Mokolodi Nature Reserve

Make friends with snakes and a cheetah

Close enough to Gaborone to be ideal for a day trip from the city, Mokolodi is a private reserve and wildlife sanctuary run by a conservation foundation with a keen eye for commercial opportunities. The daily activity programme includes some fairly adventurous options such as tracking white rhinos or giraffes on foot. There’s also an “ambassador” cheetah called Letoatse that graciously allows himself to be stroked and, in the reptile sanctuary, snakes to handle – Prince William and Prince Harry larked around with a couple of these on their recent visit.
Time-poor urbanites can head out on a short morning or late afternoon game drive and round proceedings off with a bush braai and entertainment from “traditional” dancers. If, like me, you tend to prefer your safari experiences raw, unmediated and unpredictable, this might jar a little, but it’s also possible to drive yourself around for a more in-depth wilderness experience.