02 Dec 2020

Lake Ngami Development Trust is planning to promote bird tourism in an effort to diversify products and boost their coffers.

The trust, which opened doors in 2014, has been focusing mainly on fishing and therefore attracting investors had been a challenge. 

Lake Ngami forms part of the integral Okavango Delta and it has become the top birding spot.

In an interview, the trust chairperson, Mr Sekano Bodio confirmed that plans were underway to venture into bird tourism project as a way of preserving wildlife, especially bird species.

Their intention, he said, was to do something that resembled  Nata Bird Sanctuary, a reserve situated on the north-eastern fringe of the Sua Pan. 

The project is one of the only three nesting places for flamingo in Africa.

Mr Bodio explained that the lake was a major birding area through which different species of birds migrated during the course of the year. 

The species, he said, were not safe, hence their intention to modify the area and ensure proper protection.

Mr Bodio noted that they intended to engage Bird Life Botswana to assist with the modalities. 

In addition, he said one of Bird Life founders had showed interest to work hand in hand with the trust to ensure their dream was achieved.

Bird Life’s main goal is to conserve Botswana’s birds and important bird habitats by creating awareness, carrying out research and promoting beneficial relationship between birds and people.

That is achieved through protecting bird species, sites, habitats and creating opportunities for local communities living near bird areas to earn a meaningful income and increasing interest and awareness among citizens, especially the youth, in birds.

However, Mr Bodio was optimistic that Bird Life would be helpful as they had rich experience in birds’ protection. 

He was also hopeful that once the area was in shape, it would be a centre of attraction as more people would come for leisure as well as to view the birds.

Mr Bodio said they were also intending to drill a borehole next to the hippo pool, which would water both birds and wildlife found in the area.

He said some camps in the delta used the lake as a tourist site because of its abundant bird species such as the Lesser Kestrel and the Black-winged Pratincole.

The lake is situated in Sehithwa and the villagers use it as a source of income. 

It supports the fishing industry, farming, livestock and tourism.

Meanwhile, the trust has been focusing mainly on the fishing activity to generate income and this year things did not go well because the lake was reported to have received low annual inflows as compared to previous flows.

The lake is a seasonal shallow lake that depends mostly on spills deriving from Kunyere River and rarely from Thamalakane River, which joins at Toteng. 

Mr Bodio indicated that the bird project would be a breakthrough as far as income generation was concerned. ends