Gaborone gets a Taste of the Gauteng Experience

From the rooftop nightlife experience, the iconic music and food festivals, the picnics and
the business opportunities, the Botswana market was reminded of South Africa’s tourism
off erings before COVID-19 hit. Staff Writer GOSEGO MOTSUMI reports

Once tourists have had their share of the scenic beauty and shopping experience, a range of fun awaits them in South Africa’s vibrant daytime picnics and nightlife.
In their bid to reinforce that positioning in the Botswana market, Gauteng Tourism last weekend staged a glimpse of its nightlife rooftop experience on the rooftop of Protea Hotel in Gaborone.
With panoramic views of the city, perfect for sundowners or a night out, the experience emulated the South African culinary rooftop restaurant and bar, Rooftop BBQ, situated at Maboneng and Sandton. The Protea Hotel rooftop experience fused expertly curated food, good music and people with breathtaking views of Gaborone in the night time.
Living in an era where people look for experiences, the spokesperson of Gauteng Tourism, Barba Gaoganediwe, said rooftop experiences are making a huge comeback and are an elevated draw.
“We have already made contact with Protea Hotel to revitalise their rooftop, and that means more opportunities for Batswana,” he said. “The rooftop was not operating until we came in and the venue is fully operational now.”
To wrap up its activation in Botswana, Gauteng Tourism staged a picnic at the new Serasa Farm in Mmamashia. The picnic was a re-introductory platform with local brands because there had been a disconnection caused by the pandemic. The event also offered revellers a feel of daytime fun activities that are on offer as part of the South African tourism product.
Gaoganediwe noted: “Batswana are our bread and butter market but we have been under lockdown for 19 months during which there was no business and travel. This has been a devastating blow not just for Gauteng but Botswana. We are not taking for granted the influence Batswana have on our province and their contribution.
“We are here to re-connect and re-introduce ourselves and confirm that business still exists in South Africa. This is what will ultimately lead to tourism recovery and we can only recover if we trade among ourselves and do not only rely on the international market to buy our tourism.”