Francistown's Supa-gwao Museum (tel: 240 3088) doubles as an information centre. It also features examples of modern art, including sculptures in the surrounding grounds.

Just outside of town is Botswana's only animal orphanage, owned by the Uncharted Safari Company. Currently based at Birds and Game Farm, Plot 8, Inchwe, it was started several years ago by Nicky Bousfield with the aim of rehabilitating the animals in order to be able to release them back into the wild. Over the years, elephants, cheetah, leopard, crocodiles, snakes and a variety of rare birds and smaller mammals have found refuge here, but the orphanage is now hoping to raise the money to move to community land in the hills outside Francistown. If the plan is successful, the animals would be cared for in large areas of natural bush, and the project would incorporate a residential educational centre so that children could learn about conservation, ecology, history and geology. The orphanage is open to visitors every day from 10.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00. Admission is P5 for adults and P3 for children. Visitors should tel: 241 2277 for directions, or ask almost anyone how to get to 'Birds and Game'.

Birdwatching trips can be arranged with Mike West of Woodlands 4X4 Campsite (tel: 241 4708/4713; cell: 7130 2906; email: riverbend@botsnet.bw); you may be lucky enough to see the migrant woodland kingfisher, which nests here in the summer. And if you're at the campsite, you'll find the Selolwe Ruins, designated a national monument, within walking distance.

Entertainment and nightlife

Francistown may not have a lot to offer in the way of entertainment, but there is a cinema and a jazz club, the New Yorker. Both the Marangu and the Thapama hotels have bars and casinos.