African Adventures: A Photo Collection of Logan Bonn's Global Fellows Experience

 

(The author, Logan Bonn, sits on the hood of a Toyota Land Cruiser during a game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve)

In the summer of 2023, Logan Bonn was a participant in the CALS Global Fellows Program in Maun, Botswana. Logan divided time between 1) grant writing and harvesting at his host organization, a sustainable agriculture farm named GoFresh!, 2) developing a project marketing strategy for a local social enterprise, Travel for Impact, and 3) coordinating activities at Bana Ba Letsatsi, a rehabilitation center dedicated to serving orphans and vulnerable children. This photo essay aims to reveal the narratives, lessons learned, the individuals met, and the landscapes encountered through Logan’s Global Fellows experience.

(Logan and a friend overlook Taughannock Falls)

Home.

Prior to my departure, I drove up the lake from Ithaca to visit family and friends in my hometown of Trumansburg, New York. Before traveling, I always visit Taughannock Falls to reflect and ground myself at home. I was fortunate to share this moment with two close friends from Cornell, Claire and Nicole.

(View of downtown Maun through the backseat of a car)

Upon arrival.

After a long travel journey, I arrived in Maun on May 21st. With a population of over 50,000, Maun is the fifth largest town in Botswana, situated in the far northwestern corner of the country. The town is a tourist hub, acting as the gateway to the world-famous Okavango Delta. 

Over my first week, I met new faces, tasted new food, and adjusted to a new environment. Traveling from summer to winter; days were hot, reaching temperatures upwards of 90F, while nights were cold, often dipping into the low 50s.

(Logan is taught how to weave by a member of Shorobe Baskets)

(The group of interns from Travel for Impact attempt to weave)

(A variety of traditional Setswana dishes; pap, pounded meats, and rape)

The introduction.

A few days after my arrival, I joined the team at Travel for Impact for an introductory adventure. Over the course of three days, we visited the numerous non-profits and ecotourism and cultural initiatives in the communities (EICs) that Travel for Impact supports. 

One of my favorite memories from this trip was visiting Shorobe Baskets, a weaving cooperative located 90 minutes north of Maun. After conversing with the women about their involvement in the cooperative, we received a basket-weaving lesson. This experience was followed by a traditional Setswana meal, consisting of pap (maize porridge) and a variety of pounded meats.

(A heron flies over the treeline as the sun sets)

            (A flock of birds swarm as the sun sets over the Thamalakane)                     (A distant horse walks down a dirt road)

Life and wildlife.

My residence and host organization, GoFresh!, was 15 minutes south of Maun Center. The farm sits on the Thamalakane River, one of the only distributaries of the Okavango Delta. I stayed in a small cottage on the farm, with a window that overlooked the Thamalakane, a view that provided stunning sunsets almost every evening. Various wildlife, including birds, horses, donkeys, cattle, and goats, would visit as the sun went down. Life on the farm took a much slower pace than what I’d become accustomed to during the spring semester. I enjoyed the change, grateful to finally relax. 

(A classroom full of kids raise their hands at BBL)

(A mural at BBL depicting children and an elephant playing by a tree)

       (A group of kids at BBL play soccer in the sandy driveway)

(Logan dribbles a soccer ball with a group of kids at BBL)      

Bana Ba Letsatsi.

Through the internship at Travel for Impact, I was connected to Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL), a center for orphans and vulnerable children. Translating to Sunshine Children, BBL provides psychosocial support and educational opportunities to children aged 5-17. After meeting with the director, the teachers, and the students, I returned weekly to eat lunch with the kids, teach a game, and learn a game. From playing soccer in the sandy driveway to teaching two-hand-touch football, some of my happiest moments from my time in Maun are from the afternoons at BBL.

   

  (A variety of beaded products at The Glass Project)           (EU Ambassador, Petra Pereyra, crafts a necklace) 

(Glass beaded bracelets hang on a board positioned in front of the glass-melting kiln)

The People’s Path.

At Travel for Impact, I was primarily tasked with assisting in the implementation of the People’s Path. This initiative, co-funded by the European Union (EU), aimed to create a viable, market-oriented cultural, heritage, and ecotourism circuit in northwestern Botswana. This was an invaluable experience to learn how NGOs function, better understand cross-cultural communication, and engage with local community members. Furthermore, I was given a unique insight into the Southern African tourism industry - an aspect of my internship that became an overarching theme throughout my time in Africa.

