10 Sep 2015

Five men from Seronga in the Okavango area together with 10 tourists from the United States, South Africa, Angola and Namibia have successfully travelled from Angola to Botswana by mekoro (wooden canoes).

Speaking in an interview recently, the head poler, Gobonamang Kgetho, said the main objective of the voyage was to explore the Okavango Delta. Kgetho said the group left Cuito, Angola on May 22 riding eight canoes and it took them three months and five days to reach Maun after a number of obstacles including shallow waters, which made it difficult for the canoes to float.

 “At one point we had to pull out the canoes and walk for eight days,” the poler said, adding that some sections of the river had blockages of overgrown grass, which they had to cut to pave the way.

  Despite the difficulties, Kgetho said the trip was quite an adventure as they were impressed by the animals they saw along the way.

 “We are going to finish our journey at Lake Xau in Boteti and that is also where our trip will end,” said one of the polers Thopo Retiyo.

 He said early this year they travelled from Seronga to Maun exploring the Okavango Delta. Ends