Race for Rhinos, an aviation and conservation event intended to raise funds for Rhino conservation, is expected to return to the Makgadikgadi Pans next year June 27th and 28th.
This was revealed by former President Ian Khama during the launch of the event held in Gaborone this week.
The Race for Rhinos started in 2016 and was last held in 2019, using aviation and conservation-focused activities to raise awareness and funds for rhino conservation. The sport and tourism event includes high-energy air and ground racing. It has cultural and economic components, focusing on creating jobs, boosting tourism, and supporting local communities.
According to Khama, through the event they chose to use aviation as the thrust or anchor for this initiative because flight is about speed, precision and teamwork which are the very qualities that effective conservation requires.
“When skill meets purpose, when pilots, rangers, scientists and communities act in concert, we gain an advantage that can turn the tide permanently,” he said.
He said that since the event started, it evolved into a uniquely Botswana fusion of aviation excellence on the vast salt flats, coupled with a disciplined conservation fundraiser. Khama stated that the event has drawn national and international attention, even setting world records in earlier editions at Sowa Pan, adding that this is not just spectacle but a proof that Botswana can innovate to protect what matters most.
“We are launching a broader, bolder endeavour which is to develop the Makgadikgadi Pans into a premier conservation destination on par with the Okavango Delta and Chobe. That is the scale of our ambition, and it is entirely within reach particularly if we act together, with clarity and courage,” he said.
Khama has further revealed that through the event they are planning to establish a safe, well-managed sanctuary for 13 donated rhinos within the Makgadikgadi, underpinned by trained rangers, predictable patrols, and modern tracking technology. He said that they also plan to restore the full safari experience by reintroducing zebra, antelope and associated species where science supports it, and by safeguarding migratory corridors between the Boteti, Nxai Pan and the pans.
“We will strive to find ways to consolidate management across adjacent pans and create a single, larger protected landscape with fewer edges, stronger enforcement and smarter access,” said Khama.
Khama, a pilot himself, highlighted that through the Race for Rhinos sponsorships, ticketing and in-kind aviation support will translate directly into ranger equipment, surveillance systems, and aerial monitoring. He said that they plan to acquire aircraft which will shorten distances that once limited their response, adding that this will enable rapid medical support, anti-poaching patrols, wildlife tracking, and supply drops when roads are impassable. Khama indicated that a defined share of proceeds will be ring-fenced for scholarships, micro-enterprise grants and conservation education.
He further noted that they have appointed the event organising committee which comprises of professionals, its Chair Person being Colleen Selogelo and Captain Darryl Eliston. The committee is also made up of a member from BTO.
