the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

7.3.6.3 The Okavango Paler's Trust (OPT)
In addition to being part of the aCT, the village of Seronga operates its own trust.
Within the aCT, a group of 75 canoe poler's at Seronga village have formed a trust
known as the Okavango Poler's Trust (OPT). The OPT was formed with the intention
of establishing a viable eco-tourism operation in the Panhandle and Upper
Okavango Delta. The OPT does not have a CHA leased to it by the government or
Tawana Land Board. The Trust is involved in mekoro safaris in the Okavango River
and Delta, and operates camping sites on islands in the Delta. Mekoro safaris are
meant to offer tourists a trip by mekoro, the traditional method of transportation, in
the Okavango River and Delta, as a way of viewing game and camping in the
wilderness. At the campsites, traditional dishes, dance and music, depicting the
Wayeyi culture are offered as entertainment to tourists. The OPT provides
employment for 100 people, of which 75 are polers, while the remainder are boat
drivers, cooks, waiters, office attendants, co-ordinators, and a business manager. In
2001, it had 3725 tourist clients and generated Pula 625 000 or US $ 104 167.
Tourists are charged Pula 120 for a mekoro safari per day and an additional Pula 20
per person a day in the traditional campsites. In addition, the OPT is currently
developing a safari lodge that is also expected to offer traditional Wayeyi
experiences to tourists once completed (Mbaiwa, 2002; Mbaiwa, 2004).
7.3.6.4 The Khwai Development Trust (KDT)
The Khwai Development Trust (KDT) comprises the village of Khwai, located on the
eastern fringes of the Okavango Delta (see Figure 5.4 in chapter five). It began
operating in 2000 and was allocated the CHAs of NG 18 and NG 19. The KDT does
not sub-lease its CHAs to safari companies, but sell their wildlife quotas through
auction sales. In 2001, they received Pula 550 000 (US $ 91 667) for the auction of
their wildlife, which was half of what they received in 2001 (Table 7.10). The Khwai
Development Trust is presently the only Community-Based Organisation in
Ngamiland that does not sub-lease its CHAs to safari operators. The KDT is also in
the process of constructing two safari camps in its CHAs for photographic tourism
ventures. By April 2001 approximately 78 people were employed, out of a total
village population of 429. These individuals were employed to perform various jobs
at the safari camps, such as builders, and road and tourist trail construction workers ,
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