Okavango community to build hotel in the Delta
In a first for citizen empowerment effort in the Okavango Delta, a community trust has floated a tender for the construction of a 22-bed hotel in Seronga to be developed along the designs of the luxurious camps dotted around the world renowned tourist attraction.
The Okavango Community Trust, a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) covering villagers in Seronga, Gunotsoga, Eretsha, Beetsha and Gudigwa along the Delta’s eastern panhandle, is hoping for construction to begin by the end of the year.
The trust holds the rights to two concessions, NG22 and NG23, making its revenues from sub-leasing these to photographic tourism development investors.
The 27-year organisation is no longer content with sitting on the sidelines and wants to establish its own resort on the Delta, complete with the safari and water activities tourists seek Botswana out for.
“We already have the land, the architectural plans, permits as well as the environmental management plan and we are just left with building,” the trust’s chair, Botshelo Sesinyi told Mmegi this week.
“We earn most of our revenues from the leases on our concessions and we realised that when there are events such as COVID-19, these are badly impacted.
“In addition, we see that there is a need for accommodation in the Eastern Panhandle and we wanted to invest in our future and the beauty of our area.
According to Sesinyi, the design of the hotel has been influenced by the wilderness camps run by commercial operators in the Delta. The facility will feature 11 chalets each with two beds and related amenities for tourists and other visitor. Unlike the Delta’s facilities where ecological sensitivities prevent commercial operators from building permanent structures, the trust’s control of the land means it has the latitude to include some brickwork in its construction, alongside canvas and other materials. The trust has also made inroads in partnering for the activities it wants to run out of the hotel.
“We have agreed with Okavango Polers Trust to take up the majority shareholding in Mbiroba Camp in Seronga, from where we will be offering mekoro into the Delta.
“If things go according to plan, we also intend to establish a cultural village at Eretsha so that tourists can go from the hotel to view these cultural offerings.
“The environmental management plan for the village has been done and we hope to finalise funding with the Construction Industry Trust Fund,” Sesinyi said.
Mbiroba Camp, a riverfront camp owned by the Okavango Polers, has fallen on hard times in recent years, far from its glory days as the headquarters for mokoro excursions by polers and their guests. While lease revenues are the trust’s major source of income, over the years, it has also developed various businesses and services in the five villages such as general dealers, a hardware outlet and a mortuary.
Sesinyi also said the idea was to spread commercial activity amongst the five villages for better livelihoods and reduce the need for villagers to travel to Shakawe for various goods and services. “This area is difficult and under-developed and we want to raise the level of commercial activity in it,” the chairman said.