After Botswana achieved independence from Britain in the mid-1960s, Gaborone became the new capital of the country. Other than having administrative experience, Gaborone had no tribal affiliation and was close to the railroad and to freshwater. The fact that the Gaborone Dam had been successfully created was a crucial precondition for the rapid growth of the city. The city center is called “Main Mall” and it hosts a long trail of commercial businesses and government buildings. However, as soon as you leave the main roads, wildlife areas soon embrace the city which stands on the cusp of the Kalahari desert. The city was named after Chief Gaborone, leader of the Batlokwa people, who migrated to settle in and control the surrounding area and introduced a tolerant mindset that is able to gather different cultures. The National Museum and Art Gallery collect and display many traditional crafts and local artworks. Moreover, the museum opened a botanical garden aimed at preserving Botswana’s indigenous plant life and annually commemorates the national culture through basket exhibitions.