A new chapter for Botswana’s culinary scene
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday July 28, 2025 09:57
This is a pioneering initiative that is set to revolutionise the country's gastronomy tourism sector. The innovative concept combines immersive dining with destination storytelling, showcasing the best of Botswana's food culture, natural beauty, and rich heritage.
According to Uyapo Ketogetswe of Between U & I, The Long Table Experience is a travelling, open-air dining concept that brings people together around a shared table. Ketogetswe explained that each experience is hosted in a unique location, highlighting Botswana's diverse culinary identity, natural beauty, and stories.
The experience is rooted in place, powered by local hands, and crafted with intention, providing a platform for chefs, farmers, communities, and citizen-owned businesses to shine.
Ketogetswe stated that The Long Table Experience aims to promote Botswana as a culinary and cultural destination, celebrate and uplift local chefs, producers, and artisans, encourage exploration of under-visited regions and hidden gems, create sustainable economic opportunities for citizen-owned businesses and foster deeper connections between people, land, and identity.
The inaugural Long Table Experience, hosted by Between U & I, brought together 90 guests for a curated culinary journey in Mogobane North. The event highlighted the vibrancy of the village, often overlooked in mainstream tourism, and emphasised the importance of investing in communities, sourcing local ingredients, and partnering with citizen-owned enterprises to build inclusive, homegrown impact.
He stated that future experiences are already being planned, including another gathering in the greater Gaborone area on August 23, 2025, and a highly anticipated edition in Maun that will showcase the culinary heritage of northern Botswana. Ketogetswe indicated that the event is expected to draw in both domestic and international travelers during the Boipuso season. For P1350, one gets the opportunity to immerse oneself in Botswana's food culture, natural beauty, and rich heritage.
With growing interest from the private sector, tourism stakeholders, and passionate travellers, Between U & I is seeking collaborative partners across various industries, from transport and hospitality brands to retail, agriculture, and media. The goal is to build something that belongs to all of us, a table that will keep growing, place by place, bite by bite, story by story.
Ketogetswe indicated that The Long Table Experience has the potential to position Botswana as a contender on the global gastronomy tourism map, celebrating the country's diverse culinary identity and promoting sustainable economic opportunities for citizen-owned businesses. 'This is a Table that will keep growing, place by place, bite by bite, story by story,' he said.