www.botswanawildlife.com
General
Its ideal location on the Serowe - Orapa road and peacefully situated camp sites, as well as its excellent wildlife, make the
KRS a popular destination for tourists on their way to the Game Reserves in the north of Botswana.
Despite being one of the smaller Reserves in Botswana the KRS is nevertheless a good wildlife destination in its own right. Apart from being the best place in Botswana to see White Rhino in the wild it also has numerous other animals which are commonly seen.
About the KRS
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary was set up in 1989 with the aim of facilitating the reintroduction of white rhino in Botswana. Covering approximately 4,300 hectares of Kalahari Sandveld, including several natural waterholes, the Sanctuary provides prime habitat for white and black rhino as well as over 30 other species of animals and over 230 species of birds.What to see and do
The Sanctuary's roads are well maintained and sign-posted making them suitable for self-drive game viewing in four and two-wheel
drive bakkies. Buy a copy of the map at the Entrance Gate and follow the signs to find your way round the Sanctuary.
There is a picnic site near the entrance gate with toilet facilities and braai stands - ideal for day visitors.
Pause for a while to watch the animals on Serwe Pan, enjoy the tranquility of the Bird Hide or watch the sunset over Malema's Pan. Alternatively book one of the guided game drives - these take about two hours, during which you will be guided around by well trained and knowledgeable Rangers. Morning drives start at 6am, afternoon drives at 4pm and night drives at 7pm.
RestaurantA new restaurant (pictured) was built in 2006 and is now open for business. Located near the entrance gate the restaurant hopes to cater for visitors from Serowe as well as for tourists staying in the Sanctuary. A swimming pool has recently been built here as well as two new chalets.
Wildlife
RhinoTo date, 14 white rhino have been translocated into the Sanctuary. The first four arrived in February 1993 from northern Botswana and were released to roam free within the Sanctuary. The Rhino settled well and have since bred successfully. Currently there are over 30 white rhino in the Sanctuary. The KRS is also home to two endangered Black Rhino.
Other Wildlife
Apart from the main aim of reintroducing White Rhino into Botswana, the KRS also sought to reintroduce other wildlife which had disappeared from the area due to human pressures. To this end a number of species have been introduced to the KRS such as Blue Wildebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Eland, Gemsbok, Springbok and Giraffe and these animals are commonly seen.
As well as these animals that have been reintroduced the KRS also has many
species that were resident in the area and these have flourished since the
Sanctuary was established such as Kudu, Steenbok and Common Duiker as well
as many of the smaller mammals. Night drives in the reserve give you an opportunity to see some of the shy, nocturnal animals that would otherwise go unseen - in the past these have produced sightings of Leopard, Brown Hyena, Caracal, Aardvark and Aardwolf.
In recent years a number of animals have been seen passing through including Cheetah, African Wild Dog and even a lone Elephant so keep your eyes peeled!
Accommodation
Mokongwa CampSituated to the South of the Sanctuary, in a grove of Mokongwa trees, and only a short drive from Serwe Pan, Mokongwa Camp has 5 chalets (pictured), each sleeping 4 people, and 13 campsites. The chalets have toilets and showers en-suite with hot water; bedding and towels are provided. They also have braai facilities, a fireplace and basic cooking equipment. The central feature of each site is a large Mokongwa tree providing character and shade. The campsites have a braai stand, a tap with birdbath and are served by two ablution blocks each with male and female showers with hot water.
Boma Camp
Situated on the edge of Serwe Pan the Boma Camp has 3 squaredavels and an A-frame chalet. The A-frame is a two-storey chalet which sleeps up to six people. It has a bush toilet and a hot shower and also braai facilities. Basic cooking equipment, crockery, bedding and towels are provided.
The three squaredavels each sleep two people. There is a communal braai area and ablution block making them ideal for backpackers.
Environmental Education
In accordance with one of its main objectives the KRS offers educational tours of the Sanctuary to schools and other interested
parties. An Environmental Education Centre (pictured) has been built, sponsored by the European Union, with dormitory and camping facilities. The Centre
aims to enable local school children to learn about the environment and the importance of protecting it. To do this a range of educational
material and activities, in line with the schools curriculum, has been produced.
The Education Centre also provides conference facilities for up to 100 people.
Future
Confidence in the Sanctuary and its achievements means that it continues to be recognised as a breeding centre for the re-population of white rhino in Botswana, as well as for the reintroduction of black rhino. The Southern Africa Rhino Specialist Group are keen to establish the Khama Rhino Sanctuary for this purpose.How to get there
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is on the main tarred road between Serowe and Orapa approximately 25km from Serowe.From Serowe:
Turn off north to Orapa as you come into the village from Palapye or opposite the Serowe main Mall. The Sanctuary is on the left hand side of the road approximately 5km beyond the village of Paje.
From Orapa:
Follow the road south for about 180km and the Sanctuary is on your right.
Rates
Khama Rhino Sanctuary Fees with effect from 1st December 2005.| Citizen | Resident | Non-Resident | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Fees | Adults per day | P12.10 | P22.00 | P27.50 |
| Children 6 - 12 yrs (incl) per day | P6.05 | P11.00 | P13.75 | |
| Children under 6 yrs per day | Free | Free | Free | |
| Vehicles < 5 ton per day | P18.15 | P27.50 | P33.50 | |
| Vehicles > 5 ton per day | P60.50 | P77.00 | P110.00 |
| Citizen | Resident | Non-Resident | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camping | Adults per night | P33.00 | P39.60 | P44.00 |
| Children 6 - 12 yrs (incl) per night | P16.50 | P19.80 | P22.00 | |
| Children under 6 yrs per night | Free | Free | Free | |
| Chalets | A and B - 4 people in one room | P242.00 | ||
| C, D and E - 4 people in two rooms | P302.50 | |||
| A-Frame | 6 people in two rooms | P423.50 | ||
| Squaredavels | 2 people in one room (no bedding) | P145.20 | ||
| Tourism Levy | P1.00 per bed per night | |||
| Game Drives | Minimum Fee | P275.00 for up to 4 adults | ||
| Additional Adults | P68.75 per person | |||
| Additional Children 6 - 12 yrs (incl) | P34.40 per child | |||
| Additional Children under 6 yrs | Free | |||
| Night Drives | Minimum Fee | P400.00 for up to 4 adults | ||
| Additional Adults | P100.00 per person | |||
| Additional Children 6 - 12 yrs (incl) | P50.00 per child | |||
| Additional Children under 6 yrs | Free | |||
| Guided Drives | Hire a guide using your own vehicle | P95.00 per guide | ||
Further Information
For organised self-drive safaris throughout Botswana contact:
DriveBotswana
P.O Box 10937
Palapye
Tel: (+267) 4923416
www.drivebotswana.com
