The Desert Bush ... An ultimate hikers Walk pilgrimage
Almost two years without hosting the annual DESERT BUSH WALK- Winter 2022, close to 3000 energetic hikers turned up for the sixth edition of the edition. Held in Jwaneng, and organized by the CSI- Concepts Foundation in collaboration with The Desert Bush Walk, Local Organizing Committee- LOC ( Team of Volunteers), many had been waiting patiently for this big moment. With returnees and debutants alike, Jwaneng literally came to a standstill this past Saturday. An estimated 1.395 and 1. 756 had registered for both the 30km and 15km respectively.
Like an adrenaline shot, they came, they saw, they conquered the grueling and unforgiving sand and are ready for July 29th, 2023. The chief Walker for the event was the Vice President of Botswana, Slumber Tsogwane. Other dignitaries who graced the event included The Minister of Foreign Affairs for Lesotho, Matsepo Ramakoae, and her deputy, Tseliso Kalake to mention a few.
Amongst the multitudes that thronged Jwaneng this weekend was one of the first hiking clubs that has been participating at the walk since 2014, and they are Ditsamaanaga Hiking Club from North West in South Africa. Ditsamaanaga was not the only hiking club to travel all the way to Jwaneng, with various clubs from South Africa and Lesotho, and other hikers from corporates companies gearing up for the event.
Monwabisi Ndzutha, a member of the club, travelled all the way from Upington, Northern Cape, driving over 700 kilometers to reach what he termed the Pilgrimage of hikers.
Ndzutha is not the only hiker who gets an adrenaline rush from the walk. There are other hikers such as Lekhooa Ramokhoro from Lesotho, who bagged his fourth medal this year, having previously participated in two thirty kilometres and adamant that he is returning for his fifth medal next year.
He explains that he left his residence at Upington early in the wee hours of the Friday, and that when his family asked him where he was going, he proudly informed them that he was going back to the one place where he gets to be in touch with his ancestors.
“This is a pilgrimage. This is where everybody from southern Africa needs to come and walk,” he explains.
Speaking in an interview with this publication, he explains that they were attracted to the Bush Walk as they wanted to explore SADC, and that when the Bush Walk was launched, they were excited. “We decided to go and explore,” he said adding that they have been returning every year to Jwaneng since 2014. During the two years that the World was under Covid- 19 attack, he said that they were sad to miss out on one of their favourite events.
He explains that it took him six and half hours to complete his 30km walk. The 30km he says was almost a walk in the park, as in 2015, he conquered the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro. “I was on top of Africa, and at the highest peak in Africa,” he explains, noting that in September another member of the group who was in her late 50’ s was also gearing up for her debut at Kilimanjaro.