Wilderness Safaris pumps P2.4m into Shokomoka Agric-Training Facility
Staff Writer | Tuesday June 24, 2025 11:18
According to officials of the eco-tourism company, the facility will provide hands-on training in vegetable farming, seedling production and beekeeping, with an annual output of over 10,000 seedlings.
The multi-million pula initiative is part of Wilderness’ broader commitment to community empowerment and environmental stewardship. Anchored at Shorobe, the facility is expected to enhance local food security, generate income, and build agricultural capacity through job creation and training.
The project will directly create eight permanent positions and employ up to 10 temporary workers from the Shorobe community. Additionally, it will train up to 10 farmers every two years, gradually cultivating a network of skilled producers capable of supplying high quality agricultural products to both local communities and the broader tourism industry.
Key stakeholders including government representatives and the village’s leadership have already been engaged to support community mobilisation and project implementation.
Speaking on the initiative, Wilderness Botswana’s Caretaker Managing Director, Joe Matome, described the project as a powerful example of the intersection between conservation, community development, and commercial viability.
“We believe impact starts at the roots, and Shokomoka is proof that our vision of sustainable tourism is deeply intertwined with the well-being of our people. We do not pursue impact as an obligation. We pursue it because it is our purpose,” he said.
The Shokomoka launch was marked by a stakeholder breakfast under the theme “Partnering for Progress, Connecting for Impact.”
The event convened representatives from government, the diplomatic corps, and the private sector to explore how Okavango Wilderness Safaris (OWS) is building a sustainable ecosystem of partnerships that drive economic inclusion and social transformation.
“We are committed to our beautiful Botswana and to the growth of her people, her economy, and to tourism as an enabler of progress for both. When we say we partner for progress and are passionate about impact, we mean it,” Matome added.
The breakfast also set the tone for the second edition of the Wilderness Local Supplier Expo, scheduled this week in Maun. The Expo has already spurred growth in citizen-owned supplier participation, procurement spending, and industry engagement, results Wilderness Safaris aims to double in the coming year.
To date, procurement from local entities that participated in the 2025 Expo has exceeded P6.3 million, a figure that continues to rise. The 2025 edition seeks not only to increase procurement spend but also to bolster supplier capacity.
Across all its initiatives be it agriculture, procurement, or knowledge-sharing Wilderness remains steadfast in its commitment to three core pillars: education, empowerment, and environmental protection.