6 Days • 5 Nights
Okavango Delta Water Safari: Mokoro, Channels & Islands
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Gliding by mokoro through the reed-lined channels of the Okavango Delta is the serene, beautiful heart of this journey. The mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe poled from the stern by an expert local guide, is the soul of Delta travel, and here it takes centre stage. Sitting low at the waterline, you are eased silently through clear, glassy channels lined with papyrus and reeds, drifting past waterlilies, painted reed frogs and jewel-bright malachite kingfishers, while elephant and elegant red lechwe graze the floodplains beyond. The only sounds are the pole in the water, birdsong and the whisper of reeds.
- Exploring the Delta's waterways by motorboat, deep into channels and lagoons, is an exhilarating highlight of this journey. Where the water runs deeper, you take to a motorboat to cover more ground and reach hidden lagoons and channels teeming with life. Cruising the papyrus-lined waterways, you glide close to pods of hippo, watch crocodiles slide from the banks, and pass elephant crossing between islands, while the sky fills with fish eagles, herons, storks and bee-eaters. The boat opens up wider horizons of this vast water world, from broad, mirror-still lagoons to narrow, winding channels, and makes a thrilling contrast to the silent mokoro.
- Guided walks on the Delta's big-game islands are a thrilling, immersive highlight of this journey. Stepping out of the mokoro onto a palm-fringed island, you set off on foot with an expert armed guide, experiencing the wilderness at ground level with all your senses alert. You learn to read the story written in tracks, dung and broken branches, follow the trails of elephant and buffalo, identify birds and plants, and feel the genuine thrill of sharing big-game country on foot, where every sound matters. Walking safaris strip away the barriers between you and the wild and deepen your understanding of the Delta immeasurably.
- The extraordinary wildlife and birdlife of the water-world Delta are a spectacular highlight of this journey. The Okavango supports an astonishing density and variety of life, and the water safari brings you close to its most characteristic species. You watch elephant families wading and crossing the channels, herds of elegant red lechwe splashing across the floodplains, hippo wallowing in the lagoons and crocodiles basking on the banks, while lion, leopard and even wild dog roam the larger islands. The birdlife is world-class, from the cry of the fish eagle and the flash of the malachite kingfisher to carmine bee-eaters, jacanas walking on the lilies, and rare wattled cranes.
- Sleeping at intimate tented camps on remote Delta islands, far from anywhere, is a magical highlight of this journey. Deep in the Okavango, your camps are small, intimate and beautifully remote, set on palm-fringed islands reachable only by boat or plane, with just a handful of tents overlooking the channels and floodplains. By day you explore the water world; by night you gather around the fire beneath a brilliant canopy of stars, listening to the calls of hippo, lion and fish eagle, dining on excellent food in the heart of the wilderness.
- Above all, this journey immerses you in the timeless magic of the Okavango Delta, a serene and deeply rewarding water safari. The Okavango is one of the last great wildernesses on earth, and this journey takes you into its watery heart. Over six days you glide by mokoro through reed-lined channels, explore the lagoons by motorboat, walk the big-game islands on foot, and sleep at intimate camps far from anywhere, encountering elephant, lechwe, hippo and world-class birdlife guided by expert local polers and guides. The combination of silent mokoro travel, water and walking safaris, superb wildlife and true remoteness makes the Okavango utterly captivating.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 6-day journey.
Your Okavango journey begins in Maun, the friendly frontier town on the edge of the Delta that serves as the gateway to Botswana's greatest wilderness. On arrival you are met and transferred to your comfortable lodge, where you can relax after your journey beside the Thamalakane River, watching the birdlife and settling into the unhurried rhythm of the bush. Your guide briefs you on the days ahead and on safari life in this remote, unfenced country. You might take an optional scenic helicopter or fixed-wing flight over the Delta this afternoon, a spectacular way to grasp the scale of the water world you are about to enter, or simply relax. This evening, enjoy a first taste of Botswana's warm hospitality and hearty food. Rest well in Maun, poised on the threshold of the Okavango Delta and the serene water safari to come.
After breakfast you board a light aircraft for the short, spectacular flight deep into the Okavango Delta, gazing down on silver channels, palm islands and grazing herds spread to the horizon. You land on a remote bush airstrip and are met by your guide, transferring to your intimate tented camp set on a palm-fringed island. After settling in over brunch and a briefing on camp life in the wild, you set out this afternoon on your first mokoro safari, poled silently through the clear, reed-lined channels past waterlilies and kingfishers as the light turns golden. Your poler reads the water world for you, pointing out frogs, birds and distant game. You pause for sundowners on a quiet floodplain as the sun sinks, then return to camp for dinner around the fire beneath brilliant stars. Rest well to the calls of the Delta.
