04 Sep 2025

Wilderness Safari has pledged P300,000 toward a project restoring the royal burial ground of Batawana.

The site, located at the main kgotla, is the resting place of former paramount chiefs, including deputy chief, Kgosi Mathiba Moremi, queen mothers (bahumagadi) and other royal family members and had long been in need of renovation.

Kgosi Tawana II had a long-standing desire to see the graves restored and the project is a collaborative effort between Wilderness, bogosi and the Nhabe Museum.

The goal is to restore the deteriorated structures to a state that honoured the royals and preserved the cultural heritage of Batawana.

In an interview, Wilderness Safari’s general manager, Mr Joe Matome said the funding was part of the company’s annual heritage celebration across all global branches.

He said the project would include upgrading tombstones, creating new walkways, installing a gate and constructing a mural wall that told the history of Batawana.

Mr Matome explained that while the renovation aimed to attract tourists, it was also a sign of respect for the royal authority and an effort to strengthen community ties.

“We believe our efforts will make a huge difference, especially because the sites hold immense historical and cultural significance for the royal families,” he said.

The project steering committee chairperson, Mr Tshematshe Monwela, also Nhabe Museum board chairperson, confirmed that work had already begun and he thanked Wilderness for their support, noting that the project would be done in phases, starting in Maun before expanding to other areas where royals were buried, including Tsau, Toteng and Kachikau in the Chobe region, where Kgosi Sekgoma Letsholathebe and his children had been buried.

Mr Monwela highlighted that the project would require additional funding as it expanded and had requested that Wilderness encouraged other safari companies to contribute through the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB). He also confirmed that all affected families and stakeholders had been consulted and had given their approval. ENDS