Mokolodi Nature Reserve

Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a distinctive private, not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary located just 10 to 15 kilometers south of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. Established in 1994 on 30 square kilometers of former farmland, its creation was driven by the Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation with a core mission focused on conservation and environmental education. Unlike Botswana’s vast wilderness parks, Mokolodi serves as an accessible introduction to the country’s fauna and plays a critical role in breeding programs for endangered species, most notably the white rhino.

The reserve offers a wide variety of activities suitable for day visitors and families. Beyond standard day and night game drives, it features unique, hands-on experiences such as guided white rhino and giraffe tracking on foot, where visitors learn conservation tracking techniques. Other popular activities include horseback safaris, cycling on dedicated mountain bike trails, and educational visits to a cheetah enclosure and a reptile park. The reserve also hosts special events like “bush braais” (barbecues) and an annual photography competition.

Mokolodi’s wildlife population includes a diverse array of species such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala, and ostrich. Its most celebrated conservation success is a highly successful white rhino reintroduction and breeding program, which has helped rebuild the national herd. The reserve also operates a sanctuary for orphaned or injured animals that cannot be returned to the wild, including predators like cheetah, and maintains an on-site animal clinic. Furthermore, it is a haven for birdwatchers, with over 300 recorded bird species.

Education is central to Mokolodi’s mandate. Its Education Centre hosts environmental programs for over 9,000 schoolchildren annually, with facilities including dormitories for overnight stays. For visitors, accommodation within the reserve ranges from campsites and self-catering chalets to the Alexander McCall Smith Traditional Rest Camp. Conveniently located just a 15-minute drive from Gaborone, Mokolodi provides a readily accessible safari experience, with the dry winter months from May to September generally considered the best time for wildlife viewing.