𝗡𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧

The Botswana Wild Bird Trust has announced that the 2023 Nkashi Classic will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 along the Thamalakane River in Maun. This year’s grand prize money for Okavango Delta’s fastest poler will be P40 000. 

New Category

We are excited to announce a new category this year called Doubles. This category, widely known as ‘Four-By-Four’ throughout the Okavango Delta, requires two polers to propel their mokoro. The participants may be male or female. Each poler can only compete in one of the four categories, which include:

• Male (age 18 – 54)
• Female (age 18-54)
• Veteran (age 55 and over, any gender)
• Doubles (2 polers, any gender aged 18 and older)

Prize Money

The total take away prize money this year over all categories is P100 000, broken up as follows: 

Male (18 – 54 years of age)

• 1st Prize: P10 000 
• 2nd Prize: P5 000
• 3rd Prize: P2 000

Female (18 – 54 years of age)

• 1st Prize: P10 000 
• 2nd Prize: P5 000
• 3rd Prize: P2 000

Veteran Male (55 and over, males)

• 1st Prize: P6 000 
• 2nd Prize: P2 500
• 3rd Prize: P1 000

Veteran Female (55 and over, females)

• 1st Prize: P6 000 
• 2nd Prize: P2 500
• 3rd Prize: P1 000

Doubles (2 polers, any gender aged 18 and older)

• 1st Prize: P10 000 (shared between the two polers)
• 2nd Prize: P5 000 (shared between the two polers)
• 3rd Prize: P2 000 (shared between the two polers)

Fastest Poler

An additional grand prize will be awarded to the individual fastest poler overall which will be P20 000 cash for the winner and P10 000 for their nominated VDC or Community Trust to be used towards community upliftment projects. 

Race Heats

Finalists for the main race in Maun will be selected through a series of race Heats which will be held around Ngamiland during May-June 2023 at Seronga, Etsha, Boro, Maun and Khwai areas.  The event organisors will work closely with the VDC and Community Trusts in each community. Entrance for the heats is free and open to anyone who qualifies as per the competition rules which are available on the event page. The top contestants from each regional area will secure their place at the main event. Further details on the locations and dates of these heats will be forthcoming. 

Nkashi film Roadshow

During the heats, the Botswana Wild Bird Trust (BWBT) and National Geographic Society (NGS) will also be running a Nkashi Roadshow which will include an educational component for the community, schools and children to attend. In the evening there will be a free screening of the documentary ‘Nkashi: Race for the Okavango’.  Further details on this will be communicated ahead of time. 

The Botswana Wild Bird Trust always provides opportunities for local companies, organisations, NGOs, Tour Operators, VDC’s, Community Trusts and others to sponsor, collaborate and partner with the event and we encourage anyone who is keen to get involved to contact us.