Botswana might seem like an eccentric choice for a safari – after all, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya have long hogged the spotlight. However, if you venture beyond these well-trodden wildlife-watching circuits, you might discover that the slower, more intimate pace of a walking safari presents a whole new way to experience the Big Five – not to mention the diverse flora and fauna of the Kalahari.
Botswana’s terrain provides ample reason to explore on foot, being mostly flat. Moreover, walking embraces a more sustainable wildlife experience – this is the essence of the slow safari. After all, that’s what holidays are for; it’s essential to stop and smell the wild sage.
Why You Should Consider a Walking Safari in Botswana
4WD vehicles, whether guided or self-driven, are the most common way to see wildlife in Botswana. Without the noise of a diesel engine, it’s much easier to admire the small details, and you’ll quickly attune to the sounds of the myriad creatures that inhabit Botswana’s colossal wilderness.
Walking safaris provide a more relaxed way to explore. One cannot rush between Big Five sightings on foot. Instead of relying on guides to call in a find via radio, you’ll experience nature step by sandy step, discovering everything firsthand.
Was that a baboon bark? A kudu cough? The twitter of painted wolves on the hunt? On a walking safari, your guides are especially attuned to the conversations of the bush, and you’ll learn to pick up on these nuances as well.
From the northern Okavango Delta to Gaborone in the southeast, these are some of the best locations in Botswana to embark on a walking safari.
Tread on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta
Traditionally, walking safaris are not permitted inside Botswana’s national parks and reserves. However, camps and lodges occupying concessions on the boundary of Moremi Game Reserve, which houses the magnificent wilds of Chief’s Island, do offer this activity. The catch? Guides cannot carry a rifle. Nevertheless, they are highly trained in reading animal behavior and avoiding confrontation, ensuring your safety.
Walk with these knowledgeable guides across one of Africa’s finest natural habitats. Tread upon hippo highways carved by hefty herbivores. Feel the concrete wonders created by tiny termite mouths. Sniff out the distinct aromas of elephants and track a giraffe’s journey by observing how its dung pellets scatter, dropped from great heights.
For the ultimate Okavango Delta experience, combine your walking safari with a magical mokoro ride or, during certain seasons, enhance both activities with an overnight camping adventure at stays such as Moremi Crossing. Short walks often incorporate community-led mokoro trips organized from Maun.
Mingle with Meerkats in the Makgadikgadi
Join a colony of meerkats as they scurry about the fringes of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in search of scorpions. Several habituated colonies inhabit these golden grasslands, each with a dedicated caretaker, allowing for fascinating insight into the intricate community dynamics of meerkat families.
While here, don’t be alarmed if these charming creatures of the Kalahari climb onto your lap; they are always on the lookout for predators, especially from the sun-drenched sky, and your human figure offers them valuable height.
You can participate in this activity through Natural Selection lodges in the Makgadikgadi, with Jack’s Camp being the most iconic, or through operators in Gweta.
Track Rhino in Gaborone
A capital city is not your usual habitat for endangered animals, particularly rhinos. However, Mokolodi Nature Reserve, established in 1994, sits on the outskirts of Gaborone and offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city life. The modest reserve, approximately 5000 hectares, has rehabilitated a cattle farm into a sanctuary for a diversity of endemic fauna and flora, including the widely poached white rhinoceros.
Under the guidance of two qualified experts, you can track one on foot. The adventure begins with a vehicle search for fresh footprints, dung, or other signs, and once identified, you’ll set off on foot. Expect anywhere from 20 minutes to five hours to catch a glimpse of this enchanting member of the Big Five.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Pel’s Fishing Owl
Even novice bird watchers will enjoy seeking out the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl along the river’s edge, meandering between clusters of indigenous forests. This intriguing walk is one of Botswana’s most appealing experiences, with the owl frequently spotted along the Okavango River, particularly in the fishing pools of the northern delta. Many accommodations in the Okavango Panhandle, such as Xaro Lodge, offer specialized bird tours to find this elusive owl.
Go Boulder Hopping in the Tuli Block
North of the wide Limpopo River, the breathtaking landscapes of the Tuli Block are arguably home to Botswana’s least-known pachyderm paradise. Known as a land of giants, you’ll hike through dramatic rocky outcrops, rest beneath towering upside-down trees (baobabs), and likely encounter elephants.
Walking also provides the best opportunity to spot smaller unique wildlife, such as the elusive elephant shrew. Join a walking-only trip on a dedicated three-day trail in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve or inquire about daily guided walks that depart from lodges in the area.
Climb Botswana’s Highest Peak at Tsodilo Hills
Rising above a flat landscape, Tsodilo is home to the highest point in Botswana and is renowned for housing over 4000 prehistoric rock paintings, created by the country’s first inhabitants, the San. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is revered as a site of worship and provides a unique walking safari experience.
Guided by regional historians, you can explore various routes, including the Rhino route that circles the medium-sized Female Hill, showcasing ancient rock paintings on themes of fertility. This trail offers a glimpse of the legendary Van der Post Panel, ochre-colored rhinos, and even imagery of whales and a penguin, over a thousand kilometers from any ocean.
Find Sacred Waterfalls at Goo-Moremi Gorge
In the eastern region lies a stark contrast to the arid image you may have of Botswana. At Goo-Moremi Gorge, a forested ravine slices through the bushveld, and sacred waterfalls cascade down ancient rocks. Like Tsodilo in the far north, the Tswapong Hills are considered holy and a realm of ancestors.
Managed by the Moremi-Manonnye Conservation Trust with support from the Botswana Tourism Organisation, swimming in these picturesque pools is prohibited. Nevertheless, you can follow the route of the waterfalls with a community escort. An easy path, platforms around tricky rocks, and strategic steel roping assist hikers in reaching the best viewpoints.
Learn Skills That Surpassed Centuries in the Kalahari
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the ancestral home of the San, an iconic group of hunter-gatherers who have thrived in its parched sands for millennia. Many culturally sensitive “tribal tours” are available in Botswana. It’s vital to choose a responsible option, such as engaging in genuine nature walks with skilled trackers like ‘Scuppa’ Tshuruu from Tau Pan Camp, offering invaluable insight into the traditional ways of life of the San people.
