Hey again,

So much happened that I decided to post just about this. ISEP took us out on a cultural excursion price this year was P570 or a little under $100. It included:

1. Visit to Bangwaketse Kgotle in Kanye
2. Visit to Mmakgodumo Dam, Manyana Rock Paintings and the Livingstone Tree
3. Overnight stay in Bahurusthe Cultural Lodge
4. Game Drive at Mokolodi

Bnagwaketse Kgotle in Kanye

The Kgotle is a court and meeting place found within a village, it is here that the Kgosi (or chief of the village) will hold court, see over marriages and discuss recent events occurring in the village. Nearby there was an area for lost cows to be reclaimed and behind the Kgotle was the administrative offices. Some of the interesting things you will learn about though is the bride price, which here included 8 cows, the Kgosi here said that it was a sign of thanks to the family for raising the woman you are marrying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some other interesting things to note as seen with the picture of all my friends you are required to wear a skirt or dress when entering the Kgotle

Tip when packing- bring long skirts or a dress they suggest it and its a good idea. Tough on another note, shorts and pants are worn on campus so don’t get worried about whether or not you can pack them, you can.

 

 

 

Mmakgodumo Dam, Manyana Rock Paintings and the Livingstone Tree

These are all interesting parts of the culture here in Botswana.

Many of the Rock paintings that we saw were over 2000 years old and included images of impala and giraffe. The Livingstone tree is an awesome fig tree where Livingstone a missionary back in the 1800s came and taught locals about god, how to reach and write and healed them (as he was also a doctor).

Bahurusthe Cultural Lodge

The cultural lodge was amazing with dances for the men and women (we tried to perform one that 14-16 aged girls would do to show the coming of themselves. We (the women) were also given the chance to grind sorghum for the men, the guys got to do a dance to. Then they were shown to their tents and some of us slept in tents while others slept in a hut. I slept in a hut, it was nice but got really cold.
Tip #2: If you go in the fall semester pack warmly, it gets seriously cold at night here

We were also taught about the Bahurutshe Culture including the fact that the baboon was their animal totem and that in their village back before independence it was common for marriages to occur only within the clan, so you would marry your uncles son or daughter.  We also got to talk about the changing of culture though and how many of the younger ones no longer stay in the villages or have arranged marriages. After the dancing and music we also got to eat a traditional meal and had breakfast the next day.

Mokolodi Game Drive

Being a person who loves animals, this was my favorite part. We also got food here and got to watch the hippos in the distance while eating. I hope to go back again to do a horseback tour.

Things seen included: Impala, giraffe, warthogs, birds (white egret, go away bird, and horn bill), wildebeasts, white rhino and her 5 wk old baby (adorable), ostrich, zebra,and hippos, we even got to see some of their rescued cheetahs