03 Nov 2020

Lekhubu Island, a pan adorned with array of granite rocks complemented by baobab trees, offers a picturesque, appealing and spectacular view. 

It is situated within the Makgadikgadi panhandle.

The most exciting, catchy and thrilling part of the island is the sunrise and sunset experience, offering visitors a rare photo opportunity. 

This is described as its best-selling feature.

Makgadikgadi Pans used to be a super lake and due to climatic changes, it dried up and a granite rock formed. 

The island has stonewalls which used to be 1.2 metres high and 100 by 70 metres horse shape. 

The stone walls used to have 24 loopholes and collapsed due to pressure movements of people, animals and water pressure.

Legend has it that it was used for circumcision ceremonies during the great Zimbabwe period and the loopholes were used as a hiding area by hunters many years ago. 

Consequently, the island has been embellished with a stone case, which is a pile of rocks picked and arranged by boys who graduated from the initiation schools, symbolising that they had graduated into adulthood.

Sharing the story of Lekhubu Island, the tour guide, Mr Obonetse Tendani indicated that there were 450-500 stone cases on top of the rocky outcrop. 

In addition, he noted that the island had a cave, which was used to seek permission from ancestors prior to a hunting expedition and gathering of wild fruits.

Offerings like snuff and neck beads, he added, were provided at the cave. 

At present people use the cave for spiritual purposes and offer coins.

After the drying of the lake, Mr Tendani explained that some seedlings and insects developed in the area, fruit bats also came to the area, dispersing seeds through their droppings and pollinated baobab trees. 

Fruit bats allegedly dispersed baobab seeds through their droppings and pollinated baobab flowers. 

He also posited that the Island used to have 66 baobab trees and 63 trees as of now since some died.

Baobab trees have long roots that enable them to find water underground and they lose leaves to avoid evaporation.

The area also has acacia trees, black thorn and umbrella trees. 

These can also survive in a dry place as they have long roots. 

Gaing-O Trust, owned by the community of Mmatshumo makes money at the island by providing camping  sites and conducting guided walks around the island from Lekhubu to little Khubu. 

Little Khubu is situated eight kilometers from Lekhubu Island and is also characterised by granite rocks and baobab trees. 

The area also has a flamingo breeding site, 10 kilometers away and only accessible by foot.

Most of the clients are from South Africa, Netherlands and Germany. 

This reliance on customers from outside the country has proven to be a bitter-sweet of late due to COVID-19 pandemic.  

The end result is that the trust is no longer generating profit as bookings which were paid upfront for 2020 had to be reimbursed.

Other tourists have postponed to 2021, impacting on the trust’s business and staff salaries.  

The other downside of the trust is that business also closes down during the rainy season due to accessibility challenges and only to open in April. Ends