Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Day 6 - January 31, 2014 Okavango Delta to Nata, Botswana
Up early to the sound of a male baboon screeching and hippo's snorting. There is always the red eyed doves which coo and I have heard them every day in Africa when in towns or in the countryside. I had tea and started to talk to Kagiso about the country. All the lodges are owned by foreigners so I asked him what he wanted to do. He wanted to buy a boat with a motor to start a supply transport business for the lodges, touring and carry kids to Maun for school. So I helped him with the expenses and income and made a basic business plan right there. I asked him to fill in the details and then an investor would be willing to front the $11,000 US required to buy the boat.
I am convinced the few that are ambitious and smart need to be helped to start businesses so they can create and spread wealth to other natives. The banks lend money - the rates I've been quoted for natives (it can be different for whites/foreigners) are between 15 and 30% - no wonder they cannot get ahead. Charity won't work because unless they work for their own money, it doesn't mean anything and if you are so dirt poor you can barely survive, where is the incentive? Anyways, if my friend emails me with a more detailed business plan, I will help him so he can convince an investor to invest in him...my contribution.
We have breakfast then prepare to fly back. Only 4 can go at a time so 2 are left behind. Then after we, the first group, lands, the weather turns and it takes 2 hours for the others to arrive in Maun then back to the original campsite for lunch (more meat type product - yuk and no thanks) then the drive to Nata. We had to stop for groceries and because of the delay, we will probably not arrive until 7:30; late again dammit. I really would like to enjoy some of the campsites more - some of them are really interesting!
- comments