06 Mar 2024

An tourism operator, Mr Gareth Peake, is planning to explore other attractions across Botswana to entice visitors and expand the country’s offer from the Okavango Delta to improve sustainable competitiveness in the global tourism areas.

With some experience in tourism of Botswana, he said Botswana has a lot to offer in tourism destinations which he said had some appeal that could give tourists a reason to visit.

The 25 year-old, enegertic Mr Peake owns Peake Safaris which operates a reputable luxury and privately guided comfortable mobile safari tailor-made to individual safari requirements.

The safari is fully equipped to make visitors dream safari a reality as he provides them with tailored safari tours and service to suit their travel style and preferences.

Mr Peake said in an interview  that Botswana had a lot to offer to tourists, but a lot of attention was paid to the delta which was arguably the important icon and unique selling.

While he appreciated that the delta offered the principal attractions being game reserves, wildlife and wilderness, he noted that there were other attractive sites which were pretty much safe to visit and gaze at the scale and beauty of their scenery.

He cited areas such as Tsodilo Hills, Makgadikgadi Pans, Nxai Pan and Lekhubu Island, which were unique, untouched tourism attractions, noting that the areas were appealing and could add value to his business and diversify products he offered.

Situated in the western side of the country, Tsodilo Hills is a sacred, mystical place where ancestral spirits are said to dwell and there is an undeniable spiritualism about the hills that immediately strikes some connections with a visitor.  

Makgadikgadi Pans is one of the largest salt pan areas in the world and when it rains, it changes into a blue lake attracting many animals and birds including flamingos.

Exploring other destinations, he said, could also act as part of product diversification within the tourism sector citing that competition was stiff because as upcoming operators, they were competing with well-established entities.

“I believe exploring other destinations will be a great move to move activities to other parts of the country to avoid congestion in the delta,” he added. 

“Visiting new places exposes individuals and travelers to different cultures, traditions and ways of life and that is the beauty of travelling.”

Mr Peake said his company birthed in 2020 to close the gap in the sector post COVID 19 pandemic, he said, was committed and determined to transport tourists around places to see what shaped the country’s history, culture and heritage to become a destination of choice.

He also wished self-drives in the country could be monitored and limited as they were killing small businesses. 

Besides that, Mr Peake appreciated that his business was doing well in the industry as he enjoys support from the international clients, mostly from Europe and America.

Working with international agencies and participating in tourism expos such as the annual Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo (BTTE), he said, had also opened opportunities for his business growth citing that he met new people who had always been a rewarding experience for him.

He acknowledged that the expo provided an opportunity for global tourism industry to meet on a one-on-one basis with Botswana tourism industry counterparts to trade and agree on future tourism packages for global tourists.

“I managed to create relationships and my business has increased by 30 per cent occupancy and I am happy their my clients feel more comfortable in the wilderness as they enjoy the best food, glamorous tents and the most exciting, catchy and thrilling is the sunrise and sunset experience offering them a rare photo opportunity,” he added. ENDS