New Year’s Day

Definitely, New Year’s Day is one of the most famous festivals in Botswana. It is a public and national holiday, taking place in January. Outdoor gatherings, traditional music, dances, and popular events with plenty of food and drink are all part of the New Year celebrations in this country. Because more than 70% of the population is Christian, it is unsurprising that they observe New Year’s Day in the same way as the rest of the world.

Party and BBQs are celebrated across the country on New Year’s Day. Like people around the world, the Botswana people also often reunite with their friends and families, waiting excitedly until midnight when the clock strikes 12. Then the streets are filled with the loud banging of drums and people screaming. Many people in Botswana still practice the long-standing tradition of visiting Maun - the gateway to the Okavango Delta and is knowns as the party central of Botswana.

When: January 1st

Where: All across the country