The RUAS has a proud tradition of creating travel opportunities for its members — opportunities that not only forge lifelong memories but also encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices from around the world.
This summer, the Society sponsored Robert Wallace as he journeyed to Botswana in Southern Africa as part of a Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) Mission to Botswana. Here’s Robert’s reflection on the trip of a lifetime:
‘This July, thanks to the support of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) and the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC), I travelled to Botswana for a week-long agricultural study tour. It was my first time travelling intercontinentally and even my first time losing luggage! By the time I finally arrived (via Johannesburg, while my bags took an unscheduled holiday in Cairo), all those worries melted away.
From the moment we were greeted by our guide Christie and our host Wiehan, whose family, friends, and farms we would get to know in Ghanzi, I felt welcomed into one of the warmest, most open communities I’ve ever visited. We stayed at Kofi Camp, run by Quentin and Irene, in log cabins overlooking a watering hole where evenings were spent listening to crickets, frogs, and gazing at the Milky Way overhead.
Although I’m not a “farmer” in the typical sense, my focus is on donkeys, pygmy goats, agri-tourism, and therapeutic work. I joined the tour to see donkeys and goats in their original roles as working animals and livestock, not just as companions. Our group was a brilliant mix of Scots, English, Welsh and Australians, representing everything from arable production to agricultural education to carbon-neutral innovation.
One of our first stops was the Ghanzi Show, Botswana’s equivalent to the Balmoral Show, a seven-day celebration of livestock, auctions, horse racing, and community. The standard of animals was outstanding: familiar breeds like Hereford, Angus, Limousin and Charolais alongside local breeds such as Brahman, Droughtmaster and Kalahari Reds. Breeding here is focused on survival. Cattle are stocky to avoid lameness, keep their horns for defence, and must withstand drought, predators, and thorny brush. Land is relatively cheap, but without access to water it’s worthless. Beef is the backbone of the economy, followed by goat meat and limited grain production, while dairy is largely imported from South Africa.
Visiting Wiehan’s farm was a highlight. His pride in his native Nguni cattle was infectious. These small, hardy, beautifully spotted animals are naturally resistant to ticks and disease. Herds are checked daily by skilled herdsmen, many from the San and Naro peoples, whose animal knowledge is unmatched. We also met his goats, a mix of hardy natives and Boer crosses, and even his South African thoroughbreds trained for barrel racing. The family’s game farm supports much of their income, offering international hunters the chance to stalk zebras, giraffes, and antelope. A system not unlike Highland deer stalking in Scotland.
Everywhere we went, I was struck by the resilience, adaptability, and warmth of the people. Donkeys in particular are valued and cared for as essential working animals. Thriving naturally in their arid homeland with strong, shiny coats and perfect hooves. We also met Botswana’s best young Boer goat breeder, just 22 years old, already selling genetics across Africa for thousands of pula. Another evening was spent with the Naro people, learning how traditional knowledge, spirituality, and survival skills are balanced with the demands of modern life.
The week ended with horse racing at the Ghanzi Showgrounds, a day where the whole community turned out to cheer and celebrate. By the time we sat around the campfire on our last night, none of us wanted to leave. I came home with fresh ideas, renewed enthusiasm for my own work, and a deep appreciation for farming’s shared challenges and opportunities worldwide.
To any young RUAS members reading this, get involved. Stewarding, volunteering, attending conferences, you never know where it might lead. I started with helping at the Balmoral Show, then found myself representing the RUAS in Edinburgh at the 30th RASC Conference, and suddenly I was on a plane to Africa. It was an experience I’ll carry forever and one I hope others will seize when the chance comes their way’.
If you would like further information on educational and voluntary opportunities through the RUAS, check out our other ongoing initiatives here.
