Sipping a cool drink while searching for white rhinos, giraffes, and cheetahs just outside the city borders offers a fantastic escape into the wild. Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a private, non-profit reserve dedicated to conservation and environmental education. Visitors can climb into open-top safari vehicles for guided game drives, tracking herds of impala, kudu, and zebras across the dry valley.
The true highlight of the reserve is its successful white rhino breeding program, which gives visitors a rare chance to see these magnificent, endangered creatures up close in their natural habitat.
One fun fact people love:
Mokolodi serves as a sanctuary for injured and orphaned wildlife, and all proceeds from tourism go directly toward funding educational visits for local school children.
Where in Gaborone is it?
Located on the Lobatse Road, approximately 15 kilometers south of Gaborone's city center.
How to reach:
Easily reached by booking a private taxi, utilizing a rental car, or arranging a pickup directly through the Mokolodi booking office.
Best time to visit:
May to September when the dry winter weather forces animals to gather around the reserve's main waterholes.
Best time of day:
Late afternoon around 3:30 PM for a sunset game drive, which finishes with a traditional sundowner drink in the bush.
Entry fee:
A standard guided game drive costs approximately BWP 150 to BWP 250 per person, which directly supports the conservation trust.
Commute difficulty:
Easy; a short drive on a paved highway followed by a well-maintained dirt entrance road.
Things nobody tells you about this place:
- They offer exciting night safaris where you can use spotlights to search for nocturnal animals like bushbabies, leopards, and hyenas.
- The reserve features a fantastic lakeside restaurant serving wild game dishes, which is highly recommended for lunch before your afternoon drive.
- You can book a guided bush walk, allowing you to track wild giraffes on foot accompanied by an armed ranger.
