Thea Khama

When Isabel reached out to connect with me about the Elephant Ignite expedition scheduled for this year, I was delighted to accept a role in assisting as an Ambassador for Botswana. What a magnificent way to highlight the work we do with elephants, and the rare female matriarchs who are passionately giving their lives for this keystone species. One of my very first memories comes from my childhood, around the age of 2, when I was travelling through the Tanzanian bush with my grandparents and a game guide and we were charged by a bull elephant in must. The power and might impressed me so, that I have felt connected with elephants ever since. Growing up the adopted and only child of American anthropologist-paleontologist parents, I have spent much of my life in the African savannah. We lived in East Africa when I was small and later after my parents divorced and remarried, I traveled with my mother and stepfather to Niger where I spent much of my adolescence. My mother is an activist passionate about conservation and our environment, and her commitment spilled over into the kinds of initiatives I find myself involved in today. When she moved to Botswana in the early 80’s and I came to visit her and fell in love with Botswana and the man I would later marry (Botswana’s current Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Tshekedi Khama), I stayed and made my life here. My work is healing of all kinds: mind, body and soul. I am a qualified Massage Therapist, Professional Consciousness Coach ® registered with the Botswana Qualifications Authority and International Coach Federation and I have a gift with my hands on healing. I mentor young people and have developed a mentorship program that incorporates 5-day immersion camps in the bush as well as a peer-mentorship program that I am currently piloting in schools. To raise awareness and funds for Tlhokomela Trust who aids our Government with anti-poaching efforts and conservation, last year I became the Ambassador for the Global March for Elephants, Rhino and Lions in Gaborone and have been using my voice, social media and network of connections to help wherever I can on a global scale in-between other commitments and patronages I am involved with such as: Men and Boys for Gender Equality, Children in the Wilderness Board, Teen Spirit mentoring, writing projects, my coaching practice and being a mom to two wonderful young adults Kaedi Sekgoma (23) and Tahlia Naledi Khama (21) and a host of pets. It is my belief one cannot be an effective healer if not intimately connected with Nature. I am more than passionate about nature and especially the fauna and flora of Africa since I have spent more than half my life here. Working together with my husband, I am taking a stand for the wildlife in Botswana. Elephants are a big part of our conservation effort and focus since we have more coming to reside here for sanctuary from surrounding countries than ever before and resources are under strain. Elephants are the pillars of whole eco-systems: the trees, plants and other wildlife depend upon them. The very air we breathe, the soil we till, the rainfall in the grasslands are connected to their survival as a species. We need to become aware of the big picture and see with new eyes.