Page 93 - Discover Botswana 24th Edition 2024

www.discoverbotswanathebook.biz 93
C U LT U R E
the 1.5 km course in 11 minutes 24 seconds - an incredibly fast time for an
unwieldy 6m long mokoro!
Nkashi Classic continues to attract hundreds of spectators and it is
intended for the whole family with activities for children, traditional food
and drinks, and live music entertainment. BWBT also brings the Nkashi
Library Bus and an ‘Edu-Tent’ which comprises virtual reality experience,
exciting science experiments, conservation talks, and the Nkashi Classic
virtual game.
In 2022, National Geographic Society’s Impact Story Lab released a
feature-length documentary entitled “Nkashi: Race for the Okavango”,
about the triumphs and challenges of three mokoro polers, on their
journey to compete in the Nkashi Classic. The film is in Setswana, with
English subtitles, and was created in close collaboration with a team of
Batswana filmmakers, composers, and other artists from Botswana and
the region.
The Nkashi Classic and documentary can also be considered, figuratively,
part of a larger race to preserve the entire Okavango River Basin. Both
were supported through the Okavango Eternal partnership, which aims
to protect the source waters that feed the Delta and promote sustainable
livelihoods for those who live across the region.
The now internationally acclaimed film has also managed to promote
the Nkashi Classic after the race’s hiatus due to drought and the covid
pandemic. Judging from the success of the 2023 event, which attracted a
record number of both spectators and competitors (including competitors
from South Africa and New Zealand), future events promise to be even
bigger and better. If you are lucky enough to visit Maun near the end of the
winter season, look out for the Classic and come join the fun!
Previous pages: Race Day has arrived and a poler steers his
mokoro steadily along the Thamalakane River in Maun during the
Nkashi Classic 2023.
Facing page: One of the elderly women in the Veteran Female
category heading to the finish line at the Nkashi Classic in Maun.
Above: Botswana Wild Bird Trust was joined by local sponsors,
corporates and stakeholders based in the Okavango Delta to
make the Nkashi Classic a success.