David Foot Walking Safari
An exclusive walking and fly-camping adventure in the stunning wilderness of the southern Okavango Delta, Botswana.
If you are keen on walking and are looking for a more adventurous bush experience, there are limited options to consider in Botswana. This safari is one of the few options available where you can focus on walking, be superbly guided, enjoy simple tented accommodation and explore the wilderness without coming across other tourists. The Okavango Delta is of course beautiful, serene and full of wildlife, and although big game is not always the prime focus when walking, there is a good range of wildlife to be encountered, including predators. On any safari of this kind guiding and personal hosting is crucial and this is one of the real strengths of this safari experience. Whether it is David Foot himself guiding you, or one of his specialist professional guides, you are guaranteed top quality guiding and hosting, with an emphasis on learning about the bush and the ecosystem you are exploring. This safari may not be for everyone, and is certainly not the best way to try and see the ‘big five’, but for those seeking a wilderness escape on foot it is a magical option.
Rooms
Accommodation on trail is simple but comfortable, and fully mobile. Walk-in tents include camp beds with full linen and bedside tables, whilst long drop toilets and traditional safari bucket showers are shared (hung from the branch of a tree). The camp is lightweight and the emphasis is on a wonderful bush experience, for a maximum of six participants.
Central Areas
Meals are served in the central mess tent or around the campfire.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for charging – No
Swimming pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
The Okavango Delta is a stunning wilderness area comprised of open plains, permanent water channels, papyrus swamps, palm islands, riverine, savanna and mopane woodland and extensive flood plains. It is home to all kinds of African wildlife from elephants, hippo and rhino to the full range of predators and nocturnal species. Birding is fantastic.
The area in which David Foot operates is beautiful and exclusive, located towards the southern edge of the delta. There is a real mix of habitat, with plenty of water once the flood arrives (usually late June). You should not undertake this walking safari expecting to see lots of predator action, but general game is good, including multiple encounters with elephants and buffalo, and the full range of wildlife can be seen.
Activities
This walking safari (for a maximum of six guests at a time) is aimed at offering a different perspective of the Okavango Delta to that usually experienced at the lodges, and is ideal for those with an adventurous spirit. The safari focuses on exploration and discovery on foot, led by David Foot himself or one of his experienced professional walking guides. It is possible to join a number of 3 night scheduled safaris throughout the year, but it is also possible to tailor-make your own safari on a private basis.
Walking is one of the best ways to explore the area. Away from noisy vehicles, it is like being in another world: the sounds and smells of the bush are suddenly noticeable and you see the things that are missed when driving, like butterflies, insects, wild flowers, fruits and animal spoor. The plan each day is to rise early and depart after a light breakfast, walking for the hours before the heat of the day. Arrive back in camp in the mid/late morning and enjoy lunch followed by a siesta. Later in the afternoon take a shorter walk in the area to observe wildlife as the heat of the day passes and the animals become more active. Of course, the precise route and daily pattern are flexible to a certain extent as you do not know what you might find along the way. You can expect to walk approx 10 kms per day, exploring the islands and open plains, though the walking is slow and there are plenty of stops to talk and observe. The safari if offered as a 3 night safari on multiple dates throughout the year, but can be booked for any number of nights on a private basis. On private safaris the camp will usually change location every 2 nights.
In addition to walking, limited mekoro excursions are possible, especially during the flood season from late June to September (being far south in the delta, the floods hit later than further north) where mekoros are used to reach different walking areas.
Seasons
David Foot Walking Safaris operate throughout the year, though the conditions are best for walking from May to December, when grasses are not too high.
David Foot Walking Safaris accepts children 12 years and older but would be best for families with active, adventurous older teenage kids.
David Foot Safaris support the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT). They operate on land that has been leased by the Botswana Government to the OKMCT which is made up of six villages. The area was leased to the OKMCT in order for these villages to benefit from the growing tourism industry within Botswana.
As well as offering employment opportunities to the local community, with staff coming from the villages, David Foot Safaris is committed to providing further income to the community by contracting the villagers to provide mekoros (or when the Delta is dry a train of pack donkeys) to transport the lightweight camp on the safari.
David Foot Safaris also believes that the future of Africa’s wildlife depends on greater involvement and education for the local communities. Since 2017 David Foot Safaris has been sending annually four members of the local community to attend a one year further education course in South Africa at colleges supported by the Peace Parks Foundation. Two attend the South African Trackers Academy where they learn the ancient art of tracking, and two attend to the South African Tourism College where they learn all facets of hospitality. So far 30 students have graduated from the two colleges, with a further 4 travelling in 2024. On their return to Botswana 90% of the students have found employment in tourism companies or in conservation organisations.
David Foot Safaris aim to offer traditional safaris, whilst still providing all the comfort that is needed, but with the emphasis on the wilderness around us. With the environment in mind, the management plan for the area does not allow vehicular access.
