​Overview – Mokolodi NR

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Botswana & Namibia guide.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Anthony is the author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a small, private reserve on the outskirts of Gaborone. Day visitors can drive themselves in the reserve, or book a two-hour, open-vehicle day or night drive. Tourism is only one of Mokolodi’s operations; it also has a white rhino breeding program and a wildlife sanctuary that supports sick or injured wildlife. Activities include rhino and giraffe tracking.

Best Time To Go May to September (Dry season)
High Season Never (The reserve follows tourist seasons)
Size 51km² / 20mi²
Altitude 1,020-1,306m / 3,346-4,285ft

Pros & Cons

  • Easy day trip from Gaborone
  • Very affordable
  • Good alternative to accommodation in the city
  • Self-drive and guided drives are both options
  • Cycling on three mountain bike tracks available
  • Great for children
  • Bush breakfast and bush barbecues available
  • Rhino or giraffe tracking
  • Easy photography
  • More an elaborate zoo than a wildlife reserve

Mokolodi NR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

The reserve is home to a variety of animals, some of which are semi-tame. Wildlife includes zebra, hippo, kudu, impala and waterbuck. The star animals in the park are white rhino and giraffe – both can be tracked as an activity and a drive through an enclosure with two cheetah can also be booked. Night drives provide a chance to see a brown hyena or honey badger.

Scenery

Just 12km/7mi from Gaborone, the reserve is a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a dam on the reserve, and rolling hills extend to the horizon.

Weather & Climate

Mokolodi enjoys a rather pleasant winter (May to September), with hardly any rain and plenty of sun. It does get chilly at night and early in the morning, though, so warm clothing is a must if you’re going wildlife watching at these times. Summer (October to April) is a wet and hot affair, made bearable mainly because of the low humidity.

Best Time To Visit

You can go wildlife watching in Mokolodi at practically any time of year. The weather is rarely extreme, and the reserve is small enough to be easily navigable. It’s only when the rains arrive (October to April) that game drives may be challenged by the odd downpour and degraded roads. Spotting animals is easier in the drier months, however, when the undergrowth thins out.

Want To Visit Mokolodi NR?

Mokolodi Operators

Mokolodi NR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Stephen Cunliffe  –  
South Africa ZA

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

A Convenient Introduction to Botswana
3/5

Located a mere 10km south of the capital, the fenced Mokolodi Nature Reserve provides a pleasant alternative whenever you find yourself having to spend time in Gaborone. At just 3,700 hectares, its small size and rehabilitated cattle farms...

Full Review

Latest User Review
GoingPlaceswithME  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Aug 1, 2016
5/5

Excellent safari destination with sufficient tourism infrastructure

Full Review