Serowe is the country's founding fathers birthplace – and first president – Sir Seretse Khama. Much of the upheaval created by his controversial marriage to an Englishwoman, Ruth Williams, also played out in the village. Today their graves are situated near the Ngwato totem, the duiker (phuti in Setswana), in the royal cemetery. (You must obtain permission to visit these sites).
Khama III Memorial Museum
Keen historians, who want to find out the full story of the Khama family's role in Botswanan history, can visit the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe – named after Seretse's father, who died when Seretse was young. This Museum is located in a recently restored red Victorian building, containing a fascinating collection of furniture, uniforms, correspondence and photographs that chronicle the legacy of the Khama family and the history of Serowe.
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is another 40 km outside Serowe, to the north on the road. It is well-appointed with a campsite and comfortable chalets, making it an ideal overnight stop along this route. Established in 1993 as a trust by residents and community leaders alike, the sanctuary has served a crucial role in conserving Botswana's rhino population. At least 22 rhinos and a single black rhino inhabit the location and various other game species such as springbok and hartebeest.
In the 1880s, under the Bechuanaland protectorate, Serowe was a settlement for European missionaries and traders. Today visitors can visit the London Missionary Society (LMS) church. Its tall steeple is still an important landmark for the town. It was for missionaries, prospectors and explorers who came from far and wide. The massive church was reconstructed with the original stones it had first been built with in Old Palapye
At the kgotla – the traditional meeting place and customary court, situated below Serowe Hill, an impressive Sir Seretse Khama statue erected to mark his death's tenth anniversary.
There are shopping opportunities at the Boithselo project for arts and crafts lovers, where the Bakgalagadi and San peoples manufacture attractive and unique products.
