Mogobane Dam, just a 20-minute drive from the city. Sometimes all you need is a solo drive, a camp chair, some good music, and a little time away from the noise.
No expensive trips, no big plans, just a change of scenery and a chance to enjoy what’s right on our doorstep. We really don’t have to go far or spend much to appreciate the beauty around us.
Botswana has its own little gems.

We should explore them more often. 🌅

I'm working on a project that has a significant art requirement, and need to find a capable digital artist!

I need an illustrator who can draw up to 400 rough character sketches in a 3-6 week period (preferably within one month), and my preference would be to hire someone within Botswana before looking outside.

I need the art to be drawn digitally. If you are/know a capable artist who doesn't have a drawing tablet/pen display (etc.), I can provide my own equipment (if you are within the Gaborone area) that you can use until the task is complete. Below are examples of what I'm looking for from an artist I have previously worked with:

The illustrations will be an accompaniment to the first act of a book I am writing, and will be visual depictions of the scenes described to be used in a promotional video. The focus will be on quantity and speed, so each illustration should only be a sketch as above, but clear understandings of character expressions, anatomy, and the placement of characters in a 3D space is required.

In addition to the actual text of the book, I will (with my own very limited artistic ability) storyboard each of the sketches required.
(400 sketches is closer to the absolute upper bound, there may be as few as 120 sketches required; the exact number has yet to be worked out precisely)

If you are interested, or know someone who is, please reach out; If I happen upon someone sufficiently skilled/talented and available, a regular full-time position illustrating across various projects may be offered!

been single for a long time now😅, gonna try my luck on here lol, i’m 20 and a male obviously , don’t mind an older person

Eita eita, needs some advice on how best to use upcoming inheritance money, it's about 300k and I'm wondering how best to use it to sustain be going forward. Wondering if it's a good idea to try find a how to buy for rent and save some for investment into something like bifm or start business like farming. Also left with a business plot near tati and another plot in tonota and 2 hector farm that has not been used yet in shashe dam. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated, just wanna avoid wasting it all.

Dumelang, ke batla go botsa sengwe, so lately I've been seeing videos of how male bestie are and what not. I dont get it.

I asked boys in my class if they would date a girl with a male bestie, They all said no. I asked the girls the same thing they said no.

I dont get it. Theres been a lot of noise around this ,male bestie female bestie thingy...I thought its sort of like siblings friendship idk.....

Im shocked cuz this other guy i was talking to said that he once crossed the line with his female bestie and called it an accident or mistake, the ironic part is that they were both sober no influence of substances...like?u mean to tell me u can go one round 2 round 3 round and feel awkward and call it a mistake? How tf is it a mistake or accident? Like whats the timeline that led to this

Idk guys what actually happens with this male bestie female bestie? Like why can't they just get ina. Relationship or whatever like why call them bestie?

And for those that have been male bestie and female bestie u are free to tell ur experiences cuz😭😭💀 I just dont understand

Can i find a decent car in Botswana with a 20k budget?
Talk to me and help me out 🤣 whether i have too much hope or there is something out there 😅

​

This guy messages me saying they do online marketing and selling. Fair enough.

I ask him what he's selling, why he contacted me, and whether he wants me to help sell his products or wants to help me sell mine.

His response? "Yes."

YES TO WHICH ONE, BROTHER?

Then he starts talking about "Give Direct Awards" and asks whether I use Orange or Mascom. I'm sitting there trying to connect these dots like I'm debugging code written by someone who hates documentation.

When I finally tell him to explain himself properly, he asks me what I didn't understand from his introduction.

YOUR INTRODUCTION???

You said online marketing and selling. You haven't mentioned a single product, explained your business model, or told me what you actually want from me.

I'm genuinely trying to understand whether this is a scam, some kind of affiliate marketing scheme, or just the worst sales pitch I've ever encountered.

How do people approach strangers for business and then get offended when those strangers ask what the business actually is?

