18/10/2025
MMAKGODUMO DAM: KGOSI BATHOEN II’S DREAM REMAINS A DISTINCTIVE LANDMARK ❤️
Along the foothills of Ga-Potsanyane Hills, between the undulating ward of Ga-Losabanyana and the main Ntsweng wards in Kanye lies a magnificent earth-mound dam; a place of eerie calmness, tranquil turmoil and beautiful surface tension. 🧘♂️
Constructed in 1940 under the visionary eye of Kgosi Bathoen II, Mmakgodumo Dam is an average sized dam that commands respect as one of Kanye’s greatest landmarks. Initially constructed to cater for the Mmakgodumo Irrigation Scheme; a visionary concept by the then leadership to irrigate the community to feed local school children, the dam now serves as a great outdoor spot for sundowners, birdwatchers, spiritual mediums, anglers and green-bottle lovers. Wedding photoshoots are a common weekend occurrence; sometimes causing a loud craze with some patrons/guests already past a few of the green bottles- what’s with humans and being attracted to water bodies like this? Are we wired to want to be closer to water bodies, plants and rocks when we marry or when happy/depressed?
Nestled-in by dense Eucalyptus trees as though to hide it from the human eye and with its pristine clear waters, anglers (from as far as Gaborone!) find great joy catching and releasing fish species including the revered spotted bass, bream, catfish and sometimes the selfish side walkers- the freshwater crabs! Supported by its perennial spring feeders, the Mmakgodumo Dam supports bird life including the common species such as the Sacred Ibis, Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot, Little Egret, Hadeda Ibis, Egyptian Geese, Yellow-billed Kites and the mighty African Fish Eagle; who usually visits and his calls signify the official start of the fishing season after the rather quiet winter season. A group of mischievous Vervet monkeys usually traverses the shady thicket, often peeking to see a weird and lonely creature that Charles Darwin linked to them. And yes, it is possible that monkeys think we are lonely because we don’t travel in groups and they rarely see us with our young! 🧠 💀
Beautiful and tranquil as it may be, the dam’s mysteries and myths weigh heavily on some of the locals, with most believing the eerily still waters harbour a giant spiritual serpent; often blamed for taking human sacrifices when drownings happen. Having traversed the perimeter of the dam on countless occasions, our experiences range from spotting a lone domestic duck sitting quietly on the banks until we could almost catch it, to spotting five bee swarms around the dam on the same day. The spookiest was seeing a blanket buried in a shallow grave, our heads boiled with both fear and extreme uneasiness and we decided to leave the site only for our curious and concerned mind to force us to turn back and dig out the grave; a poor human had lost his fluffy puppy and had given it a proper burial!
The Bathoen Reserve (appears on Google Maps!) also encloses in the Mmakgodumo Gardens; a famous events venue hosting including the annual Mmakgodumo Cultural Festival, the Kgodungwana Dam; a little fishing spot known for stealing fishermen’s hook and line with its overhead power cables and the mysterious Pharing Gorge; a shaded gorge feared most by many yet highly frequented by ritual-doers! The Bathoen II Tree Nursery is too, quietly tucked in between the eucalyptus tree just next to the trail that leads to Pharing and its perimeter fence has possibly seen more scared faces than a paramedic.
ACCESS: Managed by the Bathoen II Trust, access for various activities granted at a fee
SAFETY: Minimal personal security concerns, with risks of drowning high (swimming prohibited)
NEARBY SERVICES: ~ 1 Km away from nearest public clinic,~3 Km away from Police Station & shopping mall
