16 Aug 2022

 With the festive season approaching, tourists can look forward to the opening of a new luxury campsite located on the verge of the Okavango Delta.

The facility, the brainchild of 21-year-old Mr Clef Monnaadipuo of Maun, overlooks the beautiful banks of Gogomoga channel that feeds the Shashe lagoons and stretches to the Nxaraga channel.

With only five tents, the campsite offers a remote safari experience in an area decorated with a variety of flora and fauna.

Mr Monnaadipuo told BOPA that development commenced early this year after receiving P94 000 funding from  Youth Development Fund .

Already, bookings are coming through and Gogomoga camp site looks ready to welcome its first visitors who have secured space for September and October and yes, they are international clients.

At the moment, Mr Monnaadipuo said, he was working on the final touches and anticipated to get the ball rolling before end of the month.

Gogomoga camp is a remote and exclusive establishment that will offer a combination of scenery and cultural activities.

It will lean more towards cultural activities, to promote cultural tourism which it intends to use as a dominant basic potential to diversify tourism activities offered in the region.

Botswana prides itself in its game reserves, a principal tourist attraction for hunting and photographic safaris and Mr Monnaadipuo looks to explore the cultural side of tourism.

To achieve that, the campsite will feature a cultural structure where Gogomoga community can share their culture and lifestyle.

Most women in the area are gifted in making baskets and necklaces from woven beads and seeds which they sell by the roadsides to tourists coming into the delta and Mr Monnaadipuo believes that a cultural village could serve as a one stop shop that also markets performing arts.

Another specialty he said would be local cuisine, to ensure guests have a memorable stay.

“My dream is not only to make profits. I also want to empower the community, to see their livelihoods improved,” he added.

Other activities that Mr Monnaadipuo hopes to incorporate include a bonfire area where elders can entertain guests through storytelling, boat cruising, mokoro rides, game drives and an open space for camping.

 Members of the community are also welcome to book the facility for bridal showers, chill sessions and parties.

With affordable packages, Mr Monnaadipuo is optimistic that his venture will stand the test of time. Not only has he benefited from YDF, he is an alumna of the Community Leaders Education Fund initiative, established by Africa Foundation in collaboration with &Beyond Safari Company to offer a bursary programme to create opportunities for aspiring youth to become future leaders.

The initiative targets youth who have not met the entry requirements for tertiary institutions and lack the financial muscle to enroll in institutions of higher learning.

Recipients are assisted with partial funding which is a grant, towards a course of their choice as well as psycho-social support.

They are also required to give back to their community during school recess, by using some skills that they have learnt. ENDS