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Nature Travel Botswana: Okavango Wilderness Trail with Alan McSmith

Botswana 6 days From 4,000 € Enquire now

Welcome to your unforgettable adventure on the Okavango Wilderness Trail led by wilderness guide Alan McSmith! Within six days you will experience the timeless beauty of the Okavango Delta, especially Chiefs Island, in its purest form.

The Okavango Delta welcomes you with its unspoiled landscape, a vast network of waterways, lagoons, and islands that provide habitat for a remarkable variety of wildlife. Immerse yourself in the tranquility and magic of the Delta as you walk through the bush and glide across the waterways in traditional mokoros. Encounter elephants, lions, giraffes, and other fascinating animals up close on your walks. Under the expert guidance of Alan McSmith, you will learn the art of tracking and silent approach, making for unforgettable encounters in the wilderness.

Your adventure begins at the idyllic Oddballs Camp, a place that reflects the connection to nature. Also, during your Okavango adventure, you will sleep for three nights under the starry sky. Join us on this extraordinary journey!

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Experience the tranquility and magic of the Okavango Delta
Learn all about the African bush from Alan McSmith
Glide quietly through the rivers of Botswana in traditional mokoros
Experience unique wildlife sightings on bush walks
Sleep in tents under the incredible starry sky
Enjoy the wilderness in a small group

Locations

Okavango Delta

Chief's Island

Plan your trip

Included in the programme fee
- Placement in the programme
- Assistance with travel arrangements
- Assistance with selecting travel insurance
- Assistance with booking flights
- Risk coverage certificate
- Pre-departure information pack
- Flights from Maun to the Delta and back
- Accommodation during the programme
- Full board during the programme
- Drinking water, tea, coffee
- Excursions
- Game walks
- English-speaking support by long-term experienced staff
- 24/7 support throughout the programme

- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Accommodation outside programme hours
- Transport outside programme hours
- Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses and optional excursions
- Conservation levies

Write An Email

Daniel, your travel agent for Botswana

You would like to learn more about this trip? Don't hesitate to contact me! Our service doesn't end with your departure: I answer all of your questions and support you before, during and after your stay abroad.

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Okavango Wilderness Trail with Alan McSmith

Explore the wild beauty of Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta with guide Alan McSmith. Camp under the starry sky of Botswana, learn about the flora and fauna of the region, and experience fascinating animal encounters.

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Arrival and Orientation

Your Wilderness Experience begins with your arrival at Maun Airport in Botswana, the starting point for your trip. From there, you and your group will fly to Oddballs Camp in a Delta Taxi, a small airplane. During the 25-minute flight, you will get your first impressive overview of the Okavango Delta from the air before landing on a remote island. After landing you can get settled in Oddballs Camp, where you will spend the first night. In the afternoon, your group may already set off on your first walk or mokoro trip through the African bush.

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Activities along the Wilderness Trail

On the Wilderness Trail in the Okavango Delta, you are out of reach of motorised transport for an authentic experience. This means that you will explore the most remote places in the delta in traditional mokoros.

The experience begins when you load all the necessary items into the mokoros together and set off into the vast wilderness. All game viewing and bush walks are done on foot for the duration of the trail. When you are deep in the Moremi Reserve, your group has the option of choosing your campsite.

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Accomodation in the Delta

On your trip, you will enjoy the first and last night at the picturesque Oddballs Camp. This charming, tented camp made of reeds offers delicious food and a direct connection to nature. The accommodation consists of walk-in safari tents, each set on raised, shaded decks.

Each tent has its thatched open-air bathroom with a flush toilet and bucket shower. The main lodge offers a thatched dining area, a small lounge, and a pub with a breathtaking view.

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For the other three nights, you and your group will stay in mini muri tents. These dome tents measure 2.2 m x 2.2 m, have a sewn-in groundsheet, and are equipped with a sleeping bag, bed linen, duvet, pillow, and towels.

A bucket shower and toilet are also provided to make you feel comfortable in the wilderness. For three nights you will camp under the endless starry sky, you and your group will choose the spot together - and you can experience the nature around you with all your senses.

Leisure and board during the trail

The fascinating sounds, views, and animal encounters of nature offer plenty of opportunities for activity and exploration in your free time. Enjoy breaks to relax, experience the silence of the wilderness, and get to know your group members better.

Enjoy full catering at Oddballs Camp including tea and coffee. Local drinks are available at Oddballs Camp for a fee, during the trail drinks are included. Along the way, you will prepare your food in the tented camp and have snacks with you as you explore.

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Note on the Wilderness Trail

Here you are in the delta, whose movement is determined by the high-water level. Chief's Island is the largest in the delta and is home to a rich variety of wildlife. Elephants are abundant, and buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and predators such as lions and wild dogs are also frequently spotted.

On such a wilderness trail, the rhythm of the bush dictates the route and your everyday life. Without fixed routes, you follow the signs and sounds of the game. That's why you start early in the morning with coffee and biscuits by the fire to set off at sunrise and follow the sounds or signs of animals.

Arrival

How to get to the Okavango Delta

Your Okavango Wilderness Trail begins with your arrival at Maun Airport in Botswana. You will organise your flight to Maun yourself but we are happy to assist you with your travel planning.

From there, your group will take a Delta Taxi, a small airplane, to the picturesque Oddballs Camp. During the 25-minute flight, you will get your first glimpse of the majestic Okavango Delta before landing on a remote island.

After landing, you can let your first impressions sink in at Oddballs Camp while you spend your first night here. You and your group may start the afternoon with a first walk or mokoro ride through the African bush to experience the beauty of the wilderness up close. From there, you will spend the next few days exploring Chief Island in the Moremi Reserve. Please note that a conservation fee for the national park is payable on-site. You pay this independently on site and it amounts to USD 30 per night.

