Galefele Maokeng, Lake Ngami Conservation Trust Manager, has told Tourism Update that Lake Ngami will become an avi-tourism destination from May.

Speaking in an interview, Maokeng said the lake’s communities had been given user rights by the Botswana government to undertake community-based tourism in the area, which is a bird sanctuary that is home to species such as breeding flamingoes and pelicans.   

He said Lake Ngami would welcome birding enthusiasts in the upcoming tourism season – which starts in May – offering boat cruises on the beautiful lake. “We have been working to build a good lake experience here. We will work with the Okavango Delta tour operators to include us in their packages.” Maokeng said future plans included developing sport fishing tourism along the lake.

He said a campsite was being built at Toteng, one of the five villages along the lake. The facility has 10 camping areas and three ablution blocks each for males and females. The camping site can take a maximum of 10 tourist vehicles and he said they would apply for operating licences from relevant authorities. Maokeng said a boat station had been built and cruise boats acquired. He revealed that funding of BWP4 million (€337 000) had been received from Office of the President to undertake the developments.

Lake Ngami is an integral part of the Okavango Delta and occupies the north-east part of a shallow sedimentary basin in northwest Botswana.