Children in the Wilderness Limpopo Valley – Mashatu Tented Camp
April 2010
On the 7th of April 2010, Mashatu Game Reserve hosted 16 children for the first Children in the Wilderness - Limpopo Valley programme in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana.
These children who reside in Mothabaneng village only a few kilometres from the western boundary of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in north-eastern Botswana, spent 5 nights as guests in the Mashatu Tented Camp to learn and understand the benefits of protecting the environment and wildlife which in turn promotes tourism and job creation.
The Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, of which Mashatu is the largest member, is an annual co-host of the Tour de Tuli Charity Cycle event with South Africa and Zimbabwe. Funds raised at the event are channelled into Children in the Wilderness for the benefit of amongst all Children in the Wilderness organizations including, the Children in the Wilderness - Limpopo Valley Trust, a fund specifically established for the benefit of rural children on the periphery of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana.
Children in the Wilderness is an environmental and life skills educational programme that focuses on the next generation of rural decision makers. It is one of the few programmes aimed at bridging the divide that exists between communities and wildlife. The programme on Mashatu served to host rural children that live alongside our Parks and Reserves and teaches them the importance of conservation and by so doing aims to develop environmental leaders who are inspired to care for their natural heritage so that they become the custodians of these areas in the future.
“Wilderness areas are important because they bring tourists to our country” - Thato 10
“When you are a poacher we learn your work is not good” - Sylvia 11
“Wilderness areas are important to us - we can know now to look for animal tracks and I will never forget about the protection of wild animals trees and birds” - Casly 12
“Wilderness areas are important to us because we will get jobs and we want to increase the number of animals” - Oliver 12
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