Today you immerse yourself fully in the water world of the Okavango. After an early breakfast you set out by mokoro through the glassy channels, drifting silently past papyrus, lilies and darting kingfishers, then step onto a big-game island for a guided walk with your expert guide, learning to read tracks and following the trails of elephant and buffalo on foot. Where the water runs deeper you may explore by motorboat, gliding past hippo pods and crocodiles into hidden lagoons alive with birds. You return to camp for brunch and a restful siesta through the heat of the day. In the golden afternoon you head out again by mokoro or boat, ending with sundowners on a quiet lagoon as the sky flares orange. Dinner and stories follow around the campfire, framed by the sounds of the wild Delta night. Rest well.
After a morning mokoro glide or guided walk, you transfer, by boat, vehicle or a short light-aircraft hop, to a second camp in a different part of the Okavango, deepening your experience of this vast and varied wilderness. The new area may offer more open floodplains, deeper permanent channels or richer big-game country, and the change of scene reveals fresh facets of the Delta. Arriving in time for brunch, you settle into your intimate island camp and rest through the midday heat. This afternoon you explore your new surroundings on a mokoro safari or game drive, discovering different waterways, islands and wildlife as your guide brings the ecology of the Delta vividly to life. You pause for sundowners as the sun sets over the channels, then return to camp for dinner under a canopy of stars. Rest well, immersed ever deeper in the Okavango.
Today you savour a full day exploring the deep Delta from your second camp, alternating serene mokoro travel, motorboat cruising and guided walks. At dawn you glide by mokoro through mist-wreathed channels as the water world wakes, then walk a big-game island on foot, tracking elephant and antelope and drinking in the birdsong. Back in camp for brunch, you rest through the heat before an afternoon boat cruise or mokoro safari deep into the lagoons, gliding close to hippo, watching fish eagles fold and dive, and drifting through fields of waterlilies as the light softens. This is the Okavango at its most magical, silent, mirror-still and teeming with life. You pause for a final sundowner in the wilderness, savouring the profound peace of the Delta, then return to camp for a farewell dinner around the fire. Rest well amid the wild night sounds.
After a final, peaceful morning mokoro glide or walk in the Okavango, and breakfast overlooking the channels, you bid farewell to your camp and fly by light aircraft back over the shimmering Delta to Maun, taking in a last aerial view of the water world spread beneath you. In Maun you connect with your onward flight, or continue to Chobe, the Kalahari or Victoria Falls on an extension. You leave having been immersed in the timeless magic of the Okavango, gliding by mokoro through reed-lined channels, walking its big-game islands, cruising its lagoons by boat, and sleeping on remote palm-fringed islands far from anywhere. The images stay vivid long after you land, the silent mokoro among the lilies, kingfishers flashing over the water, and the vast, silver Delta from the air. You depart already dreaming of a return to Africa's greatest wetland.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 5 nights accommodation (full board in the Delta camps, with most drinks)
- Scheduled light-aircraft flights and road transfers between camps as per itinerary
- Twice-daily game drives, mokoro and boat activities with expert professional guides
- Park, reserve and conservation fees as per itinerary
- Bottled water, soft drinks and most beverages in camp as stated
- mokoro and motorboat safaris, guided walks and game drives, scheduled light-aircraft flights into and out of the Delta, park and conservation fees, and the services of expert local guides and polers
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Premium imported spirits, champagne and select wines
- Gratuities for guides, polers and camp staff, and curio purchases
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Many nationalities (including UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia and many others) enjoy visa-free entry to Botswana for tourism for up to 90 days, while others need a visa arranged in advance; a passport valid for at least six months with two or more blank facing pages is required. Requirements change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before you travel
- Currency: The currency is the Botswana Pula (BWP); most safari costs are prepaid, and camps are effectively cashless, but bring some US dollars or Pula in small notes for staff and guide gratuities and curio purchases. Cards are accepted in Maun, Kasane and towns, and ATMs are available there but not in the bush
- Best time to visit: The dry winter season (May to October) is prime for game viewing, as animals concentrate around shrinking water and the bush thins out; September and October are hottest and superb for wildlife. The green summer season (November to April) brings lush scenery, newborn animals, spectacular birdlife and dramatic skies, with some afternoon rain
- Language & etiquette: English is the official language and is widely spoken, alongside Setswana, the national language; a friendly 'Dumela' (hello) is always appreciated. Botswana is peaceful, courteous and unhurried, tipping guides and camp staff is customary, and always follow your guide's instructions around wildlife and in camp after dark
