�Water� off to USA
Thalefang Charles | Friday November 10, 2017 16:33
Born and raised in the Okavango Delta, “Water”, as he is affectionately called across the Okavango, is part of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP) team that has been exploring the entire Okavango River basin from Angola to Botswana.
National Geographic has just completed a film about the NGOWP’s explorations through the Okavango River basin and Water is a lead character in the film together with scientists and conservationists from Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.
The ambassador of the USA, Earl Miller yesterday hosted a farewell dinner at his Gaborone residence in honour of Setlabosha. The event was graced by Botswana ambassador to the US, David Newman, government officials and top local conservationists.
Speaking at the dinner, NGOWP director, John Hilton said, “The main objective of the project is to save the Okavango Delta by establishing protected areas around the sources of the Okavango basin”.
He said the team of researchers that have been busy working in Angola has already discovered 24 new species in 18 months, which is unprecedented in the new age scientific research.
Hilton said the NGOWP team also comprised of river men from the heart of the Okavango Delta in Botswana who have become river ambassadors.
Setlabosha is one of these river ambassadors that the project hopes that his story of the Okavango Delta would inspire action to save the Okavango Delta.
In his remarks, Setlabosha said although he is excited about visiting the US to tell a story about the Delta, he is very anxious about the long flight to Washington.
He said, “Kelebogela go bo kele mo mosepeleng o. Mathata ga ke rate folae” (I’m glad I’m travelling but the problem is I don’t like flights).
Ambassador Miller described Setlabosha as a “legend and an amazing brother” whose indigenous knowledge is essential.
He shared that it was Setlabosha who first drove him on his first mokoro ride experience in the Okavango Delta. Water left Gaborone yesterday and is expected to be back on November 18.
The Into The Okavango film is expected to launch in January 2018 and will be publicly released in April 2018 in the National Geographic television channel.