09 May 2019

This year’s installment of the Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival will be bigger and better boasting of a different mind blowing activities.

Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development public relations manager Thobo Tlhasana stated in an interview that the festival will take place on the sand dunes from May 10-12.

The festivities, he said, shall be graced by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi accompanied by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane and ministers who will today (May 10) tour Lobu Small Stock Farm and attend the Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival in Khawa village.

Activities planned for the festival  include fun camel rides, helicopter rides, dune climbing, quad bike rides, bike stunt demonstrations, Polka festival night  and Toyota 4X4 obstacle challenge ride which is a relatively new addition where the vehicles will go up the highest dune in Khawa and the one which will reach the summit first would become the winner.

This challenge would be a test of the strength of the Toyota 4X4 vehicles from South Africa. Experts from South Africa will impart knowledge on how to go up the dune smoothly in a 4X4 vehicle, he said.

He said other sporting activities would be Tug of war, volleyball, and freestyle motor cross stunts where bikes would spin, go on a ramp and summersault.

He said Friday night would be the Polka night which will begin at 6pm in the evening.

He added that the Polka Genre would be fused with other genres to showcase different aspects of culture in Kgalagadi region.

“This year we have decided to show different aspects of culture in Kgalagadi during the polka night where we have groups from as far as Lokgwabe. Tlhako ya Gauta from Maake who will be performing the tsutsube dance. We have included a setapa group from Bogogobo, We have included different genres to reinforce cultural exchange,” he said.

Further, Tlhasana explained that the event was a collaboration between Botswana Tourism Organisation to market  the country as premiere tourist destination, and to promote investment into the tourism sector.

He noted that tourists had come from neighbouring countries to join in the Khawa Dune challenge festivities.

He said  the aim of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development was to promote, entertainment, arts and culture as well as sport.  The event will feature the contemporary festival where Vee

Mampeezy, Timber Lady, Skepu, DJ Abdulla and DJ Sid are expected to perform on May 11.

Moreover, Tlhasana said they were working hand in hand with the Khawa Development Trust to ensure that they benefited from the event and use the proceeds to develop the Khawa village.

“Some stalls and campsites have been reserved for them to run,” he said.

He encouraged those who will be coming to the Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival to drive safely.

“Khawa fun lovers should bring camping equipment and warm clothes and drink responsibly to enjoy the event”. ENDS