Alternatively, participation in the Okavango Wilderness Trail can also be organised as a supplement to another wilderness expedition or safari with us. In this case, we will organise a possible transfer together so that you can start your subsequent adventure seamlessly.
Orientation

Background to the Delta in Botswana

The Okavango Delta, a beautiful World Heritage Site, covers more than 15,000 square kilometres in northern Botswana. This vast wetland is an ecologically significant system that is home to a variety of majestic wildlife. A literal oasis in the Kalahari Desert, the Delta is the crown jewel of Botswana's wildlife and a perfect base for wilderness adventures.

The Okavango Delta is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. The Delta's waterways provide a vital source of wildlife in the arid Kalahari region and attract a variety of water birds, including herons, ducks, storks, and kingfishers.

The delta's picturesque landscapes, from reed-covered shores to lush islands, provide a breathtaking backdrop for game viewing and safari experiences. During a stay in the Okavango Delta, visitors can not only marvel at the spectacular wildlife but also explore the region's unique flora and fauna, including rare plants such as water lilies and papyrus.
Expedition

Contents of the Wilderness Trail

On the Wilderness Trail in the Okavango Delta, you travel on board traditional mokoros to the remotest corners of the delta, far away from the noise of motorised transport, and immerse yourself completely in the silence of nature. During bush walks, you'll silently explore the remote delta region on foot. Within the depths of the Moremi Reserve, you'll have the opportunity to select your campsite, allowing you to sleep under the stars and embrace the natural symphony of the wilderness.

In addition, Alan McSmith offers an inspiring learning experience through his many years of expertise as a wilderness guide in the African bush. His extensive knowledge of flora and fauna, survival techniques, and tracking, as well as his love of elephants, make him a fascinating guide on the trail.

"It's incredibly beautiful and wild and the region is known for its concentrations of elephants, lions, leopards, kudus, impalas, giraffes, and zebras. Breathtaking landscapes, palm trees, and remarkable birdlife characterise the Okavango," says Alan, describing his stay in the delta. Amid the breathtaking landscape of the reserve, you can enjoy the peace and beauty of the wilderness to the fullest and be enchanted by the magic of the Okavango Delta.
Departure

Farewell to the Delta

After a morning activity, you pack up the tented camp and return to Oddballs Camp in the mokoro. The estimated arrival time is around noon, but flexible depending on the possibilities and game sightings along the way. Hot showers and cold drinks await you there, followed by lunch and a relaxing afternoon at leisure or for optional activities.

Dinner is enjoyed together, and you spend one last night at Oddballs Camp. The last morning starts with a delicious breakfast followed by an early game drive. Afterward, you will take the small aircraft back to Maun, from where you can plan your onward journey. Many international flights depart from Johannesburg, making it a popular stopover.

1. Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is without doubt one of the most spectacular natural sites in Southern Africa, if not in the entire world. Covering more than 20,000 km², the fertile oasis in the northwestern part of the country is the largest inland delta of our planet. The mighty UNESCO World Heritage Site is fed by the Okavango River, which once a year floods down from the highlands of Angola into an endless labyrinth of river courses, islands and lagoons. With a visit to the Delta, one of the last natural paradises on earth awaits you, whose awe-inspiring biodiversity will amaze every visitor.

Learn more
2. Chief's Island

At 70 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide, Chief's Island is the largest island in Botswana's world-famous Okavango Delta. When the water level of the delta rises, an unsurpassed wealth of animals gathers here, including the fascinating Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino.

On Chief's Island the Okavango Delta presents itself the way you always imagined it. During guided bush walks and water safaris in the mokoro, you will be able to immerse yourself in the magnificent natural landscapes of the region and its astonishing biodiversity.

Learn more

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is without doubt one of the most spectacular natural sites in Southern Africa, if not in the entire world. Covering more than 20,000 km², the fertile oasis in the northwestern part of the country is the largest inland delta of our planet. The mighty UNESCO World Heritage Site is fed by the Okavango River, which once a year floods down from the highlands of Angola into an endless labyrinth of river courses, islands and lagoons. With a visit to the Delta, one of the last natural paradises on earth awaits you, whose awe-inspiring biodiversity will amaze every visitor.

Learn more
At 70 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide, Chief's Island is the largest island in Botswana's world-famous Okavango Delta. When the water level of the delta rises, an unsurpassed wealth of animals gathers here, including the fascinating Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino.

On Chief's Island the Okavango Delta presents itself the way you always imagined it. During guided bush walks and water safaris in the mokoro, you will be able to immerse yourself in the magnificent natural landscapes of the region and its astonishing biodiversity.

Learn more

Background of the Okavango Wilderness Trail

The Okavango Delta Wilderness Experience promises a unique adventure in the authentic wilderness. Participants can gain in-depth knowledge of the Okavango Delta region while being guided by one of the best wilderness guides, Alan McSmith.

Alan McSmith impresses with his extensive knowledge and years of experience, combined with his calm and empathetic manner. His guidance enables participants to experience and understand the wilderness in a very special way.

The Wilderness Trail will be characterised by simplicity, allowing participants to focus on the essentials. Modest but hearty meals, simple equipment, and minimal impact on the environment characterise this experience. This simplicity can have a profound effect on participants' lives, encouraging them to appreciate more of what is considered less. The mobility and travelling light allow participants to focus on important things, especially themselves. Travelling on foot heightens the senses and intensifies awareness of the surroundings. Every step, every smell, every sound, and even the colours contribute to a meaningful experience and allow everyone to connect more deeply with nature.