01 Sep 2024

His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi says Mokolodi Nature Reserve deserves to be celebrated because of its unique qualities of diversity and volunteerism that have made it a treasured landmark in the country.

Speaking during the nature reserve’s 30th anniversary celebration on Thursday, President Masisi also honoured the volunteers and conservationists who dedicated their time and energy to preserving Mokolodi’s ecosystem and its wildlife, acknowledging the key role they played in making the reserve a vital part of Botswana’s natural heritage.

He reflected on the nature 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 Lt Gen. 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 list 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.

Delving into the wildlife that Mokolodi is famous for, President Masisi talked about the critically endangered white rhinoceros to scarce mountain reedbuck in the hills, giraffe, zebra, eland, wildebeest, and leopards among others. 

Guided walks, bike trails, and bush braai, he said allowed visitors to experience the beauty and majesty of the animals up close, in their natural habitat. On 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.

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 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.

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 centre 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. Ends