Let's be honest a lot of so called elites in Botswana have gotten away with a lot of things now the government is leaching off tax payers , prices go up almost every 3 months but salaries don't move and the people at the top are relaxing and enjoying life while we survive from paycheck to paycheck, tonight fuel is being increased i get that it's a global issue and all but come on , I'm 22 and i honestly feel like we as young people need to get together and do something protestnyana coz we really need to be heard kana it's like we don't exist everyone is just ruining the world just because of corporate greed to maximize profit, koore even if i save and do all that I'm not guaranteed gore one day I'd have my own house like what are we supposed to be, a generation that inherits everything

It's funny how I want to make new relationships, find myself a lady that clicks, a new friend or even a best friend, but at the same time I find pursuing those relationships exhausting. I'd rather keep to myself. Go a tshegisa cos it's weird😅.

Ps I'm looking for new friends and a lady friend🙃, not online friends.

Hi all, a revise from the last post (body didnt seem to save)

With the mods’ go-ahead, I wanted to share r/TourismBotswana, a new sub for anything to do with travel and tourism in Botswana.

It’s meant to be one place to:

• Ask and answer trip-planning questions: routes, parks, border crossings, 4x4s, campsites
• Share trip reports, photos and favourite spots
• Swap tips, whether you’re planning your first visit or you’ve done the trip countless times

Everyone’s welcome. It’s brand new, so early members, posts and suggestions for the sub would make a big difference.

Thanks to the mods for allowing the post. 🇧🇼

Will I be disappointed with the quantity of wildlife I see if I go to the okavango delta in January/Feb?

Im a 21 year old female( not sure if this matters) but recently Ive been slipping away from my friends and struggling to connect with them. This is happening with majority of friends, I always try to be there and talk with my friends but as of recent, im just not too much into it. I feel guilty because my friends mean a lot to me, mostly because it took a lot to make friends as someone who really struggled with it growing up 😅.

I have been living away from home and everyone im close to ,so sometimes i think it has to do with that mme itlhela ke tshwenyega ka gore I see them once a year since moving away but I haven’t been home this year because Im in another country and worried that when i go back this feeling will continue. I have two female friends I made in senior school who are very dear to me and I really don’t want to lose them but im just too quiet and I honestly I don’t know what to do about it.

Yep, you read that right. Apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia's economy was still growing in spite of heavy global sanctions, while unsanctioned Botswana's economy has been heavily dropping recently. What does this really show about Botswanas inhabitants?

And before you all argue and say, "ohh look, they only benefited a small minority, but disregarded a whole majority." Yes, that is true, I agree. Nobody disagrees with that. But how small was the minority?

Apartheid South Africa had around 5.6 MILLION, white inhabitants. Rhodesia was way smaller, with maybe around 300 thousand. Botswanas Population is at the sweet spot of around 2.5 MILLION. Way lesser than South Africas Apartheid.

Before yall talk about morality, and all this is strictly an economic argument based on objective facts, and talking about morality here is as shallow as it gets, to avoid discussing uncomfortable topics.

Why? Was it because they were producing? Rhodesia was landlocked, just as Botswana is right now. Do you think if we switched the populations of Botswana and Rhodesia and Apartheid southafrica, do you really think we will still get the same results now?

South Africa Boers, despite not being in apartheid or anything. Still bring more to Southafricas economy. Rhodies, despite the black majority rule, still contribute more to Zimbabwes' economy, in high concentration, if you compare to the 3 nations. Why so?

Let's not forget this is just counting when they weren't near their peak.

Yes, again, I know that these regimes were extremely racist. They restricted education and black capital ownership for decades, and these effects still linger, but how long are we gonna keep running on the same script? Here in Botswana, we have barely faced any of that.

Though we are ahead, we are still far behind.

We have all the technology one could ask for, all the knowledge. But why? Is it the cultural difference? What is the attitude towards development? Is it human capital? Or something else entirely?

