06 Mar 2014

Chief medical officer, Dr Hans Van Zyl says the launch of Orapa game park documentary is part of the Orapa Today, Orapa Tomorrow project which is aimed at bringing together mining, tourism and the community of Boteti.

Dr Van Zyl said this on March 5 at Itekeng Hall at the launch of Orapa game park documentary titled Desert Haven that the film will be used as a marketing tool to sell the park as a haven of tourism in Boteti.

It is no secret that Orapa, besides being a diamond mining town, prides itself with tourism, with the best educational and medical facilities which are aimed at uplifting the livelihood of the Boteti community.

He said the park will be turned into an economic hub that will bring tourists from all corners of the world to the Boteti sub-district.

Dr Van Zyl said through the dedicated leadership of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines General Manager, Dr Adrian Gale, Debswana is doing all in its power to engage in projects that will leave a lasting legacy within the community of Boteti. We are coming up with initiatives that will put Boteti on the spotlight, he said.

He said the documentary, titled “Desert Haven” was conceived as part of Orapa Today and Tomorrow project to bring mining, tourism and the community together and to put the Orapa Game Park on the map as a true sanctuary for all endangered species.

Dr Van Zyl indicated that it is part of Debswana’s initiatives to position Orapa Game Park as an attractive and preferred destination for tourists and leave an impeccable legacy for the children of this great nation.

He added that the video will serve as a marketing tool for the game park as a tourism area and he further stated that Orapa will also act as a gate way to other tourism areas such as the CKGR, Makgadikgadi Pans and the Okavango Delta.

The documentary, produced by Dr Johan Steyn of Quintessential (PTY) LTD studied among others diurnal and nocturnal animals found at the park for educational and tourism interest.

Dr. Steyn said he encountered a lot of challenges while shooting the documentary, especially at night as using a spotlight meant he had to be 30metres away from the animal as they were not accustomed to so much light at night.

He pointed out that it took a year for the animals to get familiar with him being around them with so much lighting hence, they eventually allowed him to “film” them. “

A leopard once came close to my campsite and investigated me and I allowed it to do so without any disturbance. If an animal comes into your space it will not attack you”, he said.

He concluded by saying it is not Debswana or the government’s duty to conserve the game animals, but rather, it is everyone’s responsibility in Boteti to look after the game park and protect the animals. ENDS