Welcome to Botswana!

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The travel concept of this tour, "People–Meet–People" is based on a simple idea – by meeting the local people you will truly get to know their country.

Welcome to a trip to the warm and fertile Africa. It is not the ravaged and poor Africa you will encounter, but a piece of the original, down-to-earth and broadminded Africa. In focus are the resources this hemisphere has to offer. What is the Africa like that gave birth to somebody like Mandela? Bishop Tutu? Or Serete Khama, Botswana’s first president and promoter of democracy?

The Eden of Africa
If you are curious about people and culture, you will get many new impressions on this tour through Botswana, which is called the “Eden of Africa.” You will get acquainted with the home-land of Mme Ramotswe, the lively character in the international book success, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. Enjoy!

You will, of course, see the wild animals and fabulous nature that Botswana is known for. But first and foremost, the tour offers meetings between people and the possibility of getting acquainted with the culture of this peaceful and warm country.

Road to the Center
The heart of this tour is the stay in Rakops, a traditional village at the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The village is conveniently located on the newest and shortest road between the capitol, Gaborone, and the town of Maun, which is the gateway to the main point of departure for all of the tours going into the national parks. In Rakops you will stay at a local hotel, be served in the local traditional way, and have a chance to purchase products that are produced by women in the village, as well as have opportunities to take part in various types of traditional activities. You will become familiar with the local way of life while at the same time getting to know one of the most pristine wilderness areas of Africa. You will have an adventure which few will ever have the opportunity to experience.

Trade-not-Aid

PMP ("People-Meet-People") tourism is the result of women from the village of Rakops with lots of initiative starting their own businesses. The background for this concept is a teaching program for tourism, built on self-sustaining activities, which will continue to the fall of 2010. For the women it means improvement in competence, and the opportunity to earn sorely needed money. The project is based on commerce, not hand-outs. It is equal partners meeting each other.

The "Power" behind the PMP and PRIDE
Henriette Paus Grove is the initiator and concept developer for the PMP program. She teaches innovation and its processes as well as motivation for entrepreneurship. From 1988 – 1991 she lived in Rakops and taught classes for women in Entrepreneurship.

Henriette Paus Grove never forgot the women or the place, and in 2008, she went back. Now she teaches the women to become economically independent through tourism.

Charlotte Ehde-Eliassen, Jomfru Reiser, is a partner and tour operator.

Henriette (right) and the development committee	Charlotte

P – People
M – Meet
P – People

P – Pure - authentic
R – Respect and understanding
I  – Innovation
D – Dedication
E – Empowerment

An opportunity to assist women in learning how to make a sustainable living.