Following a long, grueling season, Botswana’s history-making Olympics and Paralympics teams finally caught a breather. This past week, the team, including athletes and officials, made a short excursion to the country’s desert paradise, the Okavango Delta. The trip was sponsored by Great Plains Conservation, one of the biggest safari operators in Botswana.
Away from the prying eyes of the public and the media, this incentive was meant to give the team a moment to unwind and enjoy the country’s finest wildlife attractions. To make the experience remarkable, the team was hosted at the luxurious Zarafa Camp, situated deep within the 320,000 acres of Selinda Reserve. The camp overlooks Zibadianja Lagoon in the Okavango Delta.
Sharing her feedback on the Zarafa Camp experience, Olympics team medical doctor Stella Tawana described it as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience.’
“Coming here and experiencing nature alongside all its offerings is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Personally, I may not get to afford this again,” a joyful Tawana said. “Following this experience, I can see myself saving money to bring my children here as well, to experience what Botswana has to offer in terms of tourism.”
“We only hear about this. Experiencing it is something that will be forever engraved in my heart. Flying into the Okavango Delta and seeing the beauty of Botswana from great heights was amazing.”
“Arriving at camp and the warm welcome from the staff, celebrating, the fine dining, the game drives, and viewing wild animals and nature at play has been exquisite,” Tawana highlighted.
Following an incentive-laden return trip from the Olympics, the first for the support staff of the Olympics teams, she said receiving an invite from Great Plains to enjoy the breathtaking sight of nature and Botswana tourism at its best was the cherry on top.
“Honestly, we do not take this for granted. We know we are always forgotten, and being remembered like this will surely go down in history,” explained Tawana.
First-time Olympian and 2024 African Championships 400m silver medalist Lee Eppie said visiting the delta allowed him to connect with nature. Eppie viewed the invitation to Zarafa as a way to have fun and didn’t expect much.
“The moment I stepped foot in Zarafa, I immediately connected with nature. The fact that there is no network made me forget about the outside world and live in the moment. I could think better, and I got the chance to experience things I never thought I would see. Seeing a lion so close to me was a moment I never thought I would experience,” he said.
As part of the all-round tourism experience, the team enjoyed fine dining under the open skies while viewing wildlife and experiencing nature. Served by top chefs, the team savored Michelin-star culinary tastes with flavors hardly known in Botswana.
Great Plains Conservation Managing Director Daphne Kadiwa said after participating in the Olympics, it was only right to invite the team to Zarafa Camp to relax and enjoy nature and see what Botswana has to offer.
She said, “After experiencing great stress, one naturally desires to unwind, and the delta is one of the few places to go for leisure. Having done our homework, we realized none of the Olympics teams had been to the delta. This was a great opportunity to introduce them to the other side of life, showcasing more of what God has given us.”
Kadiwa said amidst the busyness of cities and towns, they wanted the Olympics and Paralympics teams to reconnect with nature.
“We wanted to remind them that they are products of high rises and allow them to experience coexistence with animals and nature. We chose to give the whole team this experience without singling anyone out because we understand that they all experience the stress of participating in such world-class games,” explained Kadiwa.
