09 Jul 2020

Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) has launched a speed boat project that targets Batswana and other local tourists who want to experience the beauty of the famous Okavango Delta.

This activity is expected to run from July to December.

The OKMCT operates in the six villages of Ditshiping, Boro, Xharaxao, Xuoxao, Daunara and Xaxaba and it offers tourism products and services in a controlled hunting area known as NG32, an area found in the heart of the delta.

Speaking during the launch on Wednesday, OKMCT general manager, Mr Seikaneng Moepedi said the trust relied much on mokoro activities to generate income and keep the trust afloat and now COVID 19 pandemic had negatively affected the activities and the tourism industry at large.

Mr Moepedi said the speed boat would complement the mekoro excursions, adding that they were hopeful that the activity would improve their cash flow.

The trust, he said, had over 800 polers who earned a living by transporting tourists to the delta using a traditional canoe, but due to the pandemic, they were struggling to make ends meet.

The polers depend largely on international tourists to make better profits, but currently their businesses have stopped due to movement restrictions.

Mr Moepedi said they found it fit to launch the boat cruise to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and have high hopes that the new initiative would make a difference as they would offer affordable trips to the locals.

With the new initiative, he said, the locals would fully enjoy and experience the sounds and sights of nature through a speed boat within a short period of time.

He explained that a day trip would be charged P100 while a half day trip would be P50 and urged Batswana to take advantage of the new initiative to traverse and appreciate the beauty of the delta.

In addition, Mr Moepedi said they would also offer camping services in the wilderness at a fee of P50 per day.

He said Batswana should stop visiting places in neighbouring countries for leisure as they also had the mighty Okavango Delta.

The delta, he said, was a vast inland river and a haven to many wildlife and plant species.

“This is the opportunity for the locals who viewed adventure as expensive to change the minds and explore local tourism. These trips are safe and enjoyable,” he added.

The OKMCT chairperson, Mr Therisanyo Moratapelo said the initiative aimed to more local people to enjoy the delta.

He concurred that most polers were idle because their businesses had collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and believed that the speed boat would help them regain their livelihoods.

Mr Moratapelo assured Batswana that the boat was safe and polers were highly knowledgeable about the environment, hence the need for Batswana to support the initiative.

One poler, Ms Tumeletso Masende thanked the trust for introducing the initiative, saying it was a sigh of relief to many polers who earn a living through the delta.

She said many survived through mekoro excursion and since the advent of COVID-19, life had become unbearable for them and their families.

“I am pinning my hope on this new system and I urge the locals to come forth and support us,” she added.

Senior escort guide, Mr Monompane Namanga expressed hope that the initiative would attract a lot of attention and reduce incidents of poaching. Ends