Mothelesi's Happy Soul Adventures tells Botswana narrative
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday June 14, 2022 06:00
Based in Mogobane, she offers picnics by the dam, boating, pottery lessons, arts, and a village cycling tour. “We also have a small guesthouse which offers the typical Setswana life experience. We offer small intimate moments for a small crowd and this is done through collaborations with the Village Development Committee. I have learnt that collaborations are effective and can push us, locals, to greater heights because we all have different skills,” she said. Incepted in 2017, Mothelesi who used to work at Botswana Tourism Organisation was inspired to start her own company and change the narrative. She said the highlight of her work was being able to connect with different cultures and have her eyes opened to the diversity that is out there. “The reason was mainly that tourism has just been fixated on the safari model.
Working for BTO, I was exposed to different tourist experiences and learnt about other people’s cultures. Even when I travel, I want to connect with the local culture wherever I am.
So through my company I want people when they come to Botswana, not only to come to go on safari but to also connect with people and get to immerse themselves in our local culture, how we live,” she said. Before the pandemic, her clients were mostly Europeans including the Swiss, Canadians, and French, Americans, and others. Lately, most of her clients have been the locals who are mostly corporates she said are very supportive. “Reception has been amazing and we are where we are today because of the local market. I have learnt with the pandemic that it is time we look into what we have locally, work together, and collaborate,” she said.
Happy Souls Adventure markets its business through social media and depends mostly on referrals. Just like most SMMEs, Mothelesi said her biggest challenge has been money as every stage of development needs cash. However, she has bigger plans to penetrate the African continent through collaborations as she is already in talks with some potential investors. “I am doing this for love and the impact it creates in people’s lives hence why I opted to collaborate with locals,” she said.
Mothelesi’s business was self-funded and recently got some capital injection from the Tourism Industry Fund. She said the Local Entreprise Authority has also been supportive as it recently hosted her at the Tourism Indaba.