Nkashi Classic revives the forgotten Okavango East
Thalefang Charles | Monday July 14, 2025 15:22
Hosting a national event in Seronga, Okavango East, is no small feat. The constituency, once colloquially known as ‘Overseas’, remains one of Botswana’s most neglected regions. Even though it might sound like an affectionate name that residents would call their countryside, it is not a term of endearment, but a warning: You’re entering another world.
The Okavango East is the forgotten constituency. According to the 2022 Delimitation Commission Report, Okavango East had a population of 21,412 covering an area of 14,065 square kilometres. But after 58 years of our Independence, this area still feels like “Bechuanaland”. It is the only constituency in the country without a single tarred road.
Before the Okavango Bridge opened in 2022, crossing the river meant relying on the unreliable Mohembo Ferry, which operated only during daylight. Residents used to be stranded from either side of the river if they missed the last ferry or when it was on one of its frequent breakdowns. But life changed in June 2022 when the iconic Okavango Bridge was finally opened to the public. People could now travel any time between the east and west of the Okavango River.
And then there are the elephants. The 160km stretch between Mohembo East and Gudigwa is a wildlife corridor, with 15 major elephant crossings identified by Ecoexist, an NGO working in the area. Night travel is discouraged and not just because of the rough roads, but because herds frequently block the way.
“We are afraid of elephants,” admits one resident. “Especially in the dry season when they move through our villages to reach the river. It’s a very dangerous road to travel at night.”
In this forgotten corner of our country, the Nkashi Classic, an event that celebrates the traditional skill of mokoro poling, which is a practice deeply rooted in the Okavango Delta’s way of life, brings hope to the people. The event, organised by Nkashi Trust (formerly Botswana Wild Bird Trust), a non-profit organisation doing research and community development work in the area, was first hosted in Seronga in 2022 just after the opening of Okavango Bridge.
This was after the event had a two-year hiatus because of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2019 the event did not have races because of the dried up Thamalakane River in Maun and so the 2022 event saw the return of the races at Seronga.
Nkashi Classic gained global attention when National Geographic Society featured it in the documentary ‘Nkashi: Race for the Okavango’ in 2023.
The event then returned to the town of Maun in 2023 and 2024. This year, the organisers took it back to THE small village of Seronga in Okavango East.
Hosting an event in such a remote area is a logistical nightmare especially on a shoestring budget. Funding is always a challenge, admits one of the organisers.
“Luckily, we had experience and a strong team to pull it off despite less funding.”
Held at the ruins of Polers Trust in Mbiroba, the event transformed a daily chore into competitive sport and economic opportunity.
When welcoming attendants to the Nkashi Classic, Kgosi Maeze Maeze said mokoro poling is part of their community’s culture.
“We grew up with nkashi, mokoro poling is our lifestyle. This used to be our main transport into the Delta. It was our livelihood. We used to hunt and fish using mokoro and nkashi,” said Maeze.
He continued: “As the saying goes, we need to ‘return to the crossroads’. We never thought mokoro poling could be a profitable tourist activity. Not long ago, mokoro poling was regarded as a poor man’s transport, now it is a wonderful tourism activity.”.
He urged residents of Okavango East to regard mokoro poling as a major economic activity that should transform their lives. Kgosi told his people that these days everything can be a tourism activity, saying they should protect their natural and cultural heritage so that they could turn them into tourism products.
“Let us protect our natural resources, our river, and please let’s stop bush fires. “Let us protect our trees (because) some tourists could just come here to see our trees that we might take for granted because they are plenty here.”
Just like the village of Khawa is known for its festival, residents want Okavango East to become the home of the Nkashi Classic.
The economic impact is tangible. Vendors and guesthouses were happy for the event’s return to Seronga as they saw a surge in business during the race.
Yarobi Retiyo, a local trader, pleaded for its return: “This side we don’t have many events like this in our village or nearby villages. So, we are very happy for Nkashi Classic to return to Seronga and we pray that they return here next year.”
Managing Director of the Nkashi Trust, Nlisi Motshusi, said the Nkashi Classic is not just about celebrating cultural diversity and protecting indigenous heritage, but also promoting socio-economic inclusion to remote communities left behind in development.
Motshusi thanked the residents of Okavango East for their appreciation of the event as well as sponsors who supported the event. The event was supported by Absa Bank Botswana, Okavango Eternal, Wilderness, Aquarite, CLAWS, Okavango Craft Brewery, Great Plains, Sense of Africa, Letaka Safaris and New View Luxury Inn, amongst others.
This year the Classic saw 81 polers representing 22 villages around the Okavango Delta competing in seven categories. The races are time trials on a one-kilometre track where the poler with the shortest time is crowned the winner taking home P10,000 while position two and third receive P5000 and P2500, respectively. This year the organisers introduced a third precision timing system that used sensors for accurate times to ensure fairness.
But the event was more than just fast mokoro poling as it also celebrated the diverse cultures of the people of Okavango. Traditional groups from Okavango East brought song and dance to the races. Among them were the Muyunge Cultural Group, Dipera Cultural Group, Tau le Kgomo Cultural Group, and Nshangano Cultural Group, whose performances added a festive atmosphere to the competition.
Even though the organisers have not yet confirmed the venue for next year’s event, it is hopeful that they will not let the Seronga success of 2025 be a one-time spark, but a lasting flame.
For a constituency long overlooked, Nkashi Classic is not just a cultural spectacle but a community lifeline, bringing pride, opportunity, and a rare moment in the spotlight.