Holiday Season in Botswana

The Holiday season in Botswana is summertime. It is hot, humid and the rainy season. However, it is a haven and paradise, as the landscape has virtually transformed from dry, infertile desert to robust, lush, productive, green forests and farms.

"gentle-eyed Impala, to see dear Santa through..."

The season is also a wonderful time for wildlife and elephants to enjoy. They are dispersed widely over the countryside. The rains have riddled the landscape with pools of water and mud, and have made all the flora blossom and bloom! Everywhere, a wide variety of food sources is readily available. The trees are bearing fruit and the grasses are high and nutritious. It is a productive time, when the young are born and wildlife is preoccupied with their needs… birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects alike. The time is peaceful and the animals seem serene and fulfilled.

"It's Christmas in Kasane, the Christmas beetles sing!"

For us, the Holidays are celebrated in much the same way as many celebrate all over the World. There are family gatherings, large feasts, gifts exchanged, and special services at the different denominations of churches. The extent of the celebration tends to last for weeks. It is the only time of year when urban dwellers have the opportunity to return to their rural homelands to visit their extended families, bringing clothes, food, and gifts. It is the season when crops must be planted or tended to, which limits many people having to stay in their villages. The village feasts consist of roasting whole goats or sheep over a fire, huge cauldrons of seswaa (pounded, shredded beef), peanut spinach, Mopane worms (which are gathered only in the month of Dec.), mealies (hard corn), tripe, butternut squash, porridge (made from a corn meal) sweetened by watermelon and fruits such as mangos and bananas.

"warthogs with new babies, running back and forth.."

Luxury amenities, such as decorations, sweets and pretty packaging are fairly obsolete, but the overall feeling is still very much celebratory. All in all, the Holiday season is a highly anticipated and enjoyable time for most in Botswana, us, the rural and urban communities, elephants and all the wildlife!

It’s Christmas in Kasane
It’s Christmas in Kasane, and there’s no mistletoe,
no holly and no ivy, no reindeers in the snow.
but there’s our red poinsettia and bright flamboyant too,
and gentle-eyed Impala to see dear Santa through.
It’s Christmas in Kasane, the Christmas beetles sing.
Through the town and country, o’ hear  their carols ring.
And there’s our Chobe River, with elephants a few!
So praises sing to Christ our King for Christmas blest and true.
It’s Christmas in Kasane, the hippos laugh and snort,
warthogs with new babies running back and forth.
Happy holiday families smiling with delight,
welcoming the Christ child again on Christmas night.
It’s Christmas in Kasane, the sky is all alight.
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men on this night.
Around our glowing campfire, come join our barbecue.
And may the Love of Christmas forever be with you!
And may the Love of Christmas forever be with you!

Elephants Without Borders wishes you and yours, All the Warmest Wishes for the Holiday Season, Peace and Joy in the New Year!

"and there's our Chobe River, with elephants a few!"