Mopako Ranch, a six-hectare haven of culture, horses, and community spirit, is gearing up to host the highly anticipated Mopako Ranch Festive Derby on December 31, 2025.
The event promises to be an exciting celebration of culture, horse riding, and community spirit, bringing together people from all over Botswana and beyond. According to Kagiso Mopako, director of Mopako Ranch, the event is a form of giving back to the community and showcasing the rich culture of Kanaku. "I love the people of Kanaku and their lifestyle. They are close to my heart, hence my decision to groom their horse riding talent. Kanaku residents will also be showcasing their culture at the event," Mopako said.
The event will feature a horse riding competition, with Basarwa horse riders showcasing their equestrian skills. He added that Mopako Ranch aims to promote Botswana horse breeds as racing horses and groom talent for Basarwa horse riders. "We are not competing with anyone. We want to groom the Basarwa horse riders' talent. We also want to promote the Botswana horse breed as racing horses," Mopako added.
The event has already gained popularity after its successful launch in April this year, which drew a large crowd. "We didn't expect the turn up we had in April (first instalment). This has encouraged me to host the second event on December 31, 2025," Mopako said.
Mopako Ranch has partnered with the Botswana Society, an NGO, to host the event. Bono Mmusi, a representative of the Botswana Society, said, "When we started, we were not anticipating the growth. We realised that April to April was quite a stretch. Our partnership with Mopako Ranch aims to promote community empowerment and Basarwa cultural experience," she said.
Mmusi added that the event was also supported by Multi Task Distribution (MTD), a company that has sponsored Mopako Ranch. "Mopako Ranch is fully sponsored by Multi Task Distribution (MTD)," Mmusi said. Other partners include Himoinsa, a South African company that will provide lighting at the venue, and Mabutsane Council, which has expressed support for the event.
Furthermore, Mmusi explained that the event was expected to create employment opportunities for the local community and contribute to the economy. "We are trying to push that place into a tourism destination. This means we will be creating employment and also contributing to the economy," she said.
She added that Opako Ranch aims to turn the area into a pit stop for tourists, given its location on the Trans Kalahari Road. The event will also feature a Back to School celebration on January 2, 2026.
Mopako Ranch is also building a conference hall, which will provide a venue for community events and meetings. The event organisers aim to turn the Festive Derby into an international horse riding event, attracting tourists from around the world.
"We want people to turn up and have fun. We want clean fun," Mopako said. With its rich cultural heritage and exciting horse riding competition, the Mopako Ranch Festive Derby is set to become a major event in Botswana's tourism calendar
