Shashe Dam- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Nestled just southwest of Francistown in northeastern Botswana, Shashe Dam spans approximately 15 km in length and 4.2 km at its widest, with a storage capacity of around 85 million m³ reflecting its significance as a major engineered reservoir. Originally completed in 1973 to supply water to the mining centre of Selebi-Phikwe, the dam later took on a critical role in supporting Francistown's urban supply after nitrate-tainted groundwater became unreliable in the early 1980s. Today, the reservoir supports a diverse ecosystem including fish, otters, Nile monitor lizards, turtles, and a rich variety of birdlife, and serves as a local hub for fishing—commercial, subsistence, and recreational alike.