Khama Rhino Sanctuary

In 1989 a group of Serowe residents conceived the idea of a wildlife reserve near Serowe. Serwe Pan, then a cattle post, had been a traditional hunting area teeming with wildlife and the residents wished to re-establish it to its earlier splendour. In 1993 the Ngwato Land Board allocated the land around Serwe Pan to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust. The site was chosen due to its excellent habitat for rhinoceros. Covering approximately 4,300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld, the Sanctuary is centred on Serwe Pan – a large grass-covered depression with several natural water holes. Serwe Pan provides prime habitat for white rhinoceros and other grazing animals, whilst the dense vegetation in the southern area of the Sanctuary is favoured by browsing animals such as giraffe.
The Sanctuary lies 25km north of historic Serowe on the Serowe-Orapa road. Serowe, one of the largest traditional villages in Africa, is the birthplace of Botswana’s first President, the late Sir Seretse Khama. Paje and Mabeleapodi are two small picturesque villages within fifteen kilometres of the Sanctuary; the total number of white rhino at the Sanctuary is currently 34. There are also two black rhinos. The Sanctuary is home to other wildlife which have settled naturally or been trans-located in: zebra, blue wildebeest, giraffe, eland, springbok, impala, gemsbok, kudu, steenbok, duiker, red hartebeest, waterbuck, warthog, leopard, ostrich, African wild cat, caracal, small spotted genet, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, brown hyena. Over 230 bird species have also been identified here including Abdim’s stork and bearded woodpecker here; you will get to track Rhinos by following on its tracks and learning a few tricks about the wild. This activity is very interesting and is conducted by qualified guides. The purpose of the activity is not only to find the rhinos, but also to learn some survival techniques and habits that these animals have adopted in their evolution.