Khama Rhino Sanctuary is located around 25km north of Serowe and 320 km Northwest from Gaborone, capital city of the Republic of Botswana. It is defined by Kalahari Desert sands and quite range of vegetation. Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a conservation park for the endangered white and black rhinos. It also hosts a wide range of animals including kudus, impalas, gemsboks, giraffes, and a variety of small animals and birds.
Serowe
It is very important to know that Botswana is the semi-desert country and has four seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring (August, September, and October), summer (November, December, January,) and Autumn (February, March, April) are hot seasons and cold season is Winter (May, June, July).
Volunteers are therefore reminded to bring required materials as per season, e.g. sun block creams for hot seasons and warmer clothes for winter times.
An orientation is normally organized a day before the start of the work camp with the intentions of briefing participants about BWA as an organization, Botswana `s socio-economic background, cultural issues etc. In fact, the orientations shall be held on Sundays before departure to the work camp sites and the participants must arrive on the Fridays or Saturdays to have rest time and also to get to know each other, as well to get knowledge of the host village before the orientation. The orientation is the first contact between volunteers and BWA to discuss the preliminary work camp programme, work camp menu and expectations.
Insurance: participant should arrange their own medical insurance and apart from that in Botswana medical Care is provided for free, apart from Private Medical Doctors which are available in or around Serowe and Palapye
Areas of Specialization (Skills, Knowledge Requirements)
- Experience in working in a zoo or park is ideal to be accepted in the program
- Working with animals and studying towards the same discipline of dealing with animals is essential
Khama Rhino Sanctuary has some ongoing general maintenance and day to day hard labor work that are normally done by the park general workers. Most of the activities that can be done are the following
- General creation of fire breakers by cutting trees along the perimeter of the fence.
- Cutting grass by corner points of the fence
- Collection of litter by the gate and around the park
- Other works includes feeding of animals and working by the restaurant and the projects are subject to change since volunteers from other Voluntary movements keep on doing some of them.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary provides accommodation in camping sites. Volunteers must bring their own tents, sleeping bags, mosquito nets or repellants. A heavy blanket can of great assistance as Khama Rhino Sanctuary experience very cold winters, with temperatures reaching lows of -5 at night. Internet, supermarkets and banking are available in Serowe town, which is 20 minutes’ drive form the sanctuary. Network reception for three network providers, Mascom, Orange and BTC is relatively good in the park. Volunteers in possession of sim cards of their network providers from their countries can be able to roam. Note, volunteers should check and make arrangements with their respective network providers before departure to Botswana. Roaming is convenient though very expensive. Thus, volunteers should be ready to buy local simcards at nominal price of 1 $ or 2 $ if they opt for a more conventional way of not roaming.
Volunteers at the nature reserve can enjoy day and evening game drives and some educational lectures on some days. Volunteers can also arrange to join the rangers for their animals counting exercises and patrols along the park fences. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is having an active working partnership with BWA. BWA had committed itself by assisting to sustain the ecosystem of the reserve.
