The Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) is preparing to host the third edition of the Tapyowa NG32 Experience, a vibrant cultural tourism festival that shines a spotlight on the UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta.
Taking place this Saturday August 23, 2025 in the scenic Xaxaba Village within the NG32 wildlife concession, the festival honors the Delta’s rich cultural traditions and natural beauty. It is designed to bring together local communities, travelers, and culture enthusiasts for an authentic journey into the heart of Botswana’s heritage.
Launched in 2023, the Tapyowa NG32 Experience has quickly grown into a signature annual event in northern Botswana. More than just a cultural showcase, it serves as a platform for community-driven tourism, reinforcing the balance between conservation and cultural expression in one of the world’s most pristine ecosystems.
At the center of the festival is the mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe that embodies life and mobility in the Delta. Visitors can expect adrenaline-filled mokoro races, including 100m and 200m sprints, an 800m endurance challenge, a 4×4 relay, and even a tug-of-war on water. Alongside the races, the program features traditional cuisine and wine tastings, choir performances, and a lively cultural night of music, dance, and storytelling by the region’s multiethnic communities.
The name Tapyowa—a Seyei word meaning “I have been gifted”—reflects the annual Okavango floods that breathe life into the Delta’s people and wildlife. The festival carries this spirit of gratitude, celebrating both ecological cycles and cultural traditions sustained by the waters.
For Batswana, the festival provides an affordable opportunity to experience mokoro excursions and reconnect with ancestral heritage. For visitors, it offers an immersive window into the Okavango’s rhythms of life, blending nature, tradition, and community.
Behind the festival is OKMCT, a trust established in 1997 to promote sustainable resource management through community participation. Over the years, the trust has been instrumental in involving local residents in tourism and conservation, fusing indigenous knowledge with scientific practice. Tapyowa has since become one of its most impactful initiatives, both as a source of community benefit and as a beacon of cultural tourism.
Whether you are a local rediscovering your roots or an international traveler seeking the spirit of the Delta, the Tapyowa NG32 Experience promises a celebration of heritage, natural beauty, and community pride.
For bookings and inquiries, contact OKMCT at +267 6666000, email reservations@okmctng32.com, or visit www.okmctng32.com. Mark your calendars for 23 August 2025—when the rhythm of mokoro paddles, the taste of tradition, and the warmth of community will come alive at Xaxaba Village in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
