Xaxaba, Okavango Delta: For those seeking a blend of culture, adventure, and natural beauty, the Tapyowa NG32 Experience Cultural Festival in Xaxaba offered an unforgettable gateway into the heart of the Okavango Delta this past weekend. The festival, organized by the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT), showcased the region’s rich heritage while providing visitors with a hands-on encounter with Delta life.

The festival’s highlight was the thrilling mokoro races, where participants of all ages—from teenagers to those over 65—glided along the waterways in the traditional dugout canoes. According to Seikaneng SK Moepedi of OKMCT, the races are rooted in the daily life of the Delta’s people.

“The mokoro was our lifeline. We used it to fish, hunt, and gather water lilies, reeds, and grass for thatching. Today, racing mokoros brings a playful and competitive spirit to our cultural traditions. Let’s forget about civilization for a moment and enjoy the Delta as it was meant to be experienced.”

Visitors also navigated the Delta’s unique terrain on rugged 4×4 vehicles, braving sandy tracks, wetland crossings, and occasional vehicle breakdowns—a journey that festival-goers described as both challenging and exhilarating.

The two-day festival, held from Friday, August 22, to Saturday, August 23, offered more than adventure. Local musicians Stiga Sola and Koolkat Motyiko, along with cultural choirs such as Shigyakao Cultural Group and Boro Choir, provided live entertainment, while attendees enjoyed traditional Okavango cuisine, including tswii, Okavango bream, lebelebele, seswaa, and goat meat. Overnight camping under the Delta’s star-filled sky added an unforgettable dimension to the experience.

Machaba Safaris were some of the key sponsors of the festival, highlighting the collaboration between luxury tourism operators and local communities to promote cultural tourism in the NG32 concession.

The festival also reinforced the role of the OKMCT in preserving the Bayei people’s heritage and ensuring that tourism benefits local communities. Established in 1997 under Botswana’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) policy, the Trust oversees tourism activities, generating income that supports education, housing, and employment within the six villages of Boro, Daunara, Ditshiping, Xharaxao, Xaxaba, and Xuoxao.

For visitors, the Tapyowa NG32 Festival offered more than a cultural spectacle—it was an immersive adventure into the rhythms of Delta life, a celebration of local ingenuity, and a rare opportunity to connect with Botswana’s unique wilderness and traditions.