21 Aug 2026

A 14-day journey on foot through the Okavango Delta has exposed a group of young aspiring trails guides and wildlife filmmakers to practical skills and real-world experiences intended to help them carve careers in the tourism and film industries.

The group completed the expedition from Xaxaba to Maun, with their achievement celebrated at a welcome ceremony held at Moeti Kgotla in Maun to recognise the participants behind The Longest Walk. 

Supported through the 2023 CIPA Open Call with a grant of P999, 905.35, the project equipped youth from the NG32 communities with skills in professional trails guiding, photography and wildlife filmmaking.

According to Ledvac Holdings managing director, Mr Molebi Otukile, the initiative was conceived after the organisation identified a gap in the country’s production sector and recognised the need to expose young people to specialised fields.

“The intention was not simply to take young people into the Delta for an expedition, but to give them practical exposure that could help them establish themselves professionally,” he said.

He noted that the intention was to continue the project and work with NG32 offices to identify and train more young people.

During the expedition, aspiring guides learned tracking, navigation, animal behaviour and responsible wildlife approach techniques. 

Meanwhile, aspiring filmmakers gained practical experience observing and capturing animal encounters without interfering with natural behaviours.

For one of the trainees, Mr Baboloki Dipogiso, the training meant confronting the physical demands of the industry, as the journey required them to walk long distances through difficult terrain and cross rivers and waterways, experiences which gave them a practical understanding of the environments in which they could eventually work rather than limiting their training to theoretical instruction.

For her part, 25-year-old professional guide, Ms Edna Batlhalefi, said the experience had added significant value to her professional development, particularly through the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners and apply the knowledge gained during the expedition.

The significance of the training was also recognised by Deputy District Commissioner in the North West District, Mr Ramogaupi Gaborekwe, who applauded the initiative for exposing young people to tourism filmmaking, which he described as a relatively new area in Botswana and one with potential to broaden opportunities for young people within the country’s growing tourism industry.

Mr Gaborekwe said the physical demands of the 14-day expedition also provided a valuable health benefit for the participants at a time when non-communicable diseases were increasingly challenging communities, noting that initiatives which encouraged young people to remain physically active can contribute to healthier lifestyles.

He further observed that the expedition demonstrated that human-wildlife coexistence was possible and attainable, as the trainees were able to spend an extended period moving through wildlife areas while learning how to understand animal behaviour and interact with the environment without disrupting it. ENDS