Gaborone Dam, Embankment dam near Gaborone, Botswana

The Gaborone Dam is an embankment dam on the Notwane River that provides water to Gaborone and the surrounding region. The structure creates a large reservoir used for water supply, irrigation, and recreational activities for the local community.

The dam was built in 1963 to supply water to the growing capital city. It was later heightened during the 1980s to increase storage capacity and improve water security for the region.

The Gaborone Yacht Club sits on the northern shore of the reservoir, while the Kalahari Fishing Club and the City Scapes public facility, with parks, playgrounds and boating facilities, occupy the southern end. Birdwatchers, windsurfers and anglers use the water; swimming is avoided because of crocodiles and bilharzia, which transmits schistosomiasis.

The dam can be explored from several access points along the shoreline and viewing areas. Walking around the reservoir is popular with visitors, and bringing binoculars is useful for birdwatching since the area attracts many water birds.

The Gaborone Yacht Club sits on the northern side of the reservoir, not on an island. The reservoir and its green buffer zone form the largest and most fragile ecosystem in the Gaborone area, and a neon signboard in the city tells residents how full the reservoir is.