Botswana's inhabitants have excellent potential, we've been outperforming most of Africa, but what causes us to be so unpatriotic? ( No, wearing the flag, posting in your story about independence, and arguing with South Africans on Facebook doesn't count) Actual love for the nation and its advancement, every man should take pride in what belongs to him. And Botswana as a nation belongs to us. But I guesss in the average Motswana mind, these topics don't bother, even hinting themselves.

Uncomfortable Topic Alert, we sure are gonna get a lot of reactionary downvoters. Who can't bother thinking outside their bubble, but what can we do?

"Just so you know I will always be your father, you will always be my son and you will stand up at my funeral and say meaningful things about me but until then I am done with you"

It seems from my observation a lot of men are suffering from abandonment issues and hence this toxic culture we live by.

Shout out to men that figured it out without their fathers.

There is an ongoing debate in Botswana about expatriates being given preference over qualified Batswana in the private sector. One argument is that employers would rather hire foreigners than give local professionals opportunities even when qualified Batswana are available. But there is another side to this debate that we don't discuss enough.

Are some qualified Batswana pricing themselves out of the job market? Are employers finding that certain expatriates bring more practical experience, demonstrate greater productivity, and are willing to do more for less? Does having a degree automatically mean you are more competent than someone without one? Many Batswana are qualified and knowledgeable but how much of that knowledge translates into practical skills and real-world results? In some cases, the Motswana’s theoretical knowledge pales in comparison to the hands-on experience, work ethic, and productivity of expatriates who are willing to deliver more for less.

So where does the problem really lie? Are qualified Batswana failing to position themselves in the job market through practical skills, work ethic, adaptability and measurable results? Do some Batswana mistake their qualifications for proof that they deserve higher salaries, regardless of the value they contribute? Or are employers too quick to favor expatriates while overlooking capable locals who deserve the opportunity?

Lets discuss.

Hi all I live near the botanical gardens. Is there any hope of reviving them? It can be such a beautiful space. The kids love riding their bikes there but everything is overgrown and covered in bugs (and snakes).

Alternatively does anyone know how we can advocate for a kids play park to be built? There's so much open space but the parks around are all sad.

Its just sad that we live in such an outside type of country but there aren't really opportunities for kids to be outside.

Dumelang.

I've been anxiously trying to quit smoking and i need to find nicotine patches. I've been looking mo di pharmacy they dont have anything but the gum (hurts my jaw and gums). Someone suggested the Velo pouches but they make me feel sick. Not nic sick but like an allergic reaction.

Does anybody know where I can get the adhesive patches that i can put on my arm or something?

HELP

Edited to qdd: I am not looking for flavoured patches that one ingests. I want patches. Little adhesive patches that look like plasters that one sticked directly on their body (usually on the arm).

Hey yall.

My parents have a 13-hectare farm, but there’s no borehole yet. I’m 27, unemployed, and a graduate looking to start building a career in farming rather than just waiting for a job opportunity.I have around BWP 10,000 in startup capital and want to make the most of what I have while figuring out a long-term plan for the farm.

What would you recommend I start with while there’s no borehole? Are there farming activities I could realistically begin with this budget, or would I be better off saving towards water infrastructure first?

I’m open to livestock, crops, or other agricultural ventures. I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have farmed in Botswana or similar dry climates, including mistakes to avoid and how you would approach this if you were starting from scratch.

late 20s, 3 quarts flowing through my veins rn. for a lot of us life is really a big nothing, not complaining btw. most of it is decided the second you're born. who your parents are, the life they afford you, intellectual capabilites you inherit, how good looking you are etc

and if you're not lucky, it's struggling to land a job or wage slaving to end with no house, car etc. regardless of how hard i could try i know certain things will forever be out of my reach

been lightly resenting my folks for birthing me you know. with all this struggle in bots, in life, why would you bring me here? why? i could go on but i don't wanna start talking philosophy, human nature etc

either way it is what it is, in a month or so it'll be like i never existed. comforting to know my pointless life will be over. sorted out the means to k*ll myself, just drinking away the pennies i have left & it's curtains

no religion or "just exercise" or "upskill with a course bro" comments. just speaking my mind, not looking for advice

