26 Aug 2026

The heart of the Kgalagadi is set to beat louder over the weekend as Ukhwi O Qhuqhayo festival makes its grand return to Masetlhane Pans in Ngwatle for its third edition. 

  For three days, beginning Friday (August 28) the desert turns into a full vibe of culture, music and fashion with, A Re Yeng Ukhwi, as the theme. 

Visitors will dive into live performances, traditional showcases and the show-stopping iZaura Fashion Show, plus get a close look at eco-villages and how sustainable tourism is shaping the area. 

The theme: A Re Yeng Ukhwi, is more than an invitation, it is the festival’s goal as it calls on Batswana and visitors from beyond, to physically come, experience, and invest in Ukhwi and the wider Kgalagadi North.  

By centering the event at the settlement, the organisers are deliberately turning “let’s go” into action: go to see the pans, go to buy local crafts, go to camp under the stars, and go to support communities directly. 

In doing so, Ukhwi O Qhuqhayo aims to position Ukhwi, Ngwatle and Ncaang, as must-visit tourist destinations and to make Kgalagadi North a recognised hub for cultural and eco-tourism. 

Event organiser, Lucky Modise, said the event had grown from a hiking trip that fell in love with KD1’s landscape into a platform that kept more than 70 per cent of profits in the village. 

According to Modise, festival-goers can expect to gather around the campfire for an electrifying mix of poetry, drums and dance. 

Confirmed acts include seasoned spoken word artist Oliver The Poet, vocal group Music is Life, Botswana’ very own, Eugene Jackson, Beat Spirit from South Africa and the Ngwatle Traditional Group, with four community groups from the area headlining Saturday’s main stage.

Modise shared that a major highlight would be the iZaura Fashion Show, which shall be set against the vast open pan. 

“It will fuse high fashion with African-inspired designs and indigenous jewelry, curated with RatCo Events,” she said.

She further noted that they would also host a Fashion Master Class by renowned designer, Mothusi Lesolle of iZaura, which would be held at the Ngwatle Craft Centre, to help local artisans commercialise their art and artifacts. 

“The opening day will begin at the Kgotla in Ukhwi with an official launch, a tree donation by UOQ courtesy of Bushbaby Conservation, and the handover of patron donations to stakeholders from the three villages,” she said. 

Modise also noted that the festival would run as a full camping experience with packages available to suit different preferences. 

“Beyond entertainment, Ukhwi O Qhuqhayo is positioning itself as a driver of #promotingeco-villages. The event is delivered in collaboration with Ukhwi, Ngwatle and Ncaang villages, the Ngwaa Khobee Xeya Trust, Village VDCs, and the Technical Advisory Committee from the Kgalagadi North, Office of the District Commissioner,” she said. 

Modise noted that most services had been procured locally.  

“It is through this rich cultural diversity that we deem it fit to grow this event and make this area a destination of choice in Kgalagadi North,” she said. 

She acknowledged challenges with sponsorship and said the team was seeking potential sponsors who were interested in partnering with the festival to help grow it.   

“I wish to thank my team for their contribution despite a tough economy that saw other headline events cancelled. Friends, family and patrons dug deep to keep the fire burning,” she said.

Modise reiterated that they were hopeful that this year would leave a lasting legacy where artifacts from these villages could be commercialised, with key learnings that benefitted KD1 and reached beyond the region. 

With hashtags #areyengukhwi and #promotingeco-villages* driving conversation online, the pans are expected to draw culture lovers, campers, fashion enthusiasts and photographers from across Botswana and beyond, boosting photography tourism and Trans-Kalahari travel.  ENDS