09 May 2019

Some communities have taken it upon themselves to explore tourism opportunities in their localities. 

It is worth noting that tourism destinations are not only found in the north western parts of the country. 

Whatever nature offers, be it the hills, tree species and the landscape as a whole, is worth exploring and has potential of attracting  tourism ventures.

Consequently, communities of Shoshong and Mmutlane, under the tutelage of the area legislator, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, recently engaged in a nature walk through hills sandwiched between the two villages; Shoshong in the south and Mmutlane in the north. 

The energy consuming, yet fun filled walk, started at Shoshong, going up the hills and ultimately descending into Mmutlane. 

The walk did not only expose the walkers to the unknown wonders and beauty within their environment, but also tested their physical strength.    

While engaging the community through dikgotla, Mr Makgalemele encouraged them to take advantage of the tourism potential in their surroundings, which will not only promote tourism and contribute towards diversifying the local economies but create employment opportunities. 

Mr Makgalemele, who is also the assistant minister in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, said the aim was to promote the tourism trail map in the constituency. 

The trail map, he said, would usher tourists into ancient and yet unknown beauties of nature. 

He said Shoshong was one of the areas rich in history, some of which was still untapped, adding that the chain of hills surrounding Mmutlane and some undiscovered rock paintings present the area as a tourism hub.

Mr Makgalemele described the tourism destinations and heritage sites in the Shoshong area as a legacy for the community and a gift from God. 

He decried that some wonders of nature were vanishing, hence the need to engage the community to be mindful of what their environment could offer and therefore jealously guard against anything with the potential of destroying it. 

He said the wilderness offers opportunities that could create employment as well as sustainable sources of income for the communities. 

At the commencement of the hike, the walk guide, Mr Morulaganyi Tlhoro stated that the area was not only rich in natural beauty, but it was also home to one of the legendary artists Boruru Oageng, who happened to be one of the first settlers of Shoshong. 

The legendary Oageng, famous for playing segaba, one of the traditional instruments, was celebrated as one of the custodians of traditional music.

Despite his demise in 2002, Oageng remained one of the celebrated folklore figures. 

He was famous for traditional songs such as maritelele a tshwene, mantshetlhane, matlhodi and kodu ya makgasa. 

Popularly known as seven fingers, from a tragedy that resulted in him losing three of his fingers while working at the mines in South Africa, Oageng continued to thrill the crowds with his segaba. 

The bush walk adventure went through the Mmalebadi trail up the Shoshong hills, where the walkers were intrigued by the beauty of mother nature, commending the greatness of the Almighty for having created such beauty. 

Without doubt, the Shoshong hills proved that indeed tourism and Shoshong were blood relatives.

Along the journey, Mr Tlhoro identified some indigenous trees which were used to produce different household tools and in other meaningful ways. 

Among them the Morukuru tree, which was used for making gum poles used for fencing lands as well as making traditional furniture like chairs, dipora (traditional stools) just to mention a few. 

The Moologa tree had been used by women regiments at bojale in the olden days for protection against any imminent danger as it is believed to have divine powers.

Descending from the top of the hills, the walkers were joined by a team of elders from Mmutlane towards the village, where the culture and tourism fact finding mission was concluded with a kgotla meeting. ENDS