18 Jul 2023

Makgadikgadi epic, an extreme-sport show continues to grow in leaps and bounds as it appeals to hundreds of diving heads from across the globe and this year’s 8th edition was no different.

Over hundred international divers from as far as Canada and the United Kingdom joined fellow parachuters from the SADC region to thrill fanatics by jumping from about 13 000 feet above the ground.

To add to the fans’ excitement ordinary people who wanted to have a taste of what it was like to jump off the plane were given an opportunity through what is called Tandem Skydiving; an arrangement that had attracted tens of Batswana from all walks of life.

Ms Lisa Fraser, an Operations Assistant at the Parachute Association of Botswana (PAB) relayed to BOPA in an interview on the sidelines of the adrenaline-pumping spectacle in Sowa Town on Saturday that Botswana’s open skies and the support proffered by the leadership of the country were among the foremost reasons parachuters never wants to miss out on the event.

“A lot of professional international divers who frequent the show are lured by the Botswana open skies and are motivated by the support and presence of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi,” she said.

In his many discourses, Dr Masisi has vouched to turn Botswana into a host of international conferences and events.

Government is well on course to develop a Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy to increase destination competitiveness and a product offering through Botswana Tourism Organisation.

President Dr Masisi said Saturday in his interaction with the media that the same strategy that had insured the successful hosting of the US-Africa Business summit was used to grow the Makgadikgadi epic and other events across the length and breadth of the country.

“We have the intent. We are deliberate. We are going to grow this,” he said, stating that by growing the event a lot of economic spin-offs would also trickle down to Batswana in terms of employment, wealth creation as well as leisure for fanatics.

One of the divers, Ms Marelize Iglesias, 45, a South African based in the United Kingdom underscored words by Fraser’s saying the diving conditions were conducive compared to other parts of the world where she had parachuted.

She told BOPA she had participated in daring diving events in countries such as Tanzania, Egypt, Costa Rica and Cuba.

“Also the aircrafts here are better and the environment is conducive for divers,” the Simpson Diving Club member said.

Equally excited Mr Andrew Munengo from the Mashonaland Diving Club was happy that up to four aircrafts have been devoted to divers; something he said made the show even more exciting.

“I am coming here for the second time, the first time being in 2022. Here in Makgadikgadi, we are able to interact and learn from other divers and improve our craft.

Twenty-two-year-old Mr Tshephang Sengakane an IT intern at BOTASH and a first-timer at the event said he wanted to explore what the show was all about.

Besides the pomp and fanfare that emanated from diving, he was looking forward to an evening jam-packed with music as revellers boogied the night away.

His sentiments were shared by Ms Kelly Dinonyane whose only obsession was on the entertainment side of things.

Other than sky diving and tandem jumps, the sport and adventure tourism event had activities such as fun quad biking, and horse riding and for the first time, Camel Park from Tsabong brought camels which became an instant hit with the people who attended the show.

The fiesta, which started in 2014 but had a hiatus for two years break due to COVID-19 is a vehicle meant to promote adventure tourism and this year’s event took place from the 14 to the 16 of July at Sowa Pan just under 20 kilometres from Sowa Town.

The epic is organised by Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) in conjunction with the Parachute Association of Botswana (PAB) and it is hosted by BOTASH as well as the Sowa Township Council and the Tutume sub-district. Ends