Jwaneng sits on the edge of the Kalahari, about 170 kilometres south-west of Gaborone, and it exists because of what lies under the sand. Geologists found diamond-bearing kimberlite here, and the mine that opened more than four decades ago, nicknamed the Prince of Mines, is counted among the world's richest. The name Jwaneng is usually translated as a place of small stones. The town was laid out for the mine's workers and was once a closed town, where you needed permission to live. Today it's open to all, with tree-lined streets and a tidy centre that feel a long way from the dusty road outside.
Where the road leads
Jwaneng is the last town of any size on the Trans-Kalahari Highway before the long, quiet stretch west through Sekoma and Kang. Beyond it the farmland gives way to open Kalahari bush of grass and acacia, and the sky seems to grow with each kilometre. Drivers bound for the Kgalagadi or Ghanzi often stop here for fuel and supplies. The pans of Mabuasehube can be reached via Tsabong in the south or Tshane in the north. Heading back east, Kanye's Pharing Gorge is on the road towards Gaborone.
Booking on adventuro
Our guide to southern Botswana covers the district around Jwaneng and the villages towards Lobatse. Use the Book here tab to see live dates and prices.
