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Over CCB’s long history, we have conducted a range of competitions to engage various stakeholders, from school students, to farmers and the general public. Each competition is carefully crafted to help contribute towards our mandate of protecting cheetahs, including the selection of prizes on offer. For example, in 2018, CCB ran an essay competition asking primary school students to recount what importance wildlife holds in Botswana; the prizes? Kindle ereaders for each of the winning students to encourage their love of reading and writing. Last year we conducted a competition to find the farmers in the Ghanzi District of Botswana who were striving for sustainability and coexistence with wildlife. A variety of prizes were on offer, including gift vouchers for local hardware stores, mechanics and water tank providers so that farmers could kit out their farms with the best equipment they could to further their farming practices. But the six lucky place-getters, a winner and a runner up from each of the three categories (women, youth and integrated farmers) also received a very special prize – an all-expenses paid safari into one of Botswana’s beautiful protected areas!
Why would we go to such great lengths to provide such a lavish prize for the six winners? Botswana is home to some of the world’s most enigmatic wildlife, which is a huge drawcard for international tourists and the basis of Botswana’s tourism industry - the second largest source of GDP in the country (after diamond mining). But for farmers, the benefits that wildlife provides through the tourism industry can seem very far away when they are experiencing first-hand the costs of living with wildlife. Furthermore, farmers rarely see wildlife with their own eyes – often the only signs that cheetahs, lions or elephants have been on their farms is the footprints left in the Kalahari sand or the damage they may leave in their wake. In allowing these farmers to luxuriate in the 5-star safari experience usually only enjoyed by foreign tourists, we hoped to help these farmers appreciate the beauty and majesty of Botswana’s protected wildlife species and to better understand the extent of the burgeoning tourism industry in Botswana. By taking them on safari we hoped to help them fall in love with Botswana’s wildlife again, which hopefully will help build tolerance of any sporadic damage that may be caused on their farms in the future.
Late last year, the integrated farmer category winner James Motshidisi and runner up Jason Kale enjoyed their safari in the Okavango Delta, at the Great Plains Okavango Explorers camp. And in March our last finalists were able to enjoy their safaris. From the women’s category, winner Rachel Mpho Kelefitlhetse and runner up Gakebagane Sefako, enjoyed an amazing safari at one of the Okavango Delta’s most prestigious camps – Wilderness Safaris’ Little Vumbura camp. Youth category winner Olebile Khewa Keitseope and runner up Ezekiel Kawamanuka also enjoyed a stay at the Natural Selections camp Meno a Kwena in March where they enjoyed a safari on the beautiful Boteti River and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in November.
All of the farmers competition winners and runners up enjoyed and expressed their gratitude for their safari trips, many saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. The highlight for most was enjoying seeing the animals in their natural environment.
The women’s category winner, Rachel Kelefitlhetse, was quick to praise the Wilderness staff, saying that they felt so safe and cared for by the staff at Little Vumbura camp. “The guides were incredible, the accommodation was good, and the food was excellent. Everything about the trip was thrilling and we would love to come back one day for more, to get that feeling one more time.”
The youth category winner Olebile Keitseope could not hide her excitement as she said “we had a wonderful experience. The service exceeded our expectations: nice employees, skilled guides, delicious meals, excellent accommodations, and magnificent wildlife!”
We are overjoyed to hear that the farmer competition winners and runners up had such a wonderful time on their safaris and are walking away with memories to last a lifetime and a new appreciation for Botswana’s wildlife and environment. These safaris could not have been possible without the generous donations of accommodation from Wilderness, Great Plains and Natural Selections. Thanks must also go to Mack Air who provided discounted flights for us to get the winners to and from the camps. Thanks again to the other businesses that donated prizes for the farmers competition – Haskins, Flotek and Classic Auto. Together we have created a lasting experience for these inspiring farmers.
Why would we go to such great lengths to provide such a lavish prize for the six winners? Botswana is home to some of the world’s most enigmatic wildlife, which is a huge drawcard for international tourists and the basis of Botswana’s tourism industry - the second largest source of GDP in the country (after diamond mining). But for farmers, the benefits that wildlife provides through the tourism industry can seem very far away when they are experiencing first-hand the costs of living with wildlife. Furthermore, farmers rarely see wildlife with their own eyes – often the only signs that cheetahs, lions or elephants have been on their farms is the footprints left in the Kalahari sand or the damage they may leave in their wake. In allowing these farmers to luxuriate in the 5-star safari experience usually only enjoyed by foreign tourists, we hoped to help these farmers appreciate the beauty and majesty of Botswana’s protected wildlife species and to better understand the extent of the burgeoning tourism industry in Botswana. By taking them on safari we hoped to help them fall in love with Botswana’s wildlife again, which hopefully will help build tolerance of any sporadic damage that may be caused on their farms in the future.
Late last year, the integrated farmer category winner James Motshidisi and runner up Jason Kale enjoyed their safari in the Okavango Delta, at the Great Plains Okavango Explorers camp. And in March our last finalists were able to enjoy their safaris. From the women’s category, winner Rachel Mpho Kelefitlhetse and runner up Gakebagane Sefako, enjoyed an amazing safari at one of the Okavango Delta’s most prestigious camps – Wilderness Safaris’ Little Vumbura camp. Youth category winner Olebile Khewa Keitseope and runner up Ezekiel Kawamanuka also enjoyed a stay at the Natural Selections camp Meno a Kwena in March where they enjoyed a safari on the beautiful Boteti River and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in November.
All of the farmers competition winners and runners up enjoyed and expressed their gratitude for their safari trips, many saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. The highlight for most was enjoying seeing the animals in their natural environment.
The women’s category winner, Rachel Kelefitlhetse, was quick to praise the Wilderness staff, saying that they felt so safe and cared for by the staff at Little Vumbura camp. “The guides were incredible, the accommodation was good, and the food was excellent. Everything about the trip was thrilling and we would love to come back one day for more, to get that feeling one more time.”
The youth category winner Olebile Keitseope could not hide her excitement as she said “we had a wonderful experience. The service exceeded our expectations: nice employees, skilled guides, delicious meals, excellent accommodations, and magnificent wildlife!”
We are overjoyed to hear that the farmer competition winners and runners up had such a wonderful time on their safaris and are walking away with memories to last a lifetime and a new appreciation for Botswana’s wildlife and environment. These safaris could not have been possible without the generous donations of accommodation from Wilderness, Great Plains and Natural Selections. Thanks must also go to Mack Air who provided discounted flights for us to get the winners to and from the camps. Thanks again to the other businesses that donated prizes for the farmers competition – Haskins, Flotek and Classic Auto. Together we have created a lasting experience for these inspiring farmers.
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