Experience local village life and help to maintain a project in Mokatse, Botswana

Details

• 

  Description

  Important note for potential volunteers:
  This is a very simple, back-to-basics living environment.
  Accommodation is rustic and facilities are basic. You will be part of maintaining, restoring, and caring for the space.
  This place suits travellers who are comfortable with simplicity, self-sufficiency, physical work, and real connection with the land.
  ---
  Welcome to The Land in Mokatse, a village 30 km from Gaborone, Botswana. This is 1.4 hectares of semi-arid land where life is lived close to the elements. Wind, dust, birds, insects, and open skies are part of daily reality.
  
  Grey louries call from the trees. Breezes move through open spaces. Barefoot footprints mark the soil. The environment is natural and not manicured. It is a space that is evolving rather than finished.
  
  Throughout the year, The Land hosts:
  A biannual “Art at The Land” art and craft exhibition
  Small workshops on food, health and wellness, qigong, tai chi, animal wellness, and related practices
  Occasional gatherings centred on learning, creativity, and simple shared meals
  
  This is not a retreat centre or guesthouse. It is a working piece of land that requires ongoing care. I manage it alongside my other work, and volunteers are here to contribute actively to that reality.
  
  Being comfortable with animals is essential. We share the space with several dogs and cats, as well as local wildlife such as tortoises, snakes, and rock monitor lizards. The dogs will greet you enthusiastically. Respect for all life here is non-negotiable.
  
  Down-to-earth and close-to-earth living is the essence of this place. It is best suited to people who value simplicity over comfort and experience over convenience.
  
  A little about me:
  I am Nancy. I live and work between art, movement, food, and animal care. I value integrity, independence, nature, and practical creativity. I am vegan by conviction and share my life with animals. I create art and food products for local markets and host small events and workshops here on the land.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Interests

  

  Van life

  

  Charity work

  

  Culture

  

  Events & social

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Self development

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Performing arts

  

  Writing

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Camping

  

  Dancing

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The Land itself is not a cultural tourism project. It is a private working space rooted in simple living, creativity, land care, and animal stewardship.
  
  However, it is located in the village of Mokatse, and volunteers are welcome to explore the village respectfully during their free time. There you can observe and experience aspects of daily Batswana life: small local shops, informal social rhythms, traditional homes, livestock, and the pace of rural Botswana.
  
  If you are curious and open, you may learn about:
  • Rural village structure and community life
  • Water use and adaptation to semi-arid conditions
  • Local building styles and materials
  • Everyday interactions shaped by Setswana culture
  
  The exchange on The Land itself is more personal than touristic. You may learn about:
  • Vegan living in a rural African context
  • Practical land care in semi-arid conditions
  • Hosting small community events and exhibitions
  • Qigong, tai chi, and movement practices
  • Working independently in a minimally structured environment
  • Coexisting with animals and wildlife in a respectful way
  
  Cultural exchange here is quiet and observational rather than organised or curated. It requires initiative and sensitivity rather than expectation of guided experiences.

• 

  Help

  Reality of the Work Here
  The first days could involve clearing, cleaning, and basic restoration of the space.
  This can include sweeping, organising, repairing, pruning, or bringing an area back into usable condition.
  
  Maintenance and improvement of the volunteer rooms, bathroom area, outdoor washing space, and shared kitchen are also part of the ongoing work. Small repairs may need to be done, or practical improvements made. This is part of caring for the land and the living spaces together.
  
  Tasks are practical and often physical. Expect dust, sun, wind, and manual effort.
  
  This is not only about building new projects. It is ongoing land care and maintenance. The land requires steady hands more than grand ideas.
  
  You will need to be independently motivated. I appreciate people who can see what needs doing and take initiative without constant supervision.
  
  My preferred maximum stay is two weeks. In my experience, one to two weeks is ideal for both sides. Exceptions are possible, but shorter stays tend to work best here.
  
  If you are practical, inventive, comfortable with tools, and do not mind getting your hands dirty, you will likely enjoy contributing here.
  
  I am often occupied with my own projects and work. We will connect and communicate clearly, but much of your time will be self-directed. This place suits people who are comfortable working independently rather than needing constant interaction.
  
  Depending on the season, tasks vary. Some periods are busier than others. At times the work may be repetitive or focused on one main area. Patience and consistency matter more than variety.
  
