Serowe Airport

Replacement and obsolescence. The old airstrip was a basic, unpaved facility. As part of a national infrastructure development initiative, the Government of Botswana invested in constructing a new, modern airport for Serowe. The new airport (FBSW) features a 1,740-meter paved runway, modern lighting, and better facilities, making it safer and more reliable. The old airport was decommissioned as it was no longer required.

The site is abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery confirms the former runway is unmaintained, significantly overgrown with grass and shrubs, and is being reclaimed by the surrounding environment. The outline of the runway is still clearly visible from the air, but vehicle tracks can be seen crossing it, indicating it is no longer secured or used for aviation. The site has no formal current use.

For many decades, this airstrip was the primary air access point for Serowe, the capital of Botswana's Central District and the traditional capital of the Bamangwato people. It played a crucial role in connecting this important administrative and cultural center. Operations were primarily general aviation, including government and administrative flights, medical evacuation services (Medevac), private charters, and flights supporting the local tourism industry, such as access to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. It was a vital, if rudimentary, piece of infrastructure before the development of modern transportation links in the region.

There are zero prospects for reopening this airport. Its functions have been completely and permanently transferred to the new, superior Serowe Airport (FBSW), which is located just a few kilometers to the southwest. The old site is considered permanently closed to all air traffic.