31 Aug 2024

Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a jewel of Botswana’s natural heritage, His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has said during the nature reserve’s 30th anniversary celebration on August 29.

Speaking at the event, President Masisi celebrated the nature reserve’s unique qualities of diversity and volunteerism that had made it a treasured landmark in the country.

He also honoured the volunteers and conservationists who dedicated their time and energy to preserving Mokolodi’s ecosystem and its wildlife, while acknowledging the key role they played in making the reserve such a vital part of Botswana’s natural heritage.

Reflecting on Mokolodi Nature Reserve’s history, President Masisi highlighted the reserve’s journey since its founding over 30 years ago.

“Mokolodi has come a long way since its Board of Governors first convened under the leadership of General Ian Khama in the 1980s,” he said, acknowledging the Kirby family’s generous donation of land for the reserve.

“It started as an educational game reserve, with a primary mission to benefit the children of Botswana, and has since expanded through additional acquisitions,” he said.

Dr Masisi went on to enumerate various developments that transformed Mokolodi into a modern educational and recreational facility.

“The Park is now home to a diverse array of attractions, including Mokolodi Restaurant, an Education Centre with dormitories, staff accommodation, and a second centre near the lake,” he said, when highlighting the various facilities that made Mokolodi a prime destination for locals and tourists alike.

Delving into the wildlife that Mokolodi is famous for, President Masisi expressed excitement about the game reserve’s diverse fauna.

“From the critically endangered white rhinoceros to scarce mountain reedbuck in the hills, giraffe, zebra, eland, wildebeest, and leopards among others. Mokolodi is home to an incredible array of wildlife, with over 30 different species roaming its hills, plains, and the picturesque Mokolodi Lake,” he said.

Guided walks, bike trails, and bush braais he said allowed visitors to experience the beauty and majesty of the animals up close, in their natural habitat. On to the Education Centre, President Masisi underscored its importance as a vital institution for the nation’s youth.

“The Education Centre hosts over 10 000 young Batswana each year, instilling in them a deep appreciation for Botswana’s natural resources,” he said, highlighting the crucial role the centre played in shaping the country’s future leaders.

President Masisi said the main objective of the event was to raise money for the Boitumelo-mo-Nageng Camps, a charitable initiative that provided financially disadvantaged children with the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Mokolodi Nature Reserve without any financial burden.

Recounting the history of Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Judge Dr Ian Kirby(rtd) shared with the audience the events that led to its establishment.

“Back in early 80s, Botswana was hit hard by a devastating drought, the grass and leaves had vanished, cattle and livestock had to be disposed of, and the landscape had become barren,” he said. It seemed as if all hope was lost. But then, miraculously, wildlife began to reappear in Mokolodi,” he recounted.

Dr Kirby and his wife Gwithie’s encounter with Peggy Appiah a family friend in the sixties sparked an idea that would eventually blossom into Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Inspired by Appiah’s words that today’s children were growing up without ever seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, he saw an opportunity to create a space where children and adults alike could reconnect with nature and experience the beauty and diversity of Botswana’s wildlife.

However, he said they both knew that a project of such magnitude needed ownership and support of the wider community, and so they resolved to make the land available for its proper purpose and they set up a charitable foundation.

“Everybody was enthusiastic, willing to serve on its many committees, and in due course brought the Mokolodi nature reserve and education center into being,” he said. At the end of the celebrations, President Masisi autographed Dr Kirby’s recently published memoir, with the first copy auctioned off alongside paintings by renowned local artists to raise funds for the charity.