More than four decades after pioneering conservation tourism in Botswana, Wilderness continues to demonstrate how long-term investment in people, protected areas and local enterprise can generate lasting value for both communities and conservation. The latest Wilderness Botswana Impact Report highlights the company’s contributions over the past decade, with more than BWP853 million paid to Government, BWP70 million paid directly to neighbouring communities, nearly BWP1.3 billion paid to staff, and almost BWP2 billion spent on locally sourced goods and services. Today, 960 people are employed across Wilderness Botswana’s operations, with 98% of these being citizens, while tourism revenue continues to help support the…
Author: Editor
Dumela Creative Stock, the digital marketplace created to connect African creative content with audiences and markets around the world, is returning with a renewed commitment to supporting Botswana’s growing creative economy and giving local creatives greater access to digital markets. Originally launched in Botswana as a platform for photographers, videographers and sound creators, Dumela Creative Stock was established in response to a clear gap in the market: the difficulty of finding authentic, relatable African creative content for advertising, media, film and other commercial applications. The platform was designed not only to provide access to locally relevant content, but also to…
Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has announced appointments to its board including banking veterans and experts in the diamond industry. The state diamond trader said Yoram Dvash is the Chairman of the newly constituted board. “With an impressive track record spanning global diamond trade, technology, investment and international economic development, Yoram brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to ODC,” the company said. Another addition is Dr. Lesego Molapisi-Conrad, with career spanning sustainability, energy security, environmental management and innovation. Molapisi-Conrad is also a respected leader in sustainable development. She has been credited with playing a pivotal role in shaping sustainability…
For the first time since opening in 1991, Wilderness Mombo – the legendary flagship camp on Chief’s Island in Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve – is inviting guests to experience its wildlife-rich floodplains from both land and water. Wilderness Mombo has set the benchmark for exceptional wildlife viewing in Botswana, prized for its nutrient-rich floodplains that draw an abundance of prey species, and some of the highest predator densities on the continent – though, until now, always from the seat of a 4×4. As part of the Moremi Game Reserve, the camp’s Chief’s Island private traversing area has historically been governed by…
Citizen enterprises have received a boost following an agreement struck between Debswana and CEDA to facilitate participation in the diamond mining company’s supply chain and diversification ventures. This comes after the two entities signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening citizen enterprise development, local procurement, industrialisation and Botswana’s broader economic diversification agenda. Under the agreement, CEDA will provide financing and business development support to qualifying Debswana suppliers and beneficiaries of the miner’s Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP). The partnership combines Debswana’s economic footprint, operational expertise, supply chain and ability to create anchor demand with CEDA’s experience in…
There is hope for Botswana diamonds following the July announcement that the country’s immediate tariff exposure in the United States has been removed. As of July 24, 2026, Botswana exports to the US, including natural diamonds, enter duty-free and continue to benefit from preferential access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, government officials say the priority now is to safeguard this position, through AGOA renewal in Washington and close monitoring of tariff developments affecting India and the global diamond value chain. On the back of the US Supreme Court ruling that struck down the US tariff system…
Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) have expanded their codeshare partnership, enabling access to nine cities and establishing the start of a reciprocal codeshare agreement between both carriers. The expanded partnership opens more destinations across central and southern Africa, simplifying connectivity for customers. Since launching their codeshare agreement, Emirates and SAA have operated on a unilateral basis, with SAA placing its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, as well as interline access to 68 Emirates destinations worldwide via Dubai. With regulatory approvals secured, the new agreement will see Emirates place its code on SAA-operated…
The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) says its Chief Executive Officer, Keitumetse Setlang has left the organisation having served in the position since 2024 before her suspension earlier this year. Prior to her departure, the CEO had been on suspension together with the tourism body’s Board Secretary Kgotso Miles Ollyn who has also departed. “Botswana Tourism Organisation wishes to inform its valued stakeholders and members of the public that it has separated with its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Keitumetse Setlang and Board Secretary Mr. Kgotso Miles Ollyn,” BTO said in a statement. “BTO extends its sincere appreciation to Ms Setlang and…
Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), the state-owned investment arm, is looking to exit its investment in Mashatu Nature Reserve following a bid for its stake by a newly established holding vehicle. In a recent merger notice, Competition and Consumer Authority said it has received a merger notification for the proposed acquisition of 30% of the issued shares in Mashatu Nature Reserve Proprietary Limited (MNR) by Ager Holdings Proprietary Limited. The issued share capital of MNR is 70% held by Mashatu Investments Proprietary Limited while BDC holds the remaining 30%. On the other hand, Ager Holdings is a newly incorporated company in…
The country’s exports and imports declined in the first part of the year as a result of falls in key commodities during the period, Statistics Botswana has stated. According to the data agency’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics-Monthly Digest May 2026, Botswana’s imported goods valued at P8, 065.5 million experiencing a decrease of 4.1 percent from the revised April 2026 value of P8, 408.4 million. The leading import commodity groups were fuel and diamonds at 24.5% and 19.1% of the total, respectively. “The overall fall was driven by a decrease in Vehicles & Transport Equipment and Machinery & Electrical Equipment imports…