Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-based wildlife reserve located about 25 km north of Serowe in Central District Botswana. The sanctuary lies on Kalahari sandy plains with Serwe pan, a large grass filled hollow with waterholes in the center. These waterholes attract a large number of animals throughout the year.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary was started in 1993 to protect the remaining rhinos and other animals that were almost wiped out by poaching in the 1980s. The people of Serowe, together with nearby villages, gave the land around Serwe Pan to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust. In 2002, black rhinos were brought back to the sanctuary.
Today, the sanctuary is one of the best places in Botswana for rhino protection and breeding. Rhinos born here are later moved to other parks to help increase their numbers. Apart from rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to more than 30 other animal species, such as impalas, zebras, giraffes, kudus, and elands.
Flora in Khama Rhino Sanctuary
The flora of Khama Rhino Sanctuary is shaped by the sandy soils of Kalahari and the dry climate of the area. The Serwe Pan is dominated by open grassland which provides food for grazing animals like rhinos, wildebeest, and zebras. The southern part of the sanctuary features thick vegetation with shrubs and trees offering browsing material for giraffes and kudu. One of the most common trees is the camelthorn, found in places like Camelthorn Island. Other thorn trees and hardy bushes also grow across the sanctuary, while grasses cover most of the open land.
Fauna in Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Khama Rhino Sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife. The sanctuary was established mainly to protect rhinos and it hosts both black and white rhinos. Besides rhinos, the sanctuary has many other mammals like giraffes, wildebeest, eland, springbok, zebras, gemsbok, impala, kudu, duiker, steenbok, blue wildebeest among others. Predators are also present though hard to spot and these include; black backed jackals, brown hyenas, leopards and African wild dogs. In addition to mammals, the sanctuary also hosts over 230 bird species and reptiles such as African rock python.
Activities in Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Guided nature walks
Nature walks in Khama Rhino Sanctuary offer a close up experience of wildlife. The visitors are led by the trained guides and they explore the sanctuary on foot while learning about animals, plants, and birds within. Guides also explain how to read animal tracks and signs giving a deeper understanding of the wild. These nature walks are usually conducted in the morning or late afternoon. Some of the animals that can be spotted include; antelopes, zebras, giraffes and bird species.
Game drives
Khama Rhino Sanctuary offers different types of game drives and these include; Guided Game Drives (Ranger‐led), Guided Drives in Your Vehicle, and Self-drive. Guided game drives are available in the early morning, late afternoon, and at night with the help of rangers who share knowledge about the animals and habitat. Self-drive options are provided with well sign posted roads which enable the visitors to explore the sanctuary at their pace. During game drives, a variety of animals can be spotted for instance, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, elans, kudu, other antelopes and bird species. The night game drives offer opportunities to see nocturnal animals.
Rhino tracking
Rhino tracking in Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a guided activity where visitors follow the footprints and signs of rhinos in their habitat. The activity is carried out in the morning and late afternoon when rhinos are active. Visitors are led by the rangers who share knowledge about rhino behavior, movement patterns and survival techniques. This activity is restricted to small groups of up to eight people and restricted to individuals aged between 16 to 60 years. Visitors are recommended to have proper footwear and bush colored clothes.
Best time to visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary
The best time to visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary is during the dry season between May and October. At this time, the vegetation is thinner and animals gather around waterholes, making it easier to spot rhinos, antelopes, and other wildlife. The weather during these months also makes game drives and outdoor activities more comfortable. During the wet season between November to April, the sanctuary transforms with the thicker vegetation and the pans are filled with water attracting a large number of migratory birds. While wildlife spreads out to abundant water resources making it hard to spot them.
How to access Khama Rhino Sanctuary
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is located 25 km north of Serowe in Central Botswana along the main highway between Palapye and Orapa. The sanctuary can either be accessed by road or air. By road, the sanctuary can be accessed with a normal 2WD car using different routes depending where one is. For instance, from Gaborone, the drive takes 4 to 5 hours (about 320 km), while from Francistown it is around 3 hours (220 km). Visitors from Maun can also reach the sanctuary in about 7 to 8 hours by road through Letlhakane. Public transport is available, with buses and shared taxis running from Gaborone or Francistown to Serowe or Palapye, where local taxis can take visitors to the sanctuary.
For air transport, one can use Gaborone or Francistown airport, both are connected to international flights. From these airports, visitors must continue by road to reach the sanctuary. There is also a small airstrip in Serowe that can be used for chartered flights thus offering a quicker option for travelers who prefer to fly directly closer to the sanctuary.