Khama Rhino Sanctuary Guide
The practical 2026 guide to Khama Rhino Sanctuary near Serowe: black and white rhinos, self-drive routes, current fees, Serwe Pan, map, wildlife, camping and rhino tracking.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary at a glance
Khama Rhino Sanctuary is an 8,585-hectare community-run wildlife sanctuary in Botswana’s Central District, near Serowe. It was established in 1992 to rebuild rhino populations, restore wildlife habitat and create local economic benefits through tourism. The sanctuary’s own current website lists more than 30 animal species and over 230 bird species.
What is the best time to visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
May to September is the easiest all-round period for wildlife viewing and comfortable driving. The dry season brings cooler mornings, thinner vegetation and more predictable use of water points. November to March is greener, hotter and better for summer birding and dramatic skies.
May–August
Cool, dry and comfortable. Early drives can be cold, but visibility through the bush is generally good.
September–October
Very dry and increasingly hot. Water points become more important for wildlife concentration.
November–February
Summer rain greens the sandveld and brings migrant birds. Expect heat and occasional muddy sections after storms.
March–April
Useful shoulder season with greener habitat and improving road conditions as rains ease.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary fees
The current official fee page lists separate person and vehicle charges. These figures were checked on 22 September 2026 and can change.
| Fee | Citizen | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult park fee | P40.70 | P67.80 | P117.20 |
| Child 6–12 | P20.35 | P33.90 | P58.60 |
| Vehicle under 5 t | P67.80 | P88.10 | P144.20 |
| Vehicle over 5 t | P189.30 | P247.10 | P423.70 |
How do you get to Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
The sanctuary sits north of Serowe on the road toward Orapa/Letlhakane. The current Khama contact page describes the sanctuary as about 25 km north of Serowe through Paje; Botswana Tourism describes it as about 30 km from Serowe.
From Serowe
Follow the Orapa road north through Paje and use current sanctuary signage for the final approach.
From Palapye
The sanctuary advises turning north toward Orapa before reaching Serowe, then continuing toward the sanctuary.
From Orapa
The sanctuary’s contact page gives roughly 180 km south toward Serowe, before Paje.
At the gate
Reception handles entry fees, maps, camping/chalet bookings and activity bookings. Basic provisions and binocular hire are also advertised.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary map
The map shows the sanctuary entrance/reception area, restaurant, a mapped Mokongwa campsite, Khama Hide and Serwe Pan. Internal road conditions and wildlife locations change; use the map sold at reception and follow sanctuary signs.
How should you plan a self-drive day?
1. Enter at opening
Arrive close to 07:00, pay fees, collect the current map and ask staff which water points have been productive.
2. Serwe Pan first
Use the cooler morning to work the pan and nearby water points for white rhino and grazers.
3. Check the hide
Spend patient time at Khama Hide rather than constantly driving. Quiet observation can outperform covering more kilometres.
4. Midday break
Use the restaurant/picnic area or campsite for a break during the hottest part of the day.
5. Southern woodland
Use denser vegetation later for browsing species such as giraffe, kudu and—if you are very lucky—black rhino.
6. Exit before closing
Keep enough time to return to reception before the current 19:00 closing time.
Which mammals can you see at Khama?
Rhinos are the headline species, but the sanctuary supports a broad Kalahari sandveld community. The profiles below combine species named by Khama’s own current website with species documented in sanctuary conservation literature.
White rhinoceros
The sanctuary’s signature grazer. The current Khama Rhino Sanctuary wildlife page lists 30 white rhinos; Serwe Pan and open grassland are key places to scan.
Black rhinoceros
Rarer and more secretive than white rhino. Khama’s current wildlife page lists four black rhinos; look toward denser browsing habitat rather than only open pan edges.
Giraffe
A common browser in woodland and acacia-type habitat. Khama specifically highlights giraffe among its resident animals.
Burchell’s zebra
Often seen on open grassland around the pan. Bold striping and family-group structure make them easy to identify.
Blue wildebeest
A regular grazer of open areas, often mixed with zebra and other plains game.
Impala
Common along woodland edges. Watch for alarm snorts when predators or people disturb a herd.
Steenbok
A small solitary antelope of open scrub; large ears and a habit of freezing make careful scanning worthwhile.
Common eland
Africa’s largest antelope. Usually less numerous than impala but conspicuous when moving through open woodland.
Gemsbok
A dry-country specialist well suited to Kalahari sandveld. Long straight horns and striking facial markings are diagnostic.
