Walking safaris are one of the most thrilling ways to experience Africa’s wilderness. Guided by David Foot, one of the best guides in Botswana, you’ll wander through floodplains, across palm-fringed islands, and alongside wildlife in their natural habitat. Elephants swim in deep channels, hippos grunt and splash at night, and a chorus of birds accompanies each step – offering a more organic and immersive traditional safari.
Explore the Okavango Delta on foot
The Okavango Delta is a complex mosaic of waterways, islands, and open plains in northern Botswana, a haven for wildlife perfectly suited to walking safaris. From buffalo and red lechwe to wild dogs, each trek is led by your highly experienced walking safari guide who will reveal the intricate details of life in this unique ecosystem.
You stay in a mobile camp which moves according to water levels and animal movements, ensuring each night is spent in a private, shaded island location, far from the crowds.
“From spotting elephants in the floodplains to listening to hippos at night from your mobile camp, walking in the bush is a truly authentic safari experience.”
Life in a mobile safari camp
Your walking safari begins as your luggage is transported across the Delta in traditional dug-out mokoros, while you venture on foot into the wilderness. Over three days, you will cover roughly 10–15km per day, pausing to observe the wildlife. The safaris are flexible, allowing your days to follow the wildlife rather than a fixed schedule. If you prefer a slower pace, mokoros remain on hand to explore the waterways and channels until you come to shore for a sundowner at sunset.
The fully serviced mobile safari camp offers surprisingly luxurious comfort. Spacious walk-in tents feature soft bedding, and all meals are freshly prepared by your personal camp chef. For a quintessential Delta moment, take a hot bucket shower under a fig tree, fully immersed in the sounds of the bush!
Morning walks and wildlife highlights
Early morning walks reveal the Delta at its most magical. Red lechwe navigate shallow waters, and big cats move stealthily through the reeds. With thousands of islands and seasonal floodplains, elephants often create trails for you to follow. Leopard sightings may tempt you to rise before dawn, while hippo pools offer hours of quiet observation as the animals grunt, snort and interact.
Planning your Okavango Delta walking safari
When is the best time for a walking safari in the Okavango Delta?
The best time to walk in the Okavango Delta is during the dry season, with wildlife concentrated around water and focussing on Delta islands as the flood waters rise. Mid-May through to mid-August are the winter months and have cooler days more suitable to walking.
How to have an eco-friendly safari in the Okavango Delta
Walking safaris are naturally eco-friendly: no vehicles, minimal environmental impact, and David Foot works in partnership with the local community, guaranteeing a genuinely sustainable experience.
Extend your luxury Botswana safari
Spend a few days walking in the Delta before retreating to a luxury private tented camp in a different region of the Okavango for insights into different habitats and maybe see the difference between permanently flooded regions and seasonally flooded regions of the Delta. Head into the remote north and search for huge herds of elephant in Chobe, or go south into the Kalahari Desert to witness the otherworldly silence of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Our signature Botswana wildlife journey, “Jewel of the Kalahari”, gives a suggested itinerary that features both Desert and Delta, and could be tailored to include a few days of walking.
If you’re looking for a true wilderness adventure, a walking safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta brings you face-to-face with its floodplains, islands, and incredible wildlife.
Talk to a Botswana expert and step into the heart of the Okavango Delta.
