18 May 2023

Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Coservation Area (KAZA), the World’s largest Terrestrial Trans-Frontier Conservation Area’s marketing initiative has potential to promote and lure tourists to some less visited heritage sites such as the Tsodilo Hills.

The initiative, dubbed KAZA Tourism and Marketing Press Tour, has attracted international media, who will visit Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe to boost the popularity of some of KAZA sites among the international tourists.

KAZA consultant, Mr Alison Whitfield said the KAZA Tourism and Marketing Press Tour desired to expose the remote areas to the world.

The selected places in Botswana included Tsodilo Hills, Makgadikgadi Pans and Linyanti lake.

 “The purpose is to entice tourists to spend more time in the respective countries and to visit other tourism attractions instead of the famous ones such as the Okavango Delta,” she said.

Tourism development manager from Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Mr Thatayaone Mmapatsi said the visit was to appreciate the contribution of KAZA to the World Heritage Site as well as promote such areas.

“The trip is to promote the cultural and heritage aspect of Tsodilo, to appreciate how people live and how they conserve the natural resources,” he said.

 Mr Mmapatsi observed that BTO aimed to diversify tourism, therefore promoted the cultural aspect of communities.

A freelance journalist with various international media houses, Mr Mike Unwin appreciated the visit to Tsodilo Hills, which he said had rich spiritual aspects and antique rock art.

In his remarks, Tsodilo Community Development Trust chairperson, Mr Thebe Sekora observe that the trust developments were a result of a funding from DeBeers, which saw the erection of campsites and connection of water to the community.

Mr Sekora said the trust also benefited from KAZA, which assisted with refurbishment of the camping grounds.

He further said the trust had community empowerment programmes such as sponsoring some youth for tertiary education,  especially to pursue tourism related programmes.

Tsodilo Hills, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, has over 4 500 pristine rock paintings. ENDS