Your Botswana Experience

12/02/2024

Fun Fact: No Cutlery Required!

It may come as a surprise to some, but in traditional Botswana dining etiquette, the use of forks and knives is not customary. Instead, all you need to do is wash your hands thoroughly, take a seat, and use your hands to eat. Additionally, it's customary not to talk while eating. So, if you find yourself enjoying a traditional Setswana meal, don't be startled if no cutlery is provided.

To learn more about our culture, explore Maun with one of our local hosts on your next Botswana Safari. www.yourbotswanaexperience.com


photo credit: Planet Culture Cafe

08/02/2024

THE MAUN IMMERSIVE TOUR

During the Maun Immersive Tour, you'll not only be pleasantly surprised by the vibrant personality of our charming town, but you'll also experience a cultural immersion in everything Maun has to offer. From the moment your guide picks you up and you journey into Maun, you're greeted by vibrant tuck shops adorned in a myriad of bright colors, where local women sell 'magwinya' and mafresh (fried potato chips), beloved breakfast among the locals. Throughout the tour, you'll explore the town with your knowledgeable local guide, passing by Riley's Garage, once Maun's first airport runway. You'll encounter the bustling, colorful market teeming with fresh veggies, dried foods, cowbells, cooking pots, and an array of items rarely seen by tourists. Our passionate tour guides are eager to delve into the history, cultures, and traditions behind the market, explaining the significance of items like cowbells and the significance of the all-white attire worn by some vendors.

To learn more about our culture, explore Maun with one of our local hosts on your next Botswana Safari. www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

31/01/2024

The Maun Immersive Tour Highlighted in Africa's Eden Magazine

We are thrilled to share our feature in Africa's Eden Magazine! To read the article, simply click the link attached below to download the magazine in PDF format.

http://africaseden.dev.dedi386.jnb3.host-h.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/E1%20Africas%20Eden%20Magazine%20Digital.pdf

01/10/2023

28/09/2023

Botswana's Vibrant Hair Culture: Where Style Meets Celebration!

As the Independence holidays approach, most women in Botswana are flocking to hairdressers because they want to look sharp for the holidays. African hair is big business! Nothing is as important as the styling and presentation of African women's hair. Hairstyles are changed every single month, giving women a completely different look. African women love their braided hair, weaves, natural hair, bald cuts, as well as Afros (fake or not!).

You will spot roadside hairdressers in any African village. Many come with great decor and names, some even being called Saloons (as opposed to Salons). But don't expect to be served a beer while having a haircut!

To learn more about our culture, explore Maun with one of our local hosts on your next Botswana Safari. www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

20/09/2023

Ever stopped by the 'Semausu' to try out 'Ma Fresh' (Fried Chips) ??

In Botswana we also have our own take on fast food. In Maun, guests will see many stalls on the road side cooking and selling food. These individuals have a hawker’s license to do this and often sponsored through various government entrepreneurial funding programmes. While for some this is a side hustle, a way to earn extra money or others this is their main job. One of the offerings from these stalls is called Ma Fresh. This is fried chips but instead of being crispy, they are more soggy chips. They are called ‘Ma Fresh’ because they are made from fresh potatoes. They are eaten anytime. They are very popular at my work where staff eat these with a magwinya, often as early as 8h30 in the morning.

To learn more about our culture, explore Maun with one of our local hosts on your next Botswana Safari. www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

15/09/2023

MEET DUDU (THE QUEEN OF BEADED WORK) DURING THE MAUN IMMERSIVE TOUR

During the Maun Immersive Tour you will get the opportunity to meet the incredible Dudu. Her art work is stunning, she sits at her stall and makes beautiful necklaces, bracelets, belts and can even custom make jewellery some with the Botswana flag. Dudu is incredibly talented and we have titled her ‘the Botswana Queen of beadwork’. Having learnt her craft as little as 4 years ago, Dudu has gone on to win National Competitions. She creates these beautiful necklaces which sell to locals as well as in curio shops in safari camps and as far as Kasane. Dudu's smile when she talks about bead work and how she learnt to bead, reveals a true passion for what she does. Come and feast your eyes on her craftsmanship on our Maun Immersive Tour.

