Page 86 - Discover Botswana 2021

do¬gs are a constant threat, and extremely difficult to counter.
David Evans, managing director of Mashatu, explains that the conservation of areas such as this is absolutely dependant on three elements, which must all be present for its effectiveness: firstly the private sector custodians of the concessions; secondly the communities that reside on the peripheries providing the work force; and thirdly the tourists, whose dollars support the whole system. What is evident is that long-serving, well-trained employees are an extremely valuable resource, and they need to be supported, even in hard lockdown times. They are the ones who will be there when tourism reopens.
Wide-open spaces are even more valuable now than ever before. They are to be conserved at this time when people need to live more socially distant. Huge emphasis needs to be placed on protecting the ever-diminishing wilderness areas left on our planet. At the end of the day, the tourist industry does not merely sell safaris, it conserves wild places, creates livelihoods, and shares experiences that allow guests to escape, to dream, and to feel that very same freedom that I felt on driving that old landcruiser through the bush in this special part of Africa.
A wonderful guest of mine once summed it up like this: “There is this moment about half an hour before sunset when a little wind
comes up and the sky is ablaze. It is when the trees and flowers are pollinating, and the air is fragrant with wild basil. Your skin smells like wind and dust and sun and sweat, and your mind is full of memories of the day. Memories of the grand orchestra that is the natural world, coordinating life with mathematical precision. You know this is the truest form of beauty. The stars will soon come out and you will feel tiny, an insignificant part of it all. Yet you’re certain that this is the way that life is supposed be and you’ve never felt more alive.”
KIRSTEN FROST began his interest in photography at a young age. His work soon became recognized in the South African photography scene, and before the tender age of 18, his wildlife photography was seen gracing the covers of national magazines. Kirsten’s passion for Africa’s wild places led him to further his studies in the field of Nature Conservation. Kirsten went on to be awarded in international photographic competitions and soon secured a dream job as a photographic guide at Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana, where he shared his knowledge on wildlife photography and the natural environment with guests. He was awarded 2017 Botswana Wildlife Photographer of The Year for his captivating portfolio created at Mashatu. Kirsten now plans and leads cultural and wildlife photo tours worldwide and travels with guests to awe-inspiring photographic destinations as he tutors photography and filmmaking.
Above: A visit to Rhodes Baobab at sunset is the perfect way to end one’s time exploring Mashatu. It’s a time to reminisce about the journey, truly appreciate the immense natural beauty this region holds and remind ourself why it’s so very important to protect places like it.
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