The flooding of the Thamalakane River in Maun is a reminder of the power of nature and the vulnerability of communities living alongside rivers and wetlands. In recent weeks, rising water levels have created risks for people fishing, swimming, crossing the river and undertaking other activities along its banks. These dangers must be taken seriously. However, while we must respond to the immediate risks associated with flooding, we should also ask a broader question: Can the Thamalakane River become an opportunity for tourism, cultural development and local economic empowerment in Maun?
I believe it can. Maun is internationally recognised as the gateway to the Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s most important wetland landscapes. Yet the tourism economy of Maun has traditionally focused heavily on providing access to the Delta rather than fully developing tourism opportunities within the town itself.
The Thamalakane River provides an opportunity to change this. The riverfront could become an important recreational and tourism space for both residents and visitors. With proper planning, selected sections could include walking and cycling trails, viewing platforms, benches, picnic areas, designated boat-launching facilities and safe areas for appreciating the river. During periods of high water, the flooded landscape can provide spectacular opportunities for birdwatching, photography, boating and environmental education.
But this should not become tourism development imposed from outside. The people of Maun must be at the centre of the opportunity. Local communities could establish small tourism enterprises offering guided river excursions, cultural tours, traditional food, arts and crafts, storytelling and entertainment. Young people could be trained as local guides, boat operators, environmental educators and hospitality entrepreneurs. Women and community groups could participate in food preparation, crafts and cultural enterprises. In this way, the river can contribute directly to household incomes and employment. The Thamalakane is also a cultural landscape. Generations of communities have developed knowledge and practices associated with rivers, wetlands, fishing, livestock, agriculture and seasonal changes in water levels. Much of this indigenous knowledge is at risk of disappearing as lifestyles change. Cultural tourism could provide an incentive to document and preserve this heritage.
Maun could establish a Thamalakane River Cultural and Environmental Centre where residents and visitors learn about the river, local history, traditional ecological knowledge, wetland biodiversity and the relationship between people and the environment. Such a centre could become a focal point for schools, tourists, researchers and local communities. Nevertheless, development must not mean uncontrolled commercialisation of the river. Environmental sustainability and public safety must come first. Government and local authorities should identify safe and unsafe zones, install warning signs, establish designated access points and strengthen public education during periods of flooding. Riverfront development should also protect wetlands and natural vegetation. There is an important lesson here, that is a natural hazard can also stimulate innovation if properly managed. The flooding of the Thamalakane River should not simply be viewed as a problem requiring emergency responses every year. It should encourage Maun to develop a long-term riverfront management and tourism strategy.
The future of Maun’s tourism should not be limited to transporting visitors to the Okavango Delta. The town itself has natural and cultural assets that can generate employment, preserve heritage and improve the quality of life of its residents. The Thamalakane River is one such asset. If government, communities, traditional leaders, tourism operators and the private sector work together, the river can become a safe, attractive and community-owned tourism and cultural space. The challenge before Maun is therefore not simply how to live with the flooding of the Thamalakane River, but how to transform this natural resource into an opportunity while protecting lives, culture and the environment.
