HERITAGE SITES IN MANYANA
David Livingstone tree
This tree is a large fig tree, where David Livingstone conducted lessons and sermons (before the first church was built). The tree is located in a now fenced off area, in the southwest region of Manyana. The tree is called “motlhatsa” [mo-kHl-a-ts-a] in Setswana (the native tongue). The tree is protected due to its beauty; both historically and in terms of looks. David Livingstone’s initials used to be visible on the tree, but unfortunately they faded away due to time and the trees growth.
Kolobeng Site
This is where David Livingstone, in the mid-1940s, had set up a mission school. Sechele, chief of the Bakwena [the ethnic group that hosted Livingstone] was the first Christian convert. When you visit the site, you will see remnants of the huts built by the Bakwena (mud walls), graves and foundations. The Bakwena’s interaction with Livingstone laid the foundation for Modern Botswana’s development. This happened through the establishment of the first church, the first doctor of western medicine, Christian converts, irrigation and European style of building.
Traders had been linked to the native communities that were hosting them, through missionaries. This is actually how the Bakwena acquired guns (through Livingstone). These guns would later be used in the battle of Dimawe; where the Bakwena fought of Boer imperialism.