Red hartebeest
A tall-shouldered grazer of open country. The sloping back and elongated face distinguish it from wildebeest.
Springbok
Look for smaller antelope on open ground, with a dark flank stripe separating tan upperparts from white underparts.
Greater kudu
Favors wooded and denser browsing habitat. Adult males carry long spiral horns.
Waterbuck
Most likely closer to water and greener habitat. The white rump ring is a useful field mark.
Cheetah
Present but less predictable than the rhinos and common antelope. Open ground offers the best chance of seeing this specialist sprinter.
Leopard
Secretive and generally a bonus sighting. Scan dense cover, larger trees and quiet early/late periods.
Brown hyena
A largely nocturnal Kalahari scavenger; sightings are uncommon and much more likely around dusk, night or early morning.
Black-backed jackal
One of the sanctuary’s more visible small carnivores. Often trots open ground or follows larger predators and scavenging opportunities.
Bat-eared fox
A small insect-eating canid of open country, often seen in pairs or family groups near dusk.
Caracal
A secretive medium-sized cat with long black ear tufts. Any sighting is a bonus.
Small-spotted genet
A nocturnal spotted carnivore that may be encountered around wooded areas after dark.
Which birds should you look for?
Khama reports more than 230 bird species. Serwe Pan, water points, open grassland and thornveld provide very different birding habitats.
Common ostrich
Khama specifically lists ostrich among its resident wildlife. Open pans and grassland give the best views.
Kori bustard
A huge ground bird of open savanna and one of the most impressive Kalahari species to look for.
Secretarybird
Search open grassland for this tall terrestrial raptor striding methodically while hunting reptiles and insects.
Southern yellow-billed hornbill
A classic dry-savanna bird, often seen on roadsides or feeding on the ground beneath woodland.
Pale chanting goshawk
Frequently associated with arid savanna; look on exposed perches for a grey raptor with long orange-red legs.
Martial eagle
A very large eagle of open woodland. Scan tall trees and thermals over the sanctuary.
Lilac-breasted roller
Colourful and conspicuous on exposed branches, especially along open woodland edges.
Blacksmith lapwing
Often associated with waterholes and pan margins; the sharp metallic call gives the species its name.
Grey go-away-bird
A common southern African woodland bird with a long tail and loud nasal call.
Fork-tailed drongo
A glossy black perch-hunter with a deeply forked tail, often following mammals to catch disturbed insects.
What grows at Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
Khama protects Kalahari sandveld around Serwe Pan, with sandy woodland, thorn scrub, open grassland and wetter margins around water points. The profiles below combine conspicuous sanctuary vegetation with typical plants of this habitat; exact abundance varies with soil and rainfall.
Trees & shrubs
Manketti / mongongo
A characteristic Kalahari woodland tree valued for shade and oil-rich nuts. Large specimens are particularly noticeable around campsites.
Camel thorn
An iconic dryland tree whose pods and shade support antelope, giraffe, birds and many smaller animals.
Black thorn
A dense thorny shrub/tree of semi-arid savanna, creating important browse and hiding cover.
Silver cluster-leaf
Typical of deep Kalahari sands. Pale, silvery leaves make it one of the easier woodland trees to recognize.
Velvet raisin
A low shrub of dry woodland producing edible berry-like fruits used by wildlife and people.
Shepherd’s tree
A hardy evergreen of dry southern African landscapes, recognizable by its pale trunk and dense rounded crown.
Sickle bush
A thorny shrub with distinctive two-coloured flower spikes; dense stands provide browse and cover.
Umbrella thorn
Classic flat-topped savanna form; foliage and pods are important browse where the species occurs.
Red bushwillow
A common woodland tree in parts of southern Africa, with reddish autumn foliage and four-winged fruits.
Buffalo thorn
A thorny small tree whose paired straight and hooked thorns are a useful identification feature.
Flowers, grasses & understory plants
Red grass
A productive savanna grass; reddish seed heads become conspicuous later in the growing season.
Silky bushman grass
A drought-tolerant grass of sandy Kalahari soils, with fine awns that catch the light.
Couch grass
Low mat-forming grass common on disturbed, grazed and relatively moist ground.
Common reed
Where water persists around pan margins or artificial water points, reed stands provide cover for birds and smaller wildlife.
Devil thorn
A low herb that responds rapidly after rain. Yellow flowers are attractive, while the hard spiny fruits are notorious.
Tassel three-awn
A wiry grass of dry sandy ground whose three-awned seeds become especially obvious late in the season.
