7 Nature Parks and Reserves in Gaborone
Published: 2 March 2026 / Updated: 18 April 2026
When in Gaborone, nature is never far, and we highlight the nature parks and game reserves to be found within and around the city. Some are near and accessible, others a bit further out, but all come with wonderful natural scapes to enjoy and soak in, with animals to observe and with activities to have fun. This list provides a comprehensive look at the natural habitats that the city and its surrounding regions have to offer and shows how great of a lifestyle we enjoy in Botswana.
Parks & Reserves:
In Gaborone:
Gaborone Game Reserve
Mokolodi Nature Reserve
Gaborone Dam
Sehudi Nature Park
BONUS
Outside Gaborone:
Manong Game Lodge
Big Valley Game Lodge
Khutse Game Reserve
Gaborone Game Reserve
Only very few cities across Africa and around the world have game reserves within their city bounds, but Gaborone is one of them. One doesn’t have to go far to enjoy a short game drive with nature and animals all around. While you won’t find the Big 5 here, the game reserve is home to zebras, impalas, kudus, warthogs, ostriches, monkeys and baboons, and a variety of bird species. The roughly 600 hectares large reserve allows for self-driving excursions and has picnic spots and viewpoints throughout.
Explorer’s note: Visit in the early or later hours of the day for the best sightings (the fact that you could go for a short game drive just before or after work is quite special, isn't it?)
Prices: P10 for adults, P5 for children, P10 per vehicle
Location: Google Maps (past Maruapula)
Contact: +267 318 4492 (not confirmed)
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: 6:30 – 18:30 tbc
Mokolodi Nature Reserve
Mokolodi Nature Reserve is arguably the most known nature park within distance from Gaborone. Whether it’s going for a traditional game drive, or venture out for a hike or cycling around the park, it’s a wonderful natural space not too far from town that offers a great time and experience. The nature reserve spanning across 3700 hectares hosts impalas, zebras, giraffes, kudus, warthogs and even white rhinos and a cheetah enclosure.
Explorer’s note: For you to enjoy nature and spot animals, you usually don’t even have to go beyond the restaurant where antelopes and warthogs are often grazing right there as you enjoy your meal.
Prices: P150 per adult, P75 per child
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Website: www.mokolodi.co.bw
Contact: +267 71 32 1021 / +267 72 331 021 (WhatsApp) / +267 316 1955
Opening hours:
Park:
Mon – Sun: 7:00 – 18:00
Bush Kitchen:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 – 20:00
Fri: 11:30 – 21:00
Sat: 10:30 – 21:00
Sun: 10:30 – 14:30
Gaborone Dam
The Gaborone Dam can basically be considered a big nature reserve, fenced and controlled by water utilities and beautiful all around. It can be enjoyed from the shores where you can go for short drives and lovely picnics, or from one of the establishments like Gaborone Yacht Club. Make sure to check opening hours and pass by a Water Utilities office to get entry tickets and register the car to enter.
Explorer’s note: Explore the lesser frequented southern or south-eastern shores of the dam for the quietest vibe and the best sunset views (gate past Sanitas/Bojalana followed by a drive along the dam wall).
Prices: ca. p10-p15 per person (tbc)
Location: Yacht Club Gate: Google Maps, Gaborone Yacht Club: Google Maps
Bojalana Gate: Google Maps, Picnic spots: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram (Yacht Club)
Contact: +267 71 579 707 (Yacht Club)
Opening hours:
Yacht Club:
Wed & Fri: 11:00 – 22:00
Sat & Sun: 10:00 – 18:00
Mon, Tue & Thu: closed
Dam (by Water Utilities):
usually closes at 18:00 (tbc)
Sehudi Nature Park
Sehudi has emerged recently and it a wonderful natural space close to Gaborone with its own dam and beautiful greenery surrounding it. A few minutes outside of Oodi on the northern side of Gabs, Sehudi Nature Park is a haven for nature lovers and offers cool events and picnic weekends with boat rides, and can also be booked for private events, corporate retreats, personal use, or all kinds of purposes.
Explorer’s note: Visiting Sehudi Nature Park actually supports the local community directly, as the owner of the space works hand in hand with the population around the space through their trust and by employing and integrating them into the initiative – a great one to support!
Prices: Not fixed (contact Sehudi directly)
Location: Google Maps (in Oodi/Kgalapitse)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 72 422 140 / +267 71 868 826
Opening hours:
Depending on event schedule
BONUS: Urban alternatives
Gaborone is a small city and nature is all around. For the ones looking for a smaller and closer escape, apart from the nature parks, there are also many tea gardens to wind down at, like Sanitas or Jules Tea Garden. When looking for a bit of greenery within the city, you can find city parks like Joy City Park in Broadhurst, Jawara Park in Extension 12, or the roundabout park near Main Mall and the State House, to name a few.
Explorer’s note: Animals within the city? Asides from Gaborone Game Reserve, you can always spot some warthogs at the UB (University of Botswana) grounds or at the Gaborone Golf Club, and monkeys and baboons are often found around Game City Mall at the foot of Kgale Hill.
Outside Gaborone:
Manong Game Lodge
About 20kms beyond Lobatse when coming from Gaborone is Manong Game Lodge and their private game reserve. The lodge is a quaint outpost to unwind and enjoy nature, wildlife and activities they offer at the place. Manong offers game drives around their park to see animals and experience the safari vibes not too far from Gaborone. Apart from being a great city escape to unwind on their pool or at their spa, there’s also cycling and segway tours offered around their lands.
Explorer’s note: Take a few days and stay at their luxury tents to properly switch off and refresh your mind before heading back to Gabs.
Prices: Varied offers
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 74 741 590
Opening hours:
tbc
Big Valley Game Lodge
Similarly located to Manong Lodge, the Big Valley Game Lodge comes in a bit larger and offers a variety of options to stay over, but also has great game viewing opportunities including lions, giraffes and zebras, asides of more common antelopes and bird species. They also offer horseback riding, paddle boating on their very own dam, and have a zipline on site.
Explorer’s note: A great place for activities, recommended to visit for a day trip and enjoy the activities they offer. Service, particularly in the restaurant, leaves room for a bit of wishing.
Prices: Varied offers
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Website: www.bigvalleygamelodge.com
Contact: +267 535 0103 / +267 77 073 352
Opening hours:
tbc
Khutse Game Reserve
Though a few hours out of Gabs (250+kms and a 6-ish hour drive), Khutse Game Reserve is the more untouched and larger nature haven to dream of, still within reach for a two or three day trip. Khutse is much larger than the others we’ve covered in this list and comes closest to a proper bush experience, including self-driving safaris and bush camping. It’s a vast park with a variety of wildlife including springboks, wildebeest and oryxes and with some luck even lions, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs and elephants, apart from plenty of birdlife across the reserve. However, its mostly unserviced and doesn’t have any hotels or other infrastructure (for some a problem, for others the dream) and it’s imperative to come prepared and self-sufficiently equipped.
Explorer’s note: Inform yourselves well about camping, rules and about safety in the reserve, as we can’t cover it all right here – but we’ll make a separate piece on it in the future.
Location: Google Maps
Website: www.botswanatourism.co.bw
Contact: unknown
Opening hours:
Winter: 6:00 – 18:00 daily
Summer: 5:30 – 19:30 daily