23 May 2023

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo will grace the inaugural Walk on Sand Dunes for Camels slated for June 3 in Tsabong.

  Chairperson of event organisers Tsamama Trust, Mr Charles Proctor expressed satisfaction with the preparations in an interview yesterday.

 “More sponsors are coming on board, over 100 tickets have been sold,” he said.

He said the objective of the sponsored walk was to raise funds for depopulating Tsabong Eco Tourism Camel Park in order to establish a farm for the animals.

The overpopulation is reportedly negatively affecting the camels.

Mr Proctor said the depopulation move followed a 2019 business review and comprehensive study undertaken by Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources which found that the 500 camels and 55 zebras in the park exceeded its carrying capacity.

The 3 200-hectare park is prescribed to carry about 150 camels.

Tsamama Trust, which is owned by Tsabong, Maubelo and Maleshe communities, then planned to raise funds to relocate camels to a newly acquired plot at Maubelo.

Ultimately, the farm would be developed into a camel meat and dairy enterprise with plans to expand value chains to draw exponential benefits for communities, Mr Proctor said.

Organised by Tsamama Trust in conjunction with Desert Bush Walk, the sponsored walk has two distance categories of 30 km and 15km which will be led by the first lady.

Mr Proctor said plans were underway to extend invitations to other dignitaries, walk clubs and captains of industry.

He revealed that some walking clubs from Jwaneng, Ghanzi and Maun had already registered. 

Tickets for the event sell at P150 for the 15 km category and P200 for the 30 km one and are available from the trust’s board members.

“Tickets are available and we are making arrangements to have more at computicket, Choppies, Spar, Shoppers and social media platforms,” he said.  Ends