Stepping into the busy workshop of Lentswe-la-Oodi Weavers offers a colorful and artistic journey into rural Tswana village life. This historic cooperative was established in the 1970s to provide sustainable employment and artistic expression for local women. Visitors can watch the entire process of carding, spinning, and hand-dyeing wool before seeing the weavers create stunning, large-scale tapestries on traditional wooden looms.
What makes the tapestries so fascinating is that they are not abstract designs; they depict detailed, hand-woven stories of local history, village farming, and traditional Tswana legends.
One fun fact people love:
Every single tapestry produced at Oodi is completely unique, with the individual weaver designing the story and color patterns entirely from their own imagination.
Where in Gaborone is it?
Located in Oodi Village, roughly 20 kilometers north of Gaborone along the road to Francistown.
How to reach:
Accessible by taking a rental car north along the A1 highway, or by taking a local shared combi bus heading toward Oodi village.
Best time to visit:
Year-round, though visiting during weekdays ensures you will see the weavers actively working at their looms.
Best time of day:
Morning around 10:00 AM when the workshop is bustling with activity and the natural morning light showcases the colorful wool.
Entry fee:
Entry to the workshop and gallery is completely free, though purchasing a tapestry or hand-woven item from the shop is highly encouraged.
Commute difficulty:
Moderate; the drive involves turning off the main highway onto unpaved, sandy village roads that can be bumpy.
Things nobody tells you about this place:
- You can meet the individual artist who wove your specific tapestry, as their personal signature is hand-stitched into the corner of the fabric.
- The prices in the cooperative shop are significantly cheaper than buying the same tapestries in city galleries or international airports.
- The wool used is completely local, sourced from Botswanan sheep and colored using natural, vegetable-based dyes made on-site.
