Harvest and Harmony: Shared Spaces, Shared Success
In the heart of Botswana, where the vastness of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park meets the village of Rakops, something beautiful has been unfolding. This season, farmers gathered at the local kgotla*, not only to celebrate a bountiful harvest but also to honour resilience, innovation, and foster a renewed spirit of hope for harmonious coexistence with elephants. This occasion marked a joyous moment for the entire community!
Map of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park © Elephants for Africa
After years of unpredictable weather and devastating droughts, this year’s rains brought life back to the fields. For many farmers, it was a return to their soils and the pride of seeing their crops flourish again that came through in every smile and story. Sweet reeds, maize, watermelons, and more were displayed, the literal sweet fruits of months of hard work and, crucially, protection.
Celebrations at the Kgolta and display of the bountiful harvest © Elephants for Africa
With support from the Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF), Elephants for Africa (EfA) has helped safeguard farms in the Makhi Cluster by installing solar-powered electric fences. These fences have not only kept elephants out, they’ve brought farmers back in, restoring their confidence in reviving agriculture.
The celebration reflected deeper change. Farmers are now exploring new, more sustainable crops, some unpalatable to elephants, others with commercial potential. These are the small steps towards a strong commitment to long-term human-elephant coexistence solutions in this complex landscape.
Farmer planting sunflower, a non-palatable crop © Elephants for Africa
Coexistence however, is not without its challenges. The remains of a young bull elephant shot near Makhi stand as a sobering reminder of the risks on both sides of human-elephant conflict. The Boteti River is also dry again, and water scarcity is intensifying competition between people and wildlife. But with every fence erected, workshop held, and human-elephant coexistence tool deployed, social & economic progress continues.
Remains of a young bull elephant shot near Makhi © Elephants for Africa
This harvest season was more than a celebration—it was a milestone. It showed what’s possible when communities, conservationists, and funders walk this path together. The road to coexistence is not easy, but with every crop successfully grown, every elephant safely deterred, and every farmer empowered, the future looks a little brighter.
To help ECF keep supporting practical coexistence efforts that protect elephants and bring smiles to farmers, please consider making a donation today.
*The Kgotla is a Tswana traditional and respected place of assembly for the community and the chief to discuss issues concerning village administration, planning, and settling of disputes.