Okavango Delta Walking Safari: Our full report

Many of Botswana’s safari camps offer morning walking safaris with the opportunity to learn about smaller ...

... creatures, markings and tracks from an expert guide. A select few safari camps focus exclusively on walking safaris, returning to a base camp after each morning and afternoon foray. The Okavango Delta Walking Safari is a multi-day walking trail in Botswana; and it includes one night fly-camping!

Unfortunately, the reserve where these walking safaris operated is no longer available to visitors. Please speak to us about other walking safari opportunities in Botswana.

The Okavango Delta Walking Safari operates in a secluded corner of the Okavango Delta, where there are hardly any roads. Plains dotted with palm-covered islands, river systems that fill with water during the Delta flood and after good rains, and tranquil lagoons typify this quiet wilderness. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe and other plains game are common in the area, whilst lion and leopard are regularly seen, and wild dog occasionally pass through.

Led by an experienced and fully qualified, expert guide, and accompanied by a Bushman tracker, you'll explore this area on foot – interpreting the tracks, seeking the source of an early morning alarm call, discussing animal behavior, watching big game, and much more. Tranquil mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursions are also available if water levels allow.

Day one of this four-day walking expedition begins from Maun, where you are met by your guide and driven north in a safari vehicle through rural Botswana, passing villages and cattle posts, before reaching the veterinary cordon fence that separates wildlife from cattle. The drive from Maun to the vet fence lasts almost an hour. From this point onward, your game viewing experience begins. The remainder of your journey to the base camp will take approximately one hour, depending on what you spot along the way.

The camp team will have travelled ahead of you and have everything prepared at base camp for your arrival. If there's time, you can enjoy a short walk or mokoro excursion before taking sundowners overlooking a lagoon. Your guide explains the geology and history of the Okavango Delta to you before dinner and a good nights rest in a made-up bed in your comfortable en-suite tent.

Days two and three begin with early rises so you can walk in the cool of the morning. Fresh tracks and wildlife signs set the scene, and the direction, as you set out to follow the animals. During the heat of the day you stop for lunch in the shade of a giant ebony or sausage tree. There's then time for a siesta on bedrolls set up in the shade.

Set out again as the sun starts to cool. On day two you will arrive at your fly-camp by sunset, and on day three you will walk back to base camp. Your fly-camp consists of large mosquito nets surrounding your bedrolls (two bedrolls per net), set up around a campfire. A bush toilet and shower are erected nearby, dinner is a campfire barbeque, and one of the camp team remains awake throughout the night to watch for visitors.

Day four begins with a hearty breakfast and a short walk or mokoro excursion. You then game drive your way back to the vet fence and on to Maun in time for your homeward flight, or transfer on to a safari camp.

Alternatively, speak to us about extending your time with your expert guide, and joining him on a Botswana Private Mobile Safari. You could go on to stay in Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti Marsh, Chobe National Park or the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

The Okavango Delta Walking Safari is priced to take a minimum of four people. It's perfect for a group of friends, relatives or a family. If you'd like to book as a couple, speak to us about joining an existing departure or about booking a private trip at a surcharge to the price. Families will receive a discounted rate for children under 12 years, and the itinerary will be adjusted to suit all ages in the group.

Our view

Walking safaris offer a completely different experience to game drives, and remain the purest form of safari. A four-day trail such as this, led by an expert and informative guide, can be an unforgettable and rewarding experience. For a group of friends or a small family who enjoy nature, rate quality guiding and love a bit of adventure, this expedition is highly recommended.

Tracy Lederer

Country manager: Botswana

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: The Okavango Delta Walking Safari is a 4-day/3-night set trail. If you opt to extend your trip, and go on to camp in other locations on a mobile with your private guide, we recommend 2-3 nights in each additional location.
Directions: The walking reserve where the Okavango Delta Walking Safari operates is reached by road transfer from Maun. This takes about 2 hours by safari vehicle, partly through rural Botswana and partly through a wildlife area.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: An early and light breakfast of muffins, rusks, tea and coffee is usually offered before heading out on a walking safari. Brunch in camp or a bush lunch is served late morning and typically consists of fresh salads, baked breads and casserole dishes.

Around mid-afternoon, a high tea of freshly baked treats is served before you head out on a walk once again. After sundowner drinks and entrees around the campfire, a three-course dinner is served around at a dining table. When staying at a fly-camp, dinner takes the form of a barbeque.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Outdoor Dining
Drinks included: Drinks are included in the cost of the safari. As there is limited cold storage space you will be asked about your preferred beverages before you travel. Plenty of bottled water is available throughout.

Special interests

Walking safaris: The Okavango Delta Walking Safari is the only multi-day walking trail offered in Botswana. You’ll stay in a very comfortable mobile camp, with one night in a more adventurous fly-camp, in a secluded wilderness where there are few roads - led by a top expert guide and a Bushman.; See ideas for Walking safaris

Children

Attitude towards children: There is no minimum age limit on this safari, but we recommend it for children aged 6 or over due to the camp’s simplicity and remoteness. The Okavango Delta Walking Safari is an excellent choice for a family group with young children who are interested in nature.
Equipment: A triple tent is available for two adults with a young child. For families of four or more, parents must divide themselves to sleep one adult and one child per tent. For older children, a dome tent can be set up right next to the parent’s larger Meru tent.
Generally recommended for children: Recommended for children with a genuine interest in nature and the outdoors. The mobile camps are simple, with only the basic amenities, so there’s little else to capture their interest if they are not outdoorsy.
Notes: The mobile camps used on this safari are unfenced and dangerous wildlife does wander through. Because of this, children must remain under their parent's supervision at all times.

Communications

Power supply notes: Recharging batteries is possible using solar power or the safari vehicle. We recommend you travel with an adaptor to a Botswana/South Africa plug point (220V), and that you carry a spare battery to use whilst the other is charging.
Communications: For all intents and purposes you should consider yourself out of contact whilst on a mobile safari in the bush. There is no mobile reception, no direct phone and no email. Your guide will carry a satellite phone to contact his office in Maun in the event of an emergency.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: Your expert walking guide is first-aid trained and will carry a first-aid kit with him. For more serious emergencies you would be evacuated by helicopter to Maun. Please note that it is only possible to fly out of camp during daylight hours as the bush airstrips do not have any lighting at night.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Your expert guide carries a rifle on all walking safaris.
Fire safety

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Mokoro
Night drive

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Not included.
Accepted payment on location: Everything is included on the Okavango Delta Walking Safari, so apart from tips there is no requirement for money. If you would like to tip after the safari, it is best to do so in US dollars.