Draft:Gaborone Game Reserve

Gaborone Game Reserve is a wildlife reserve in Botswana's capital city. Situated in the heart of Gaborone, it allows the public to witness wildlife in a natural location The Kalahari Conservation Society established this reserve in 1988., which, despite its small size of 600 hectares, is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. It was initially created to create awareness of observation in Gaborone and the surrounding areas but now is one of the busiest in the country.

Activities

The reserve roads has dirt roads which run through it to interlink a range of activities such as game drives and picnics.The reserve is just for day visitors as there is no accomodation or camping areas within for overnight visitors,

however guest houses and lodges are just 1km away from the reserve. Guided drives are not provided and one can drive through the reserve on their own pace.

Description

The reserve borders the Notwane River as a fence separates the two. There is 1 permanent waterhole throughout the year which is visited by numerous species of waterbirds and migrants. Throughout the rainy season, temporary lakes and ponds form but they dry up as soon as the season ends. The reserve is mostly scrubland, savannah and semi-arid grass

Fauna

The reserve is home to numerous species of ungulates, reptiles, birds but no carnivores. It's home to only one species of primate that is the Vervet monkey. Ungulates commonly found here are Impala, Greater kudu, Common warthog and the national animal- Burchell's zebra. Common eland is rarely seen but a herd of them reside here. Rock hyrax is ever present by the large boulders that span over the reserve and reptiles that call the reserve home include Nile monitor, Ground agama, Striped skink and geckos. Numerous species of birds such as Cape turtle doves, Southern ostrich, Laughing doves, Burchell's starling, Cape starling, Crested barbet, Pied crow, and Crowned lapwings are commonly seen in the scrub/scrublands whereas birds such as Southern yellow-billed hornbill, Fork-tailed drongo, Crested francolin and Crimson breasted shrike are uncommon. Birds such as Black-winged stilt, African jacana, Common swift, Blacksmith lapwing, African sacred ibis, Glossy ibis, Fulvous whistling duck and numerous species of ducks,eagles and egrets can be found along the waterholes. Fish such as African catfish are abundant in the waterbodies after the rainy season. Over 50 species of butterfly and moth call the reserve home with the Citrus swallowtail being the most common.

Flora

Vachellia karoo, Mopane and Cereus jamacaru along with 50 other species of tree can be found here. Verbesina enceliodes explode all over the area during the hot summer months which attract innumerable species of pollinators from throughout.

Flamingo

Around 37 Greater flamingos were recorded for the first time in the region at the main waterhole in March 2024.