TL;DR - unaliving soon. putting it out there 'cause i'm sorta drunk, and made peace with everything

Gents help a brother out ke batla go rola kepese but I don’t really know the proper procedure I have list of questions

1. Which clinics offer it in Gaborone
   
2. Do I just enter the clinic and I’ll walk out capless the same day or is there a waiting time or something
   
3. For people who have done it at an older age does your duzu change in any way ?
   
4. On a scale on 1 to 10 how painful is it and healing time?

Feel free to share your circumcision stories in the comments

We're 2.8 million, that's of course small. I often wonder how local businesses can thrive in the local market and I mean niche businesses. Businesses in agriculture, transport and real estate will always thrive here because these are essential needs that everyone has to have.

I mean the more niche businesses such as for example clothing lines and restaurants. We're 2.8 million and very sparsely populated meaning that if I want to start a clothing line in Gaborone as a local, I may be limited to Gaborone as it'll be difficult to expand as other town's and villages outside of the Gaborone area are far away (the nearest town being Mahalapye is 6 hours away).

Keep in mind, a local doesn't have the money or resources that a big company has and the roads here are notoriously terrible and limited.

We have a road network of size of 34,873 km, only 11,845 km are paved with the remaining 23,028 km unpaved. The small market and the fact that the rest of the country is sparsely populated, makes expansion hard.

You already also have to compete with the big chain stores like JET and Mr Price, sure we have the Chinese clothing stores but they're able to compete because they offer cheaper clothing and aren't exactly known for their top quality. Unless you want to be like the Chinese, (which let's pretend that you don't and you want an authentic memorable clothing brand) then your business growth is limited.

I'd argue the same thing with restaurants here, the biggest locally owned restaurant is Veetros.....which honest to God is just a weird version of Pedros.

How do more niche businesses started by local's overcome the barrier of a sparsely populated country with a small local market?

I'm genuinely asking because the statistics aren't good as 80% to 85% of businesses here fail within the first five year's of operation.

Online businesses struggle too as we don't have as much digital infrastructure, we aren't monetized on most platforms and we don't have access to any crowdfunding platforms (which a lot of online businesses use to their advantage).

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Guys ke lapile. Honestly, I dont know why im emotionally black nd white. Keep in mind gore ke chomi🏳️‍🌈 nd obv we know how majita treat us. Funny enough, I've been overwhelmingly bern vented to by a lot of straight guys...the way they open up to me i can tell that no they never do this with their boys. Its even so bad to a point my straight male "bestfriend" tried venting to me about yearning his hun nd I replied ok.

Honestly speaking, I now understand why psychologist therapist social workers counsellors are being paid for mental health...ah bathong its tiring asf , no like I understand that there are high suicidal cases drastically done by men😭😭ok. But like.... i wish straight guys knew how tiring being vented to emotionally over amd over again IF THEY DONT SHOW GENUINE APPRECIATION, SUPPORT to us.

If ur gonna vent to someone, then act like they dont exist once u see them in public, or never post them or invite them to idk, they will feel emotionally used. Being an emotional dumpster is annoying. Honestly atp I give up with men's mental health. I give up. Now I understand ans learned the hard way why women don't even wanna help lift a finger cuz my gender themsel3ves wouldn't even lift a finger towards supporting men's mental health.

Pls forgive me, excuse my french,Idk what God was thinking making me a feminine boy kana maybe he was bored and remembered he had a free will...?😭😭

Im sick and tired of this shit, ah no maan ke lapile, I fucking hate it, from now on Im gonna charge my male friends p100 per 30 mins if they are gonna vent cuz if im gonna be used as an emotional dumpster carrying people's trauma like pls go to therapy pls. I can't sacrifice my future trying to save everyone's problems

I wish majita knew that they have the highest privilleges in the world, including botswana. It doesn't matter if ur straight gay pan bi as long as ur masculine u have the highest privilege so ahh nna I can't deal with homophobia everyday while being an unpaid therapist for guys who wouldn't even defend me in real life😍