24 Sep 2015

The sleepy Lekhubu Island was over the weekend abuzz with sounds of aircrafts, quad bikes, sky divers as multitudes of participants and spectators from as far as Cape Town and various areas across South Africa and Botswana.

Thanks to Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) for showing interest to take over the race for rhinos campaign which has been spearheaded by the Kwazulu Natal municipality in the past years. Just over a period of three days the island was lively and full of activities, it had residential areas, liquor outlets, food outlets, a so-called international airport, immigration offices and a place termed the State House among others.  

The event brought entertainment and a pleasurable moment to the people of Boteti Sub-district who in most instances were compelled to travel long distances in the name of leisure. 

This was quite evident from the response demonstrated by spectators as they turned out in large numbers though it was not well publicised. Lekhubu Island is a tourist attraction area in Makgadikgadi salt pans adorned with baobab trees and unique stone walls. 

The island lies 45 kilometres from Mmatshumo and stretches to the Sowa Salt Pans.

The manager of Gaing-O Trust located at Lekhubu Island, Ms Babatshanyi Mathapi appreciated the turn-out of spectators, saying they have made profits through entrance fees and camping fees. 

She stated that a day visit cost P33.50, and a camping fee of P60, a tourism levy of P10 per person per night, as much as 12 per cent of camping and entrance fees. The aim she said was to plan for the next 2016 race for rhinos event by providing more facilities such as increasing the number of bathrooms in addition to the existing ones. 

Ms Mathapi noted that since they have a low yield borehole they would also like to provide mobile showers to cater for a larger population in the future. 

Mmatshumo councillor, Goabaone Bolesitswe said the event had a lot of opportunities to offer local tourism industry, stating that it would help sell and promote Lekhubu Island to the world. Most of Mmatshumo residents, he said, also benefitted from the event in various ways as they sold some artefacts to spectators and participants, while others were engaged as security agents and litter picking. 

One of the members of the community, Matshwenyego Baganetseng from Matsbag Investment also reaped benefits from the event by selling fast food, traditional food to spectators and participants. 

Mr Baganetseng noted that he had customers from Italy and commended the government for organising such an event. One of the sky diving participants from Parachutte Association Botswana,Garai Makaya said they were looking forward to participate in the race for rhinos event when BTO informed them there was an event looking for a new home and new sponsors. Makaya said the event was bigger than the first Makgadikgadi epic event, adding that sky diving was gaining momentum in Botswana.  Ends