- – Venue changes to Mma Mokhutshwane
The fourth edition of the Tapyowa NG32 Experience kicks off tomorrow on Mma Mokhutshwane Island, drawing all roads to the heart of the Okavango Delta for a grand celebration of local tourism and heritage. This highly anticipated annual festival unifies five distinct communities served by the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust, which are Boro, Xharaxao, Xuoxao, Daunara, and Xaxaba, through an immersive weekend of music, dance, traditional sports, and authentic delta cuisine. Due to heavy seasonal flooding that completely blocked overland access to Xaxaba village, organisers successfully shifted this year’s official venue to the picturesque Mma Mokhutshwane Island to ensure the festivities could safely proceed.
The eco-cultural showcase is carefully structured across two action-packed days, offering a dynamic blend of physical fitness, traditional sporting competitions, and nighttime entertainment. The event launches with an invigorating morning five-kilometer nature walk today, taking participants through scenic trails to experience the local ecosystem firsthand. The second day opens tomorrow with a formal opening ceremony, which will be immediately followed by the thrilling, fast-paced traditional dugout canoe mokoro races. The entire festival then culminates in a spectacular cultural showcase under the stars later at night, featuring traditional music, rhythmic dances, and vibrant storytelling.
A massive highlight of the weekend is the mokoro racing competition, which is strategically designed by the trust to actively promote sports tourism within the unique wetland region. Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust General Manager Seikaneng Moepedi revealed that the races are fully inclusive and will feature dedicated male and female categories across multiple demanding disciplines.
These include individual one-hundred-meter, two-hundred-meter, and four-hundred-meter sprint categories testing raw power and steering precision, alongside grueling eight-hundred-meter long-distance trials and fast-paced team relay events. To reach the remote island venue, revellers and sports fans will utilize an array of adventurous transit methods, with travelers arriving via rugged four-by-four vehicles, low-flying helicopters, and high-speed boats, turning the journey itself into a memorable part of the delta experience.
Beyond the competitive sporting events, attendees will have a rare opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the rich heritage of the NG32 communities. The festival grounds will feature various interactive cultural activities alongside a sprawling food market where food lovers can indulge in a wide variety of rare, authentic traditional delta cuisines and indigenous beverages.
These options include tswii, which is traditional water lily roots cooked to perfection, and seswaa, a savory dish of heavily pounded beef and goat meat slow-cooked in iron pots. Visitors can also enjoy bogobe jwa lerotse, a fragrant melon porridge, morogo wa dinawa, which is cooked and dried bean leaves, setampa, a hearty dish of traditional samp, as well as motjema and khadi, which are refreshing local palm wines and fermented traditional beverages.
The profound socio-economic impact of this growing local tourism product has attracted massive support from the highest echelons of national and local leadership. Seikaneng Moepedi emphasized that the core mission of the experience is to fiercely market the breathtaking beauty of the famous Okavango Delta domestically, encouraging residents and regional travelers to invest in local gems instead of going to other tourism attraction sites abroad.
Reflecting this national importance, a prestigious delegation of high-ranking dignitaries is confirmed to attend the weekend festivities, including the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, the North West District Commissioner, Thabang Waloka, and the Batawana Paramount Chief, Tawana Moremi, alongside Council Chairpersons representing the North West, Boteti, Chobe, Ghanzi, and Okavango districts.
North West District Commissioner Thabang Waloka previously hailed the event by highlighting its unmatched potential to diversify the country’s broader tourism product while simultaneously generating direct income for local families. By drawing high-spending travelers directly into the area, the festival successfully stimulates economic activity and subsequently improves the overall daily livelihoods of communities living throughout the NG32 concession.
