Into the Wild: Exploring Botswana’s Okavango Delta & Chobe
I ease myself into a mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe of Botswana, and within moments, the familiar hum of the modern world fades away. The water is mirror-still, the sky stretching out endlessly above, broken only by the silhouette of a fish eagle perched on a tree, scanning the delta. My guide, Kabelo, propels us forward with quiet confidence, using a long wooden pole to navigate through the narrow channels of reeds and water lilies.
The Okavango Delta is like nowhere else on earth. Each year, floodwaters from the Angolan Highlands flow into this vast inland basin, transforming the Kalahari sands into a wildlife-rich oasis. But the floods are unpredictable—arriving between late April and June, peaking between July and August, and gradually retreating towards the end of the dry season.
Arriving in May, as we did, means experiencing the Delta in transition—water levels in the delta begin to rise as floodwaters from upstream flow into the area, creating excellent conditions for water-based activities like mokoro trips; the wildlife is drawn towards the delta, and the birdwatching is excellent.
We glide past a pod of hippos at a safe distance, the cacophony of snorts and grunts from the half-submerged party reminding us that we are in their territory. They watch us from afar, one in particular holding his gaze, but clearly this is not a place to rush for either safari goer or hippo. I turn to Kabelo and ask if he’s ever had a close call with them. He chuckles. “Only when tourists try to out-stare them. Trust me, the hippos always win.”
Life in the Delta: A Night in the Wild
Arriving at our bush camp on one of Okavango’s remote islands, it feels a world away from the roads and dust of our overland journey – our all-purpose truck, our main mode of transport on this adventure across Africa. Wild camping at its purest—there are no fences and no distractions here, just canvas tents, a campfire, and the sounds of the Delta.
After a dinner of grilled meat and maize porridge, we sit in a circle with the local polers who guided us through the waterways. They tell us about their deep connection to this place, and how their ancestors have lived alongside these waters for generations. The night is alive with sound—frogs trilling in the reeds, the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of the nightjars adding to the nighttime chorus.
Rising at first light, we set off on a walking safari. There’s something deeply humbling about being on foot in a land where elephants, lions, and buffalo roam. It’s a different kind of safari—one where tracking footprints in the sand and spotting fresh dung tell you more than any vehicle ever could. We follow the heavy tracks of a bull elephant and listen as our guide teaches us to recognise alarm calls from impalas and baboons when predators are near—nature’s own warning system.
Finally, we find ourselves in the nearby company of the herd. From day to day, these gentle giants roam the reed beds, sipping from new channels, their movements shaping the very landscape. Their mighty footprints carve pathways through the wetlands, while their deep rumbles seem to reverberate through the earth itself—a reminder of how every life here is entwined with the rhythms of Africa’s last Eden.
Elephant Sands: Where Giants Rule
If there’s one stop on this journey that feels truly surreal, it’s Elephant Sands – a bush lodge & campsite in the north-eastern part of Botswana. Here, instead of driving through a national park, the elephants come to you.
Arriving in the late afternoon, we settle in at the lodge’s viewing area—the main lodge and restaurant area is built around a natural waterhole, which, in the dry season, is one of the only reliable water sources for miles. The first visitors arrive at sunset—a small group of young bulls, ears flapping.
Over the next few hours, more elephants appear from the surrounding bush, moving silently despite their size. Some drink, some jostle for position, and others simply stand motionless, their ancient eyes watching us as intently as we watch them.
This is elephants on their own terms, with no guides or fences separating us. Unlike in the Delta, they are at much closer quarters. It’s a rare chance to observe their complex social interactions—the gentle nudge of a mother guiding her calf, the subtle power struggles between bulls, the quiet moments of stillness that speak louder than any roar.
Chobe: The Kingdom of Elephants
No trip to Botswana is complete without Chobe National Park, home to the largest elephant population in Africa. Here, wildlife viewing is dictated by the rhythms of the Chobe River, where herds gather in staggering numbers, drawn by the promise of water.
A sunset cruise on the Chobe River provides a front-row seat to one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles. We watch hippos yawning in the shallows, crocodiles slipping silently beneath the surface, and entire families of elephants wading across the river, their trunks raised like snorkels.
From June to October, as the land dries and water becomes scarce, elephant numbers here swell into the tens of thousands. In Africa, the seasons dictate everything—where the animals move, where the predators follow, and where travellers like us get to witness the drama unfold.
Victoria Falls: A Grand Finale
Our trip ends at Victoria Falls, one of the great natural wonders of the world. As the Zambezi River crashes 354 feet into the gorge below, the roar of the water is deafening, and the mist is so thick it feels like standing in a rainstorm.
They call it “Mosi-oa-Tunya”—the Smoke that Thunders—and standing at the edge, drenched in spray, it’s easy to understand why. It’s a place that makes you feel small in the best possible way.
Why Travel This Way?
An Adventure Camping Tour is about more than just ticking off sights. They’re about immersion—in landscapes, in cultures, in moments that wouldn’t happen on a typical safari. They’re about trading luxury for authenticity, comfort for connection, and predictability for something far richer.
Would you swap a five-star hotel for a night under Botswