WE WILL TRAVEL AGAIN!
The Loud Silence of Botswana’s Resorts: When Spring Fails to Trigger Wonder and Adventure
The mighty Chobe River’s thunderous roar has been silenced. The boats that once sailed free upon the waterway are now bound by the docks. The glistening water which reflects the golden sunset at evening has dimmed. The midnight laughter and crackling of the fire by visitors from wide and far, natives exchanging experiences and discovering the land together has hushed.The residents of the green, lush wilderness; the great Tlou, the king Tau and the mischievous Phiri have remained in awe of the silence in the wild.
Our gateway to the wilderness experience, Botswana’s resort hotels, that were once filled with jubilation and high spirits with endless people flocking to see what Botswana had to offer are now muted with only the echoes and ghosts of where
life used to be. How long will these hallucinations persist? How long until the hotel rooms, swimming pools and dining halls are filled with life?
Amidst the mental breakdown triggered by the loss of loved ones - colleagues, friends and family, the real pain of our reality is juxtaposed with the harsh economic reality of our times. The hotel industry and many others are on their knees.With every door closed, a window to Mother Nature is closed for our people, an opportunity to get away from it all. The spirited wonder of being away where the crisp natural air is unlike anything from big cities and towns. It is rejuvenation at its best. Is there an easy answer to what bedevils our socio-economic fabric? Is the debate between public health and the economic sustainability of our people an easy one? Where do we go from here?
The beauty of the getaway is a distant memory. The economic muscle of foreign currency which kept the hotel industry booming and national coffers healthy, is a reminder that we once had it all. The breathtaking hotel rooms from world-class hotel chains such Cresta, which are a home away from home trigger sweetness of freedom and the warmth of loved ones. The nights by the balcony are silent and yet the magnificent sounds of the wild linger on. The rhythm of the crickets meeting the buzzes of the light bugs, howls and rustles – there is nothing quite like experiencing tourism from the front-row seat that is Cresta Hotels.
When will we travel again? To see the countless stars that grace the sky and hear the thousand sounds in the wild.When will Botswana’s resorts return to normalcy and provide for their families?
When will the jungle laughter from visitors echo across the trees and shrubs? There are no easy answers. But the beauty of the wild beckons for the good of our people for the good of our nation and for the good of our economic viability.
Vaccinations trickling in give a glimmer of hope. The government has announced dates of major deliveries in the coming weeks and months. The actions and sense of urgency on Covid-19 by the authorities is a reminder that indeed we are all pulling together to find our way back.The current images of European stadia of soccer fans maskless and hugging beaming around the world is a reminder that even from the darkest clouds there a silver lining. In the not so distant future we shall return. Cresta and other hotels will have their moment in the sun.