  Typical Tasks
  Ongoing maintenance:
  • Clearing bush and pruning trees
  • Maintaining pathways
  • Basic gardening and land care
  
  Creative and structural projects (seasonal or when assistance is available):
  • Painting event signs
  • Developing a sensory or exercise area around the existing maze
  • Creating simple exercise obstacles from available materials
  • Building shaded areas using brick flooring and shade netting
  • Digging swales for water catchment during the rainy season
  • Small water catchment or pond creation during spring and summer
  • Building simple clay structures such as a wood-fired oven
  • Constructing a raised platform or hideaway
  • Other practical projects that arise as the land evolves

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am always up to improving my French:-) And I am also learning Korean (beginner), so would love to practice with someone...!
• 

  Accommodation

  There are two standalone rooms next to the Hall where workshops and small events are held. Each room has two single beds and basic furniture. The rooms are simple, functional, and not insulated from the natural environment. Expect some dust, insects, and temperature variations depending on the season.
  
  Electricity is available in the rooms. A water tap is located outside near the shared outdoor kitchen and washing area.
  
  Sanitation is basic:
  • A pit/compost toilet
  • A simple washroom using a bucket or a hose pipe.
  
  To wash, you heat water yourself if needed and wash using a bucket. There are no showers. A hosepipe is available for a cold rinse.
  
  The larger room contains an electric stove and functions as the shared kitchen. Volunteers prepare their own meals. I provide basic vegan ingredients such as rice, lentils, vegetables, and fruit. If you purchase additional food, it must remain vegan. This is a strictly vegan space.
  
  This is also a no smoking, no alcohol, and no drugs environment.
  
  Accommodation is very simple. The toilet and washing facilities are basic by design. This space suits people who are comfortable with minimal living and who value water conservation. If you are looking for hostel-style facilities or private bathrooms, this will not be a good fit.

• 

  What else ...

  Transport and Travel:
  • Gaborone is 30 km away. Local combis (minivans) and taxis are available; a taxi costs around BWP 200 one way.
  • I can give volunteers a lift when I go to Gaborone, usually once a week.
  • Hitchhiking is generally safe and common, but use your own judgment.
  
  Shopping and Essentials:
  • The closest major shopping area is Phakalane, 15 km away (15–20 minutes by car), which I visit weekly on Thursdays.
  • A basic shop with flour, oil, salt, and canned beans is a few minutes’ walk from The Land.
  • There are a few small shops in Mokatse and a larger Choppies in Oodi (7 km). Apart from Choppies, shops only stock basics and tend to be more expensive.
  
  Village Life:
  • Mokatse is a real village, not a tourist attraction. Buildings are mostly modern, vehicles are common, and residents live according to their means.
  • Some local practices, such as weekend drinking at bars, occur. There are still a few traditional huts, chickens, goats, cows, donkeys, and children playing.
  • Volunteers should not expect a romanticised or “quiet rural” environment.
  
  Connectivity and Utilities:
  • Internet is limited. The easiest option is a phone data bundle, or an Orange SIM card with data.
  • A local bar about 500 m away can sometimes be noisy on weekends. Quietest nights are Monday to Thursday.
  • Mosquitoes appear after the rains; they are not malaria-carrying. Citronella is recommended.
  
  Companionship and Daily Life:
  • I live alone and am usually occupied with work and daily life, but there will be opportunities to connect.
  • Some days we can sit on the rock, either in the morning or evening, to chat.
  • There are also moments to share a meal together, especially on weekends when I am not working.
  • Interaction is generally casual and flexible; volunteers should also be comfortable working independently.
  • This space suits people who can balance independent activity with occasional shared time.
  
  Overall:
  This place is simple, functional, and very much alive. Comfort is minimal. Volunteers must be self-sufficient, adaptable, and willing to engage with a rustic, evolving environment.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

• 

  Can possibly accept pets

  I have another space close by that is fenced and separate from main plot, so if you are okay to sleep in your tent or car, then you are welcome to come with your pet. Just maybe not your elephant or kangaroo... My dogs are also friendly so should not cause any issues if they like your animal companion/s.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  My animals / pets

  A few cats!! :-)

  I currently have a pack of 8 dogs.

  They are friendly and happy to greet new comers. A few more enthusiastically than the others.
  Just be warned... when you are outside the property, they look like they will eat you up!!
  But once inside the property, all is well.
  A couple might still bark at you because they are not used to having people around. However, they will warm up to you.

Website Safety

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

+3

Feedback (10)