I have many people tell me they cannot do a safari because they do not want to spend their entire vacation driving in a vehicle. Of course virtually everyone returns from safari wishing they could have a few more game drives because each one really is different but I do believe diversity in all things is good and to that end I encourage people to include some varied activities to maximize their safari experience. To give a real life example of how a safari can include many activities outside of the vehicle this entry will be a brief recap of an eleven night Botswana safari undertaken by two my clients, Cathie and Jan, in December and they have been kind enough to allow me to use their photos.

Botswana Elephant Experience

Elephant Encounter! An entire morning spent walking in the company of three elephants, learning all things elephant from a touching distance. These three elephants were orphaned by culling operations and now serve as ambassadors for their wild brethren. I am very careful about recommending any type of animal interaction experience but this one is fantastic and ethical, providing the elephants with a good life of wandering the wild Okavango Delta daily and doing critical education work, see Living With Elephants for all the details. Guests of Baines Camp and Stanley’s Camp can arrange this experience.

Power Boating in the Okavango Delta

Power boating provides a unique perspective of the Okavango Delta and allows for its deep exploration. Kwara Camp features double decker boats that are used to achieve birds-eye views into extensive nesting colonies. This is also the best way to visit hippos and crocodiles in their element.

Horseback Safari

Horse Riding Safaris are an amazing way to approach closely to the grazing animals. One of the most thrilling moments for Cathie and Jan was galloping along side zebras and wildebeests on the move at Grassland Bushman Lodge. The horses here are very skilled and rides can be tailored for both novices and experts.

Mapula Game Walk

Game Walks are an essential safari experience taking you into the unfiltered wilderness. The animals can definitely look and feel different when your feet are on the ground and you have more time to learn about the little things that the vehicles zoom past.

Bushmen Prepare to Make a Fire

Bushman Cultural Experience. A morning food gathering walk with a community group of San bushmen people is an amazing window into our past way of life and an eye opener on how separated we have become from our natural world. A surprising amount of food can be found in the Kalahari desert and it also is unexpectedly tasty. This area at Grassland Bushman Lodge has long been known for its food productivity and the name for the area, Ghanzi, derives from a bushman word meaning land of the big bums, a term acknowledging the plentiful nature of food in the area.

Okavango Delta Mokoro Ride

Mokoro safaris are an essential part of a visit to the Okavango Delta. This is the traditional mode of travel in the region and is still in use by many local people. The feeling of sitting on the waters surface is surreal and provides a completely different view point of this unique ecosystem.

A full one third of Cathie and Jan’s activities were out of the vehicle resulting in a well-rounded safari full of surprises and different experiences. Of course they report being thrilled by their time inside the vehicle too, especially when in the company of roaring lions after dark!

Night Drive Lion

Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta is considered by many to be the premier wildlife location in all of southern Africa.  At the north end of Chief’s Island is the famous Mombo Camp, one of the most luxurious and popular camps in Botswana.  However, in the southern area of the island it is now possible to turn back the clock and experience a vintage Botswana safari experience.

Following a night at one of the most established camps in Botswana, Delta Camp, guests travel in the traditional mokoro (dugout canoe poled by a guide standing, like a gondola) to Chief’s Island.  A fly-camp of simple dome tents is set up in a prime location to serve as the base for two to four days of walking.  Delta Camp is one of the last places where guides use real wooden mekoros that they have carved themselves.  Another highly unusual fact is that the guides do not carry a rifle for walking safaris, rather they depend on their wits and in-depth knowledge of the bush.

Walking allows for an unfiltered connection to the African bush, heightening senses hidden within all of us from the days when our ancient ancestors walked as part of the African wilderness community.  I consider my time walking on Chief’s Island to be some of my most adventurous.  The anticipation was riveting in the early morning as we spotted vultures circling down in the distance – the possibility that we could trek our way to a kill site, most likely by lions was exhilarating.  Side-striped jackals surged ahead of us also following the lead of the vultures.  This time the joke would be on us and the jackals, as we learned first hand a little mentioned fact that on occasion vultures will lead other scavengers astray in an effort to reduce competition.  Even though we struck out with finding lions the excitement and anticipation of the approach stays with you and remains a treasured memory.  I had another unique first time experience walking on Chief’s Island when a bird known as the greater honeyguide approached and solicited our attention with a chattering call.  The greater honeyguide has a symbiotic relationship with humans, locating and guiding people to hives and then receiving some of the spoils once humans incapacitate the bees with smoke and open the hive.  Some experts suggest that the honeyguide also leads honey badgers (ratels), and possibly baboons and vervet monkeys to hives but this remains disputed.  We took the opportunity to follow the greater honeyguide.  The bird would fly ahead with a conspicuous undulating flight.  If we lost her at all she would fly back toward us chattering again.  When we would catch up more chattering followed by flight.  After about fifteen minutes we indeed arrived at a tree with a dead snag containing a beehive in a cavity.  This was the type of fascinating experience only possible on foot.  The next day again the greater honeyguide found us, however, tribal legends suggest we could have been led into big trouble had we followed again since we did not open the beehive on the previous day.  Legends suggest that if the bird leads and humans do not share the prize the next time they will be lead unexpectedly into lions, elephants, or a venomous snake!

In two days of walking on the island we had great views of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, side-striped jackals, chacma baboons, vervet monkeys and many other species.  This is a great area for walking and for those looking for a real old school Botswana safari experience this is one of the best.