23rd June 2023
Own Correspondent
The Makgadikgadi epic event will take place from the 14th-16th July 2023, within the BOTASH mine lease area officials have revealed. An airstrip in the area will be used for take-off and landing for the skydiving aircrafts. Skydivers are shuttled from the event area to the airstrip.
The event is being organised by Botswana Tourism Organisation in collaboration with the Parachute Association of Botswana, Botswana Ash, Tutume District Council and the Sowa Town Council.
The first event was held in 2013 in the Nata Bird Sanctuary and is now held annually to stimulate local travel, stimulate inbound travel and destination marketing, stimulate business activity and further enhance value chain beneficiation.
“A total of 56 International have confirmed from the following countries: United Kingdom, Germany, United States, France, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada France, Belgium, Sweden Ireland and Switzerland,” said Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment and Tourism.
She said, “So far, 35 skydivers have registered from the region, with Botswana 10, Namibia 5, South Africa 9, Zambia 5 and Zimbabwe 6.”
According to tourism officials, the total registration so far is 91 compared to 69 that participated in the year 2022 with 56% of entrants males and 44% females. Registrations have also been made for families accompanying the skydivers who have booked family vacations ahead of and post the event.
Bookings have been made in Makgadikgadi, Chobe and the Okavango Delta. The Bookings cut across categories from budget to high end facilities.
The 2022 event had attracted an estimated total of 6,296 spectators, representing twenty-three percent (23.4%) increase from 5,103 registered in 2019.
“It is estimated that, all the interviewed businesses including service providers generated well over BWP21 million, an increase of over twenty-three percent (23.7%)as compared to the amount of revenue that would otherwise accrue to the same businesses during a time where there was no Epic in 2021,” said Kereng.
According to organizers, 22 event services are being procured from 100% citizen owned companies. 3 Companies to be contracted to establish a tented village inside the event area and 3 companies to provide accommodation in the public area. Farmers in the area will benefit from providing horseback rides for revellers at the popular local skydiving event.
BTO has identified farmers in the Nata and Sowa areas to be assisted in the development of a business model for horse activity to the Pans, Sowa Mine Park and the Nata Bird Sanctuary.
Over the long term, the trail will extend and cover the Southern Sua Trail encompassing (Kokonje Island to Kaitshe Escarpment with overnight facilities being provided at designated camp facilities operated by nearby communities.
Officials say a presentation has been done to Technical Advisory Committee to help the horse riders to set up an association. A concept was generated and presented. The concept has been presented to local authorities for buy in and facilitation such as capacity building.
P320,000.00 gate takings from the 2022 event generated will be used planted back into the community. Botswana Tourism has reviewed its programs and projects to refocus on interventions aimed at value chain beneficiaries as opposed to being driven on a general direction which is bound to take longer time and money before impact can be felt.
