Africa-Press – Botswana. Domestic and international tourists have been encouraged to explore Kalahari Desert to enjoy the scenic Kgalagadi region.
Speaking during a dinner held in honour of TSAMAMA Trust patron, First Lady Neo Masisi at Camel Ecotourism Park on Friday, Kgosi David Toto of Tsabong encouraged scores of hikers participating in the Walk on the Dunes for Camels to also explore Kgalagadi and absorb knowledge about camels.
This, he said could bring more benefits and add value to development of the remote area which was endowed with natural resources.
Kgosi Toto appreciated stakeholders, and hikers who had come to support the fundraising initiative by TSAMAMA Trust, which belong to the communities of Tsabong, Maleshe and Maubelo.
He said the walk continued to grow with hikers having increased from 300 to 500 this year.
“Your support to the camel project is commendable,” he said to First Lady Masisi.
Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Samuel Brooks also appreciated Ms Masisi for fully embracing her role as patron for Walk on the Sand Dunes for the Camels.
He underscored the role of community trusts in stimulating developments and driving the local economy.
The MP also emphasised development of dryland tourism safari.
He said different localities offered different tourism experiences adding that communities derived benefits from the flora and fauna as well as the wetlands found in their areas therefore it was critical to also devise strategies for developing dryland tourism safari and accrue benefits from such.
For his part TSAMAMA Trust Chairperson Mr Charles Proctor thanked the First Lady for accepting to be patron of the walk aimed at saving camels.
He noted that the trust was faced with a challenge of camel over population at the park, adding that the camels had increased to about 500, exceeding the park’s carrying capacity of 150.
This, he said had resulted in high mortality rate especially of young ones, land degradation, as well as overgrazing.
To address the challenges, he said, they had applied for land and were raising funds to fence it as well as exploit camel value chains such as meat processing, milk processing.
Mr Proctor said Botswana was amongst countries with the highest number of camels in Southern Africa, therefore it was critical to make use of the opportunity to benefit from them.
He emphasised that Walk on the Sand Dunes for the camels was a fundraising initiative, adding that community trusts were faced with challenges such as lack of funding, lack of training for board of trustees hence the need for collaborative support.
Jwaneng Diamond Mine general manager, Mr Goitseone Gadifele said the company sponsored the event to the tune of P50 000.
He said they were cognizant of the fact that diamonds which were main revenue earners for the country would not be mined forever and therefore they supported community Trusts to be able to drive the economy forward. Meanwhile, a hiking club, Jwaneng Striders donated shoes worth P15 000 to children of Tsabong, Maleshe and Maubelo.
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