To learn more about our culture, explore Maun with one of our local hosts on your next Botswana Safari. www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

11/09/2023

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FROM BOTSWANA AND NEVER TASTED A MOPHANE WORM…THESE ARE THE REACTIONS THAT WE GET…

The first reaction is complete and utter shock that one of our very tasty delacasies here in Botswana are 'Worms'. Before the Mophane worms are put in the pan, boiled and or fried they look as green as the image below… After they are cooked and served, they look dark and even shrink a bit. So during one of our Maun Immersive Tour we got our agents to taste one Mophane Worm. The reactions we got from the tasting were hilarious… before biting there was gagging and disgust but for the very brave who managed to get it through their mouth, we got an ‘oh! Not so bad, quiet crunchie actually’

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

09/09/2023

No one can ever be bored in our funky donkey town Maun… If you are, then you have not heard of the Maun Immersive Tour!

The Maun Immersive Tour gives travellers the opportunity to learn the culture of Batswana, see the funky side of Maun, touch, taste amazing food with all the ingredients locally sourced, see the traditionally hand made clothing and stopby at the very talented Mma Kushunya’s basket weaving space Home Of Quality Baskets and meet the gifted art and crafts guy Prince of Halethaba Artspace. This tour is like non other and it is a huge must do while in Maun!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

08/09/2023

Botswana is home to over half the population of San in Southern Africa

Historically called bushmen, the San are the indigenous people of Southern Africa, spread throughout the region with over half their population located in Botswana. The tribes are well-known for the profound connection they have with their land, for their intimate knowledge of the natural world, and the delicate balance they have maintained for millennia with the environment.

Learn about San culture while staying at Kwando Safaris Tau Pan Camp in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve or Natural Selection Meno A Kwena and Camp Kalahari in the Makgadikgadi area.

06/09/2023

In our very colourful and vibrant town sometimes the beauty of life is just in the simplicity of playing soccer with your mates at the local soccer field. Life in Maun is slow paced but colourful and fun…there are no fancy soccer fields with grass on them like in Europe… no, but kids around here enjoy running around and kicking a ball when the sun slowly sets. Just pure unbridled fun!

These are some of the things guests can spot while on the Maun Immersive Tour!
Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

05/09/2023

P**a: a reason to celebrate!!!!

P**a directly translated means rain. It is also the name of the country’s currency. Home to much of the Kalahari Desert, rain is very scarce in Botswana and therefore valuable and a blessing. The word also serves as the national motto of the country. If you hear people screaming or chanting ‘’P**a’’, it means something extraordinary has happened! The people will also chant in response "A e ne", which means let it rain, as acknowledgement.

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

04/09/2023

The 'Okavango Gin - The Sentinel’ is now available at Maun, Kasane and Vic Falls airports' duty free shops!

31/08/2023

We absolutely love receiving great feedback (via agents) from guests having an amazing time during the Maun Immersive Tour. Even better when they share images with us!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

11/08/2023

There is something enchanting about making real connections with people, something that offers an honest simplicity. The Maun Immersive Tour is an unfiltered experience that promises to leave you impacted in ways that strengthen your own relevance to this amazing planet.

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

26/07/2023

Cattle are a symbol of wealth, status and prestige

Cattle are deeply engrained in Botswana culture and everyday life, playing a significant role in the country’s economy, social structure and traditional cultural practices. Cattle are a source of livelihood for rural communities providing milk and meat as well as hides for clothing. Cattle ownership is often used to measure a person’s wealth and is a source of pride and respect in many communities. They are at the center of traditional ceremonies and rituals including weddings, where they are often used for the payment of dowries, and at funerals, as a sacrifice to appease the gods. An important source of income in Botswana, beef is Botswana's primary agricultural product for export. Be sure to enjoy a Botswana beef steak, traditional seswaa (pounded beef) or some delicious biltong (dried, spiced and salted meat that makes a great travel or sundowner snack) on your visit.

