What was meant to be a four-hour brunch in Lobatse turned into a full-day experience that stretched late into the night, as guests lingered long after the official programme had ended.
For Basadi Masimolole, founder and director of Bash Connektor, TatsoConnekt Gin & Tea Brunch held in collaboration with Botho Treats at Arabella Café was never just about food and drinks. It was about intention. Initially scheduled to run from 11am to 3pm, the session continued until around 10pm, with participants reluctant to leave, but for Masimolole, the real measure of success was not in the extended hours. “It was never just about brunch,” she said. “The intention was to ignite self-love, confidence and self-identity.” According to Masimolole, feedback from attendees confirmed that the experience had achieved its purpose. Guests shared that they felt cared for and prioritise in their often demanding personal and professional lives. Rooted in heritage, the TatsoConnekt Gin & Tea Brunch sparked a broader vision to spotlight Botswana’s hospitality, travel, tourism and homegrown excellence through curated lifestyle experiences.
For Masimolole, incorporating “tatso” , meaning taste , goes beyond culinary expression. It is about demonstrating that Botswana’s cultural practices and locally inspired concepts are equally refined and deserving of premium positioning. “Tatso is about experience. It is about proving that what we have locally can stand confidently in premium spaces.” The Lobatse edition is part of a growing portfolio of TatsoConnekt Sessions, which were launched in 2022 under Bash Connektor..
Beyond intimate brunches, the TatsoConnekt brand is expanding into broader impact-driven projects. In March 2026, the platform will host Women’s Month Pop-Up Markets and “TatsoConnekt for Bagwebi” – an initiative aimed at connecting small business owners with trailblazers and industry leaders in Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. The programme seeks to create access and visibility for emerging entrepreneurs, particularly women-led enterprises, by providing platforms for networking, mentorship and market exposure.
