Walking safari in Botswana

Botswana does not have a great tradition for walking safari.

Historically this activity has not been high on the agenda, not least because the government has historically not been keen to promote an activity which it views as inherently dangerous.

As a consequence, the various safari companies have not developed a rich pool of suitably qualified expert guides.

But the terrain in the core safari areas of Botswana are perfectly suited to walking safari, with largely open savannas and a distinct lack of dangerous areas of long grass and thick bush.

As things stand, there are just a handful of high-quality specialist walking safari operations in Botswana. Most notable are Kweenie Trails and Footsteps Camp, both in the Okavango Delta.

Most people who are interested in walking safari include a few nights at one of these properties, classically following nights in one or two more conventional camps. That shape of trip provides a really good range of bush experiences.

If you are looking for a safari which is more specifically focused on walking safari, then we would usually recommend you to options in Zambia, Zimbabwe and the south of Tanzania. Please get in touch for a more detailed discussion.

only a handful of specialist walking safari operations

The best time of year for walking safari is when the grasses are low and the temperatures not too hot.

The grasses grow long during the early part of the green season, in Nov-Jan. They start to dry and fall over through April, leaving most areas clear for walking through the May-Sep dry season.

Fortunately, that same May-Sep period coincides with the cooler part of the year, although it does start to get a little warm into September.

In conclusion, the best time for walking safari in Botswana is May to August, running on into September if you are okay with slightly higher temperatures.

the cool dry season months of May-Aug are best

The biggest defining factor of risk on a walking safari is the quality of your guide. A good guide can make the most risky situations very safe, whilst a bad guide can walk you into unnecessary danger at any time.

Naturally, we only recommend walking safari in the company of the best and most experienced specialist guides in Africa.

The other major factor is the seriousness of the intention when out walking. If you specifically want to track and approach potentially dangerous wildlife, like elephants, buffaloes and lions, then this will obviously be much more risky.

In Botswana, all of the main walking safari operations specifically do not approach animals in this way. They adhere to a policy of trying not to disturb any of the animals, but to simply observe from a distance.

Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to find yourselves in a slightly uncomfortable squeeze, such as finding yourselves cut off from camp by a herd of elephants, with the last light of the day fading.

As hairy as these situations may seem at the time, the bottom line is that these operations would almost certainly be closed down if they were to experience a major adverse event. The fact that they have been successfully operating for years is a very good sign.

But the risk is always there and you will be required to sign a powerful liability waiver before heading out on foot.

it’s the doubt that makes the experience

Walking safari in Botswana is reasonably easy and should be possible for anyone with a medium level of fitness.

The walking pace is always slow, with lots of breaks, and the terrain is relentlessly flat, which helps enormously.

However, this is the Kalahari Desert and the subsoil is sandy. In some areas, there can be substantial patches of loose sand, which can be much more tiring to walk on.

The main adverse factor is the weather. Daytime temperatures are comfortable throughout the main walking season, if you’re at a lodge or sat in a vehicle. But it can get quite sweaty if you are out on foot.

Most camps offer shorter walks, morning or evening, when the temperatures are low.

Those camps which offer longer walks typically pause for lunch and a siesta under a nice shady tree, only resuming once the heat of the middle part of the day starts to subside.

However, on these longer walks, you may be required to carry a backpack with your lunch, water bottles and even a bivvy bag for your siesta, all of which can become quite burdensome.

On all walks, it is almost always possible to radio into camp to get a vehicle sent out, should anyone be flagging.

almost always possible to opt out if it gets too tough

Our favourite walking safari operation in Botswana is Kweenie Trails. Set in a very remote part of the Okavango Delta, this owner-run operation has two small camps. The experience is centred on walking safari, notably with a long day hike between the two locations. Vehicle safari is also offered, in between or even as an alternative to some of the walks.

The only other notable option is Footstep Camp, on the north side of the Okavango Delta. This place focuses primarily on shorter walking safaris, supplemented with mokoro canoe safari and vehicle safari.

Beyond that, there are dozens of camps and lodges that offer walking safari, but not to the same level, more as an afterthought.

Having said that, we have been out on some great walks in these other camps, but it does tend to depend on whether or not there happens to be a suitably qualified guide in camp at the time.

Out in the desert areas of Makgadikgadi and Central Kalahari, it is possible to go out walking with San Bushmen, although this tends to be more of a cultural experience and rarely includes the serious tracking of wildlife.

only two serious options