The area around Palapye offers natural and cultural destinations with distinct attractions: Goo Moremi Gorge is known for its gorges, waterfalls and birdlife; Old Palapye for its designation as a monument and the remains of a historic church building. This contrast can help you weigh up landscapes and history when planning your trip.
Natural attractions near Palapye
Goo Moremi Gorge lies within a 1,836-hectare protected area at the foot of the Tswapong Hills. Perennial streams have carved deep gorges into the hills, and waterfalls plunge into deep pools surrounded by lush vegetation. The gorges are home to abundant wildlife and distinctive birdlife. Water, landforms and wildlife together define the area’s natural character.
Goo Moremi Gorge is also a community-based cultural and heritage tourism offering. It is managed by the Moremi-Manonnye Conservation Trust in partnership with the Botswana Tourism Organisation. This community-based approach complements the landscape features and is also part of the destination’s character.
Cultural heritage in Old Palapye
Old Palapye was designated a National Monument in 1938 and falls under the jurisdiction of the National Museum and Monuments. The remains of the London Missionary Society Church date from 1891 to 1894; the front and rear of the brick building are still standing. This provides a specific architectural point of interest alongside the site’s monument designation. The dates mark two historical milestones: the church dates from the late 19th century, and the site was designated in 1938.
The Tswapong Hills in the Central District
Within the broader destination of the Central District, the Tswapong Hills Cultural Landscape covers a mountain range about 70 km long and about 15 km wide, rising around 400 m above its surroundings. These dimensions describe a broader landscape than that of a single gorge. The Tswapong Hills have deep gorges and seasonal rivers and streams fed by natural springs. Waterfalls form deep, moss-lined pools; during heavier rains, waterfalls form and collect in lagoons.
Moremi Gorge is also located in the Tswapong Hills in the Central District. It can be reached on foot via a steep climb and is the source of three waterfalls that flow year-round. The first two form large pools. The uppermost waterfall is 10 m high and plunges over rocky ledges into a densely vegetated lagoon. Moremi Gorge has great religious and spiritual significance for the local community and was declared a National Monument.
A practical tip for planning your trip
If you are looking for a hotel in Palapye, the different attractions can help guide your travel plans: Goo Moremi Gorge is all about landscapes and wildlife, while Old Palapye offers its monument designation and the surviving parts of the church building. As a courtesy, visitors to the Tswapong Hills are advised to ask the local Headman for permission before entering. Check this recommendation locally before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Nata, Mahalapye, Letlhakane, Mathathane, Selibe-Phikwe, Lentswelemoriti.
Back to the broader travel overview: Central District.