One of the EICs supported by Travel for Impact through the People’s Path was the Glass Project. Melting recycled glass bottles, an all-women team produced jewelry for sale in-town and online. During my time in Maun, the ambassador of both the EU and France visited the glass project to witness its progress.

(Cucumbers grow vertically in the GoFresh! greenhouse)

(A grower at GoFresh! sits within rows of lettuce)

(Hydroponics-grown lettuce in the GoFresh! greenhouse)

GoFresh!

My host organization was GoFresh!, a sustainable agriculture farm specializing in vegetable and herb produce. Over the course of our internships, Albert, another Global Fellow, and myself, became very close with the Growers and farm managers. Although I spent the first half of my internship conducting funding research, it wasn’t until I began harvesting with Albert and the Growers that I felt most immersed in the family of GoFresh!. Cold mornings were made warmer through the laughter from impromptu language lessons, karaoke sessions, and dance competitions.

                      (A lion locks eye contact with the camera)        

                                                                                                        (Two giraffes look over a tree)

(A lion flashes its teeth while a lioness stares on)

(A feeding hippo launches its mouth out of the water)

Moremi.

After many weekends spent on the farm, Albert and I embarked on our first trip beyond Maun, a mobile safari. Riding in the back of a rigged-out Land Cruiser, we traveled two hours north to the Moremi Game Reserve. During several game drives, we witnessed an array of wildlife. We locked eyes with lions, stared up at giraffes, and saw hippos hunt. At night we camped within the Reserve, under the stars, sharing stories with our guides and fellow tourists by the campfire. 

(Victoria Falls viewed from Victoria Falls National Park)

(Victoria Falls Bridge towers over the Batoka Gorge)

      

      (A baboon overlooks tourists crossing a walking- bridge with Victoria Falls in the distance)

(Victoria Falls viewed from Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park)

Victoria Falls. 

Our second weekend trip took us to the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls. After a short flight to the northernmost city in Botswana, Kasane, we took a van across the border into Zimbabwe. On our first evening, we befriended two locals who gave an impromptu walking tour of the town. The next day, we hiked through Victoria Falls National Park, before crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge and walking into Zambia, where we hiked through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. We witnessed (and felt) the breathtakingly powerful waterfall, tasted Zambian street food, explored the deep gorge, and met monkeys on a cliff edge. A long weekend of adventuring added many more stories to tell and two more stamps to our passports.

    (The kids, social workers, and director of BBL pose for a goodbye photo with Logan)

    (The team at GoFresh! take a group photo on Logan’s last day)

Lorato.

Upon returning from Victoria Falls, I had one week left in Maun. This period was utilized in completing projects and bidding my farewells. At BBL, we played our final games of soccer, football, lion vs. hunter, and bocce ball. At Travel for Impact, I issued People’s Path market research surveys regionally and virtually to aid in creating a marketing strategy report. Furthermore, at GoFresh!, I conducted interviews with the growers as part of an employee empowerment program report. Saying my goodbyes, these group photos were taken at BBL and GoFresh!.

(A view of Cathedral Point from Shira Camp)

(Porters carry supplies toward Lava Tower)

(Porters wind underneath the face of Kilimanjaro)

(The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro viewed from Karanga Camp)

Kilimanjaro.

From Maun, I flew to Arusha, Tanzania. Although my Global Fellows experience had concluded, I was fortunate to receive funding through the CALS Alumni Association to examine the tourism industry in Southern Africa from a different perspective. On July 5th, myself, a guide, and a team of six, began our ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. My goal for this trip was not only to summit the mountain but to learn as much as possible about the tourism industry that exists because of this mountain. Over six days, insights were gained from my guide, the team, and my fellow hikers who openly shared their perspectives.

While I believe I succeeded in my endeavor to further my understanding of the Southern African tourism ecosystem, I cannot say the same for my attempt to climb the mountain. 

(A selfie of Logan holding a toy coy underneath the sign indicating the summit of Kilimanjaro)

Although I may have reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, I don’t remember being there. Luckily, I managed to snap this selfie with a toy cow, at the request of my good friend Nicole. 

It was all downhill from here, however…