Okavango Gin, is not just another craft gin, it is an ambitious, premium spirit born in Tsutsubega, in the Okavango Delta – a true story of how a wild, pristine wetland is being captured inside a clear glass bottle. It is a story of individual success deeply tied to national growth, and to truly understand it, you have to journey into the heart of Botswana’s pride.
We recently found ourselves traveling to the remote settlement of Tsutsubega in the Okavango Delta, seeking out the birthplace of a premium gin that has taken safari camps by storm. Standing before the Okavango Gin distillery, the structure cuts a humble yet strikingly authoritative image against the delta’s landscape.
Stepping inside, there are no humming air conditioners. Instead, the building relies entirely on natural ventilation and local building materials to maintain the precise, delicate temperatures required for the craft. In this quiet, serene, and utterly alluring environment, we watched the distiller prepare to start another fresh batch, capturing the wild, pristine essence of a wetland inside a clear glass bottle.
Here, distiller Aubrey Moitoi leads the production of the brand’s two signature offerings, The Sentinel and The Forager. Moitoi, welcomed us into his workspace oozing with confidence. As we talked, he explained how the vision originally brought the owners together, driven by a desire to craft an authentic local spirit that would seamlessly blend with daily safari life, especially the iconic sundowner.
The product had to be unique, utilising pure water drawn directly from the Okavango Delta for a distinctive taste. But the real magic lies in the local ingredients, particularly the Mophane seeds that grow in abundance all around the distillery. We stood by and watched the behind-the-scenes production process unfold, from the initial stage of ingredient consolidation through to the final product being sealed in a bottle, ready for the market. It was a complete rendezvous with quality, birthing a true Botswana gin that commenced production just after COVID-19.
From those passionate beginnings, the rest is history. Demand quickly surged from local tourism facilities around Maun to major centers across the country, before transforming into a major international success story. Today, Okavango Gin holds the historic distinction of being the first Botswana alcohol product exported to the world, proving on the global stage that the country can produce world-class premium spirits.
Moitoi lights up as he shared the international accolades backing this standard, including a Double Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Gold Medal at the 2023 Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards. This global recognition cements the gin as a peculiar, top-tier asset that perfectly mirrors Botswana’s luxury tourism industry.
Yet, what makes this venture truly remarkable is that it has not left community empowerment and livelihoods behind. Okavango Gin has evolved from a private business into a shared national pride. The people of Tsutsubega are the proud suppliers of the Mophane seeds, earning the vital financial gains needed to support their families.
This footprint extends directly into the community, supporting the Tsutsubega Playground for early childhood education, and partnering with the Ntlafatso Glass Project to recycle used bottles. This partnership ensures sustainable craft, local employment, and environmental conservation go hand in hand.
Ultimately, Okavango Gin stands as undeniable proof of Botswana’s manufacturing excellence, transforming local resources into a globally revered luxury product that elevates the country’s collective offering to the world.