Lehmann lovegrass
A fine-leaved perennial grass associated with semi-arid sandy soils and open grazing areas.
Buffel grass
A robust drought-tolerant bunch grass; its dense bristly seed heads make mature plants easy to notice.
Devil’s claw
A low Kalahari plant with striking flowers and hooked fruits. Do not collect plants or roots inside the sanctuary.
Wild melon / tsamma
A trailing vine of sandy country; wild forms can appear after rain and provide moisture and food for wildlife.
Which Khama Rhino Sanctuary experience should you choose?
Self-drive is the most flexible option, while guided drives and rhino tracking add ranger knowledge and a different level of access.
| Experience | Best for | Duration / timing | Vehicle / fitness note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-drive | Independent visitors | Flexible during gate hours | Official maps sold at entrance; roads intended for 2WD/4WD bakkies in normal conditions |
| Sanctuary game drive | First visit / ranger interpretation | 2 hours | Sanctuary vehicle |
| Guided drive in your vehicle | Visitors who want local guidance but their own car | 2 hours | Your vehicle + sanctuary ranger |
| Rhino tracking | Active, specialist experience | Morning only; starts 06:00 | On foot; current age range 16–60, max 8 people |
| Nature walk | Tracks, plants and small wildlife | Confirm locally | Guided; all wildlife treated as potentially dangerous |
1. Self-drive safari
Khama explicitly supports self-drive game viewing and sells route maps at reception.
2. Two-hour game drive
Join a sanctuary vehicle with a trained ranger for a focused wildlife drive.
3. Guided drive in your vehicle
Hire a ranger to guide you for about two hours while you use your own vehicle.
4. Rhino tracking
A morning-only guided activity. Current rules list participants aged 16–60 and groups of up to eight.
5. Nature walk
Guided walks shift attention to tracks, smaller animals and plants; all wildlife should be treated as potentially dangerous.
6. Birding + hide time
Serwe Pan and Khama Hide reward patient observation, especially around the cooler parts of the day.
Can you stay inside Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
Yes. The current sanctuary accommodation page lists 22 campsites and eight chalets, as well as dormitory/group facilities.
Camping
22 campsites, including group sites. Current adult camping rates are P74.80 citizen, P90.90 resident and P146.30 non-citizen. Campsites have no power points.
Chalets
Eight chalets in different areas. Current non-citizen prices shown online range from P938.85 to P1,077.60 for standard chalets.
A-Frame
A more rustic two-storey option near Serwe Pan; the sanctuary states that it has no electricity.
Restaurant + picnic site
Day visitors and overnight guests can use the restaurant/bar and picnic facilities; confirm current opening times locally.
Rules that matter at Khama
Stay in your vehicle on self-drive
Khama’s wildlife page explicitly tells visitors to remain in the vehicle for safety while game viewing.
Follow guide instructions on foot
Rhino tracking and nature walks are guided activities; local staff instructions override general advice here.
Rhino tracking has eligibility rules
The current activity page lists ages 16–60, morning starts and maximum groups of eight.
Do not approach rhinos at facilities
The sanctuary accommodation page warns that a black rhino can appear near the restaurant and must not be touched or approached.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary FAQ
How big is Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
About 8,585 hectares. The sanctuary’s own current website uses this figure.
How many rhinos are at Khama?
The sanctuary’s current wildlife page lists 30 white rhinos and 4 black rhinos. Population numbers change, so recheck the live source.
Can you self-drive Khama Rhino Sanctuary?
Yes. Self-drive game viewing is an official sanctuary activity and maps are sold at the entrance.
Do you need a 4×4?
Not necessarily in normal conditions. The sanctuary says roads are maintained for two- and four-wheel-drive bakkies, but rain can change track conditions.
What are the opening hours?
07:00 to 19:00 daily according to the current official fee page.
How much is entry for a non-resident?
P117.20 per adult plus P144.20 for a vehicle under 5 tonnes on the current official fee page. Recheck before travel.
How long do you need?
A full day works; one night is better, and two nights gives more flexibility.
Can you track rhinos on foot?
Yes, with a qualified guide in the morning. Current rules list ages 16–60 and groups of up to eight people.
How this guide was checked
See.Africa reviewed time-sensitive information on 22 September 2026. Fees, hours, wildlife counts, accommodation and official activities were checked against Khama Rhino Sanctuary’s own current website; conservation/history context was cross-checked against Botswana Tourism Organisation. Map points are OpenStreetMap-derived orientation points.