Campsite Names, Mabuasehube Game Reserve, Africa
Mabuasehube's Campsites - A Brief History of the Origin of the Names
Oct 21, 2008
Visitors to Africa's Mabuasehube Game Reserve in the South Western corner of Botswana are treated to an area rich in culture and history. Knowledge of the origin of the campsite names will enhance their experience in the African bush.
History of Mabuasehube Game Reserve
The Mabuasehube Game Reserve forms part of the Greater Kalahari which stretches from South Africa to Eastern Namibia, Botswana, western Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia and Congo. This reserve is situated in a region of high red dunes and often sparse vegetation attributing to it being classified as semi-desert area.
This reserve owed its existence partly to the geography of the area. It is situated on a ridge of land fractionally elevated above the rest of Botswana and is dotted with several pans normally fringed with red dunes. The reserve was home to the San (sometimes called Bushman) people and to small groups of inhabitants called Kgalagadi. The word 'Kalahari' is derived from the Kgalagadi-word 'Makgadigadi' which means 'salt pans' or 'great thirstland'. These people lived off the land by hunting and utilizing the wild plants as food.
Early invaders of this Kalahari landscape, the San and Kgalagadi, dug shallow wells, usually at the edge of the pans, to provide water for themselves and the animals traveling with them. The pans would hold water for several months after rain fell, thus enabling the travelers to survive according to Mike Main's "The Adventurer's Guide to Botswana" Struik Publishers, 2001.
Mabuasehube Game Reserve was proclaimed in 1971 by the Botswana Government. It covers 3900 square kilometers of semi-desert terrain. It was incorporated into the Gemsbok National Park in 1992 and from May 2000 it is part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Mabuasehube's Four Campsites
Mabuasehube means 'red earth' and was named after the red Kalahari sand. Most of the indigenous people living there moved to Lokgwabe in the late 1930's.
Lesholoago's Two Campsites
Lesholoago is a Sekgalagadi word which means 'your death'. Early inhabitants, the San and Kgalagadi, suffered continuous problems which forced them to move. When other people settled there they were warned that the place would cause their death.
Bosobogolo's Two Campsites
Early inhabitants ( Kgalagadi tribes and San people) of this area suffered a lot of hardships which lead to numerous people dying. The people moved away to another area where they were more fortunate. Water was not available and added to the discomfort of living here.
Monamodi Pan
The residents of Bosobogolo moved to this area when the frequent deaths among the community made them believe it was due to the place. After some time at the new area the number of deaths in the community dropped and they named the place Monamodi which means 'life saver'.
Mpayathutlwa Pan - Also Called Mpaathutlwa Pan
At Mpayathutlwa the giraffes roaming the pan struggled to survive and they died in great numbers. The inhabitants thus named the area Mpayathutlwa which means 'stomach of the giraffe'.
Malatso Pan
The word Malatso is derived from the word 'latswa' which means 'to lick'. The area around this pan is thus famous for the Oryx licking up the salt from the pan.
Taking note of the history and origin of names adds another dimension to the visitor's experience of the truly unique camping experiences at the Mabuasehube Game Reserve.
 |
 |
 |
 |
