Okavango Delta, Botswana

This Village has No Electricity

Xaxaba village is situated in the remote part of the Okavango Delta. It overlooks the famous Chiefs island which is rich in abundant wildlife species. The village is also surrounded by several tourism camps and lodges such as Delta Camp and Oddballs camps. The men and women of Xaxaba work at these camp, providing all the services that visitors enjoy. These camps offer cruises in mokoros, the traditional dugout canoe, which is always a highlight.

When I asked the staff about what the village needed most, they said a teacher. Why? Children have to move to Maun, live with friends and relatives, in order to attend school (that’s a five hour drive!). The other thing they said they needed were solar lights. Since this village has no electricity there only source of light after dark is solar. The elderly are particularly disadvantaged when they have to get up at night, and kids have no lights to read by.

That’s it! We can supply solar lights!

(Left) Visits to the village have to be arranged. Our guide, G.S., arranged for our small group to visit the village. The woman danced while the men played. Everyone sang. We donated to the village.

(Below, left) Botswana is known for basket weaving. So naturally, when we visited the basket market opened! The children seem to delight in seeing the Americans in their safari garb.

(Below, right) We stepped into a house being built. Natural building reigns supreme – with thatch roofs, earthen floors and glass bottles or simply holes in the walls for daytime light.

Video and photos compliments of Patty Kang and Rachel Bastista.

Our group who visited the village is giving back. The two school teachers on the trip are collecting school supplies. Our retired nurse together with Cy and Anthony are buying solar lights. We’ll update this page when our goods arrive.