- Getting around: Botswana safaris run on a network of small bush airstrips, with light aircraft (often single-engine) linking remote camps; strict soft-sided luggage limits apply, typically around 20kg (44lb) per person including hand luggage. Road transfers, game-drive 4x4s, mokoro canoes and motorboats handle travel on the ground and water
- Health & safety: Botswana's safari regions are malaria areas, so consult your doctor about antimalarial medication and bring insect repellent and long sleeves for dusk; a yellow fever certificate is required only if arriving from a risk country. Camps are unfenced and wildlife moves freely, so you are escorted after dark and must follow all guide and camp safety briefings
- Culture & conservation: Botswana pioneered a high-value, low-impact tourism model that keeps visitor numbers low and protects vast wilderness; it is one of Africa's most stable, prosperous and conservation-minded nations and home to the world's largest elephant population. Respect wildlife distances, take only photographs, and support the community and conservation projects linked to the camps
- Power & packing: Power is 230V, with plug types D, G and M in use (bring a universal adapter), and remote camps often run on solar with limited or scheduled charging, so bring spare batteries. Pack neutral-coloured, layered clothing (warm layers for cold winter mornings), a hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen, binoculars and a good camera
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there always be water for mokoro safaris?
The Okavango's water levels rise and fall through the year as the annual flood, arriving from the Angolan highlands, spreads across the Delta, usually peaking around June to August. Mokoro and boating are best in the permanent waterways and during and after the flood; in drier months some camps shift the emphasis toward game drives and walking. We choose camps and dates in genuine water areas to ensure the mokoro and boat experiences central to this journey, and advise you on timing.
Is a water-based safari good for seeing big game?
Yes. While the Okavango water safari is famously serene and beautiful, it also delivers superb wildlife: guided walks and drives on the big-game islands bring encounters with elephant, buffalo, lechwe, and often lion, leopard and wild dog, while the channels teem with hippo, crocodile and world-class birdlife. For the very widest big-game viewing you can combine this journey with Moremi or Chobe, which we are happy to arrange as an extension.
What meals are included?
On safari almost everything is included: your camps and lodges are generally full-board, with all meals plus most drinks, and the day is structured around them, an early light breakfast before the morning activity, brunch or lunch on return, high tea before the afternoon game drive, and dinner back in camp, often around a fire under the stars. Botswana camps are known for excellent, generous food in remote settings, and dietary needs are easily catered for with advance notice.
Are the safaris private or in a group?
Most Botswana camps run shared game drives and activities in small groups (typically a handful of guests per 4x4 or mokoro) with an expert professional guide, which is sociable and superb value; the camps themselves are small and intimate. Private vehicles and guiding can be arranged at many camps for a supplement, ideal for families, photographers or those wanting full flexibility, and several packages here can be run as fully private, tailor-made journeys.
Do I need a visa for Botswana?
Many nationalities, including UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, enjoy visa-free tourist entry to Botswana for up to 90 days, while some nationalities must arrange a visa in advance. A passport valid for at least six months with two or more blank facing pages is required, and if you combine Botswana with Victoria Falls you may need a Zambian or Zimbabwean visa or the KAZA UniVisa. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality.
Is Botswana safe to visit?
Botswana is one of the safest, most stable and most welcoming countries in Africa, with a strong economy, low crime and a long tradition of peace and good governance, and safari travel here is smooth and secure. The main considerations are natural: camps are unfenced and wildlife is wild, so you follow your guide's instructions and are escorted after dark, and the safari regions are malaria areas, so we advise on precautions. We monitor conditions and follow official guidance throughout.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry winter months (May to October) are prime for classic game viewing, as wildlife gathers around dwindling water and the thinning bush makes animals easier to spot, with September and October the hottest and most spectacular for big game. The green season (November to April) brings lush landscapes, newborn animals, superb birdlife, lower prices and dramatic skies. We advise on the best timing for your interests, whether big game, birds, the Okavango floods or the zebra migration.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Every Botswana journey here is a flexible starting point: we can adjust the mix of the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Chobe, the Kalahari, the salt pans, Savuti and Linyanti, raise or lower the level of luxury, add or drop nights, arrange private guiding, and extend to Victoria Falls, the Makgadikgadi meerkats or a beach in Mozambique or Zanzibar. We tailor the pace, comfort, budget and focus entirely to you, from adventurous mobile camping to fly-in luxury.
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