# Ranaka Locality, Southern, Southern District – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/ranaka/

Census locality · Southern 

# Ranaka

Ranaka is a census locality of Botswana in Southern, Southern District. It had an estimated **3,152 people** in 2023 on 159 km² (about 20 per km²). 18 named villages and localities are recorded here.

- 3,152people (2023)
- 159km²
- 1,167 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Ranaka?

Ranaka had an estimated **3,152 people** in 2023 — 2.3% of Southern, 114th of 519 census localities. There are 1,035 women for every 1,000 men (below the Southern figure of 1,120). Spread over 159 km², that is about **20 people per km²**, 147th of 519 census localities.

32.1% of people are children under 15 and 11.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 29 years (it is 27 across Southern). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 77 children and older people.

0–4 ****349**

5–9 ****353**

10–14 ****310**

15–19 ****224**

20–24 ****197**

25–29 ****182**

30–34 ****158**

35–39 ****161**

40–44 ****186**

45–49 ****162**

50–54 ****190**

55–59 ****190**

60–64 ****133**

65–69 ****102**

70–74 ****97**

75–79 ****79**

80+ ****79**

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-bwa).

## Where is Ranaka?

Ranaka lies in [Southern](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/), [Southern District](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/), [Botswana](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/). It borders 6 other census localities: [Kanye](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/kanye/), [Lekgolobotlo](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/lekgolobotlo/), [Lotlhakane](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/lotlhakane/), [Manyana](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/manyana/), [Moshupa](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/moshupa/) and [Ntlhantlhe](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/ntlhantlhe/). By area it is the 299th largest of 519 census localities in Botswana. It covers 1.3% of [Southern](https://wherepedia.org/botswana/southern/southern/). The centre of Ranaka is about 53 km in a straight line from Gaborone, the capital. It is about 16 km from Kanye, the main town of Southern. The centre point is at 24.9541° S, 25.4950° E.

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-bwa).

## Things to see in and around Ranaka

### Nearby, outside Ranaka

- Kanye Gorge · waterfall, Kanye13 km
- Polokwe View Point · attraction, Kanye15 km
- Kgosi Bathoen II Museum · museum, Kanye16 km

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Ranaka

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Gaborone
- CurrencyPula (BWP)
- Country calling code+267
- LanguagesEnglish, Tswana
- Plug typesType D, G · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft

### Nearest airports

- Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) · Gaborone62 km
- George Dick Montshioa Airport (MBD) · Mafeking94 km

### Nearest railway station

Otse (Otse), about 27 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.7 hours, sunrise around 05:22) and shortest in Jun (about 10.6 hours, sunrise around 07:00, sunset around 17:35).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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.

## Villages and localities in Ranaka

Open gazetteers list **18 villages, towns and localities** in Ranaka. Settlements here lie between about 1,118 m and 1,205 m above sea level (median 1,167 m).

- Bathobabangwe
- Dinogeng
- Galewane
- Kgamagadi
- Lehatlheng
- Lohawe
- Lonatong
- Makabile
- Masebopeng
- Matlalo
- Mokalana
- Motswire
- Nomare
- Phokojeng
- Pitsane
- Ranaka
- Tsitlane
- Tsonye

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Ranaka

Named natural and historic features inside Ranaka, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Hills and mountains

1 valley.

- Ranaka Valley · 1,152 m

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Ranaka and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Southern, the warmest month is Jan (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (12 °C). About 521 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (93 mm) and the driest Jul (1 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 26 92 

Feb 25 91 

Mar 23 73 

Apr 20 41 

May 16 11 

Jun 13 9 

Jul 12 1 

Aug 16 3 

Sep 20 10 

Oct 24 31 

Nov 25 66 

Dec 26 93 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Ranaka

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Oristone Medical Clinic · Kanye 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.98330&mlon=25.35000#map=17/-24.98330/25.35000) 

Bank Barclays Bank · Kanye 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.97974&mlon=25.33777#map=17/-24.97974/25.33777) 

ATM Mongala Mall · Kanye 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.98239&mlon=25.34323#map=17/-24.98239/25.34323) 

Petrol pump Shell · Kanye 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.99114&mlon=25.35204#map=17/-24.99114/25.35204) 

Hotel Warm Hands Hotel · Kanye 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-25.00886&mlon=25.36006#map=17/-25.00886/25.36006) 

Mall Mongala Mall · Kanye 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.98130&mlon=25.34255#map=17/-24.98130/25.34255) 

School Sebako Primary School · Kanye 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.97218&mlon=25.36014#map=17/-24.97218/25.36014) 

College Kanye Police College · Kanye 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-25.00925&mlon=25.37426#map=17/-25.00925/25.37426) 

Police station Old Police Station · Kanye 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-24.99017&mlon=25.34836#map=17/-24.99017/25.34836) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Other census localities in Southern

- Betesankwe
- Diabo
- Dipotsana
- Gasita
- Kanye
- Kgomokasitwa
- Lefoko
- Lekgolobotlo
- Lorolwana
- Lotlhakane
- Lotlhakane West
- Magotlhwane
- Manyana
- Maokane
- Mogonye
- Mokhomba
- Molapowabojang
- Moshaneng
- Moshupa
- Ntlhantlhe
- Pitseng
- Ralekgetho
- Segwagwa
- Seherelela
- Selokolela
- Semane
- Sese
- Sesung
- Tlhankane
- Tshwaane
- Tsonyane

## Quick answers

- Where is Ranaka?In Southern, Southern District, Botswana
- What is the population of Ranaka?3,152 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Ranaka?About 29 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Ranaka?About 20 people per km²
- What borders Ranaka?Kanye, Lekgolobotlo, Lotlhakane, Manyana, Moshupa and Ntlhantlhe
- What is there to see in Ranaka?Kanye Gorge, Polokwe View Point, Kgosi Bathoen II Museum
- What time zone is Ranaka in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Ranaka?Pula (BWP)
- What language is spoken in Ranaka?English, Tswana (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Ranaka?18 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Ranaka?Settlements lie between 1,118 m and 1,205 m
- What is the highest point in Ranaka?Ranaka Valley (1,152 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Ranaka?January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Ranaka?Oristone Medical Clinic, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Ranaka?Barclays Bank, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Ranaka?Mongala Mall, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Ranaka?Shell, about 15 km from the centre
- What is the P-code of Ranaka?BW080102 (OCHA common operational dataset)