25/07/2023

A Story Behind Every Name

'Ina lebe seromo'- A saying we have in Setswana that speaks on the weight that a baby's name carries. In Setswana culture, it is believed that you become what you are named. Children may also be named around the context of their birth. For example, a child born during the rainy season can be called ‘Motlalepula’ meaning ‘the one that brought rain’.

When traveling in Botswana ask your guide to share the meaning of his or her name and enjoy the inevitable story that accompanies this. Learn more about Botswana Culture on the Maun Immersive Tour.

12/06/2023

Botho & TT of Safari Specialists had a fabulous weekend with Your Botswana Experience on the Maun Immersive Tour!

29/03/2023

The Maun Immersive Tour is more than just a cultural tour it is an adventure that lets you embrace the vibrant energy of your host, the smiles of the people you will meet during the tour, the colourful and bright African prints, stunning handmade baskets, and of course the incredible street art! The fresh veggies as well as dried food (really interesting to know if you’re not used to preserving food by drying it). The diversity of our Immersive Tour is an extremely educational experience and we are ready to show you why our donkey town is worth staying for a night or two in our little gateway to the Okavango Delta.

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

Photo Credit: Okavango Delta Explorations - Louise Fitzgerald

09/03/2023

Sometimes the beauty of life is just in the simplicity of riding a donkey with your mates. Life in Maun is slow paced but coulourful and fun…no cellphones, no ipads for kids just pure unbridled fun! These are one of the things guests can spot while on the Maun Immersive Tour!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

Photo Credit:
CROUS

08/03/2023

Wishing all the women from all over the world a Happy International Women's Day from our dusty donkey town Maun!

02/03/2023

Did you know that in our Setswana culture there is a way in making sure the rest of the world knows you are married?

The status of being married is very important and the world needs to know that you are now married. This is also very different to more Western cultures. In many other cultures, wearing a wedding ring shows that you are now married but in traditional Batswana weddings, rings are not customary. Instead a jacket is worn by men as proof. For the woman one has to wear a shawl and a head-dress and closed shoes but nowadays this only has to happen when there are traditional events...like lobola ceremony or Kgotla meetings.

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

13/01/2023

Just a quick stop into our very vibrant ‘downtown’ you get met by colour! smiling faces of the local vendors and beautiful women doing their hair in some of the stalls. Your guests maybe fortunate to passby (If you ever wondered how Batswana women come about those beautiful long braids then you might be in luck!!) This town is more than just a dusty donkey town it's the very core of our tradition and our food culture the true Maunites from artists, to seamstresses to the old lady who sits at the corner selling fresh vegetables! The Maun Immersive Tour is definately a must do to fully enjoy and understand our vibrant little corner of heaven!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

08/01/2023

Our Maun Immersive Tour :-)

12/12/2022

The Maun Immersive Tour gives travellers the opportunity to learn the culture of Batswana, see the funky side of Maun, touch, taste & go as far as fitting a wig at the wig stall during the tour. (After all hair is everything for every single Motswana woman). Guests get to taste amazing food with all the ingredients locally sourced, see the traditionally hand made clothing and stopby at the very talented Mma Kushunya’s basket weaving space and meet the gifted art and crafts guy Prince of Halethaba Artspace. This tour is like non other and it is a huge must do while in Maun!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!

www.yourbotswanaexperience.com

04/12/2022

21/10/2022

Your Botswana Experience hosted yet another successful Maun Immersive Tour. Hosting agents from the UK, Canada, Austria, Spain and Italy. We mixed it up at Thamo Telele and had one of the artists that Your Botswana Experience supports teaching the agents how to paint using their own surroundings as inspiration. It was fun and exciting to see how guests enjoyed this session with Prince Halethaba Moyo. This morning we met them again for the full tour with our host Thato. They tasted ‘Ma fresh’ (French Fries with a setswana twist), then continued to walk around Maun town and learned how to weave a basket! What a wonderful experience!

Book the Maun Immersive Tour and get the opportunity to explore the ways of life of Batswana, learn about our customs and traditions and get first hand anecdotes from your hosts!
www.yourbotswanaexperience.com