District, Kweneng District, North East District, North West District, Orapa District, Selibe Phikwe District and Sowa Town District. By area it is the largest of 17 districts in Botswana. It covers 25.2% of Botswana. The centre of Central District is about 353 km in a straight line from Gaborone, the capital. The centre point is at 21.4789° S, 25.9068° E. Source: UNFPA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO). ## Things to see in and around Central District OpenStreetMap lists 87 named sights in Central District: 27 attractions; 25 viewpoints; 17 nature reserves; 8 monuments; 4 caves; 3 ruins; 1 memorial; 1 museum; 1 zoo. - Khama III Memorial Museum · museum - CT/1 · nature reserve - CT/10 · nature reserve - CT/11 · nature reserve - CT/12 Soad Ashe Game Reserve · nature reserve - CT/2 Concession · nature reserve - CT/3 Concession · nature reserve - CT/5 · nature reserve - Central Tuli · nature reserve - Flamingo Sanctuary · nature reserve - Goo Moremi Gorge · nature reserve - Khama Rhino Sanctuary · nature reserve - Limpopo Lipadi Game and Wilderness Reserve · nature reserve - Makgadikgadi Pans National Park · nature reserve - Nata Bird Sanctuary · nature reserve - Northern Tuli Game Reserve · nature reserve - Tuli Farms · nature reserve - Tuli Farms Safari Area · nature reserve - Big Baobab Tree · viewpoint - Corner top B · viewpoint - Crocodiles · viewpoint - Down corner A · viewpoint - Harry's Camp · viewpoint - Hide · viewpoint - Hippo Pools · viewpoint - Kaoza Spring · viewpoint - Khama Hide · viewpoint - Kubu Island · viewpoint - Limpopo River Viewpoint · viewpoint - Old Grader · viewpoint …and 57 more. Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements. Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Central District - Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Gaborone - Currency Pula (BWP) - Country calling code +267 - Languages English, Tswana - Plug types Type D, G · 230 V - Driving side Left ### Nearest airports - Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport (FRW) · Francistown 166 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 13.4 hours, sunrise around 05:28) and shortest in Jun (about 10.8 hours, sunrise around 06:51, sunset around 17:41). | Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | | Jan | 05:45 | 19:04 | 13.3 h | | Feb | 06:06 | 18:55 | 12.8 h | | Mar | 06:18 | 18:33 | 12.2 h | | Apr | 06:28 | 18:05 | 11.6 h | | May | 06:39 | 17:45 | 11.1 h | | Jun | 06:51 | 17:41 | 10.8 h | | Jul | 06:54 | 17:50 | 10.9 h | | Aug | 06:40 | 18:01 | 11.4 h | | Sep | 06:13 | 18:10 | 11.9 h | | Oct | 05:45 | 18:18 | 12.6 h | | Nov | 05:27 | 18:34 | 13.1 h | | Dec | 05:28 | 18:54 | 13.4 h | Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Sub-districts of Central District | Sub-district | People | per km² | Area km² | Census localities | Services | | Serowe Palapye | 213,174 | 6.1 | 34,823 | 45 | 194 | | Tutume | 184,868 | 4.3 | 43,010 | 42 | 102 | | Mahalapye | 120,845 | 6.4 | 18,787 | 38 | 77 | | Bobonong | 73,531 | 4.9 | 14,917 | 18 | 86 | | Boteti | 67,526 | 2.0 | 33,759 | 16 | 68 | Source: UNFPA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO). ## Largest towns in Central District - Serowe 55,676 - Palapye 52,636 - Mahalapye 48,431 - Letlhakane 36,404 - Tonota 23,296 - Bobonong 21,216 - Tutume 18,582 - Mmadinare 13,198 - Borolong 8,917 - Shoshong 8,887 - Nata 7,779 - Lerala 7,204 - Sefophe 6,001 - Maitengwe 5,929 - Mathangwane 5,918 Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features. Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above. ## Landscape and landmarks of Central District Named natural and historic features inside Central District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 32 rivers and streams; 9 dams; 2 reservoirs and tanks. - Bonwapitse - Dzivanini - Ikongwe Dam - Komu Dia Tsaba Laagte - Leupane Dam - Leupane Dam - Lotsane - Machokwane River - Machooloata - Maitengwe - Manasilonoko - Marapong - Marsupe River - Mhalatswe River - Mita - Mmoko Dam - Mogatsapoo Dam - Mojali - Mopipi Dam - Mothwane - Motloutse - Motolo Dam - Namakegotole - Nata …and 19 more. ### Coast and islands 2 islands. - Gabasari Island - Kubu Island ### Hills and mountains 196 hills; 6 mountains; 1 mountain pass. - Kaleke Hill · 1,309 m - Marakalalo · 1,301 m - Kgorotlhwe Hill · 1,287 m - Ikongwe Hill · 1,280 m - Majambuwi Hill · 1,279 m - Mokware · 1,268 m - Mmammoloke Hill · 1,250 m - Tapane Hill · 1,236 m - Mangwedi Hill · 1,232 m - Phuduhudu Hill · 1,230 m - Leruti Hill · 1,229 m - Leropo Hill · 1,227 m - Serokwalani · 1,226 m - Lehatse · 1,218 m - Swaneng Hill · 1,213 m - Tsakalisa Hill · 1,209 m - Mowana Hill · 1,208 m - Khubulabobedi Hill · 1,207 m - Mabeleapodi Hill · 1,205 m - Mahatse Hill · 1,203 m - Sephikamolelo Hill · 1,203 m - Matshwane Hill · 1,197 m - Tebele Hill · 1,194 m - Ga-u-shupa · 1,192 m …and 179 more. ### Forests and nature 1 park. - Makgadikgadi National Park ### History 1 ruin. - Lishwingo Ruin ### Estates 2 estates. - Marakalalo Estate - Notwane Estate ### Getting around 7 airfields; 6 airports; 1 bridge. - Gweta - Jwala - Leroolatau - Limpopo Camp - Machaneng Airport - Nata Airport - Orapa Airport - Palapye Airport - Saamboubrug - Selebi Phikwe - Seleka - Sua Pan Airport - Sunny Side - Tuli Lodge Airport Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features. Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Central District and the best time to visit In Central District, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (16 °C). About 396 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (88 mm) and the driest Jul (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec | Month | Average °C | Rain mm | | Jan | 27 | 88 | | Feb | 26 | 72 | | Mar | 25 | 48 | | Apr | 23 | 21 | | May | 19 | 3 | | Jun | 16 | 7 | | Jul | 16 | 0 | | Aug | 19 | 0 | | Sep | 23 | 4 | | Oct | 27 | 22 | | Nov | 28 | 50 | | Dec | 28 | 80 | Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Central District Places mapped inside Central District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals 31 - Banks 17 - ATMs 9 - Petrol pumps 79 - Hotels 132 - Shopping malls 33 - Schools 124 - Colleges and universities 13 - Pharmacies 7 - Restaurants 54 - Police stations 19 - Dental clinics 9 Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Quick answers - Where is Central District? In Botswana - What is the population of Central District? 659,944 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Central District? About 25 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Central District? About 4.5 people per km² - What borders Central District? Chobe District, Ghanzi District, Kgatleng District, Kweneng District, North East District, North West District, Orapa District, Selibe Phikwe District and Sowa Town District - What is there to see in Central District? 2 Mopipi trees, Big Baobab Tree, CT/1, CT/10 - What time zone is Central District in? UTC+2 - What currency is used in Central District? Pula (BWP) - What language is spoken in Central District? English, Tswana (main languages nationally) - What is the largest town in Central District? Serowe - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Central District? 2 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Central District? Kaleke Hill (1,309 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Central District? January to December - How many hospitals are in Central District? 31 mapped - How many banks are in Central District? 17 mapped - How many ATMs are in Central District? 9 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Central District? 79 mapped - What is the P-code of Central District? BW12 (OCHA common operational dataset) At a glance - Type: District - Area: 145,409.9 km² - P-code: BW12 - Main town: Serowe --- Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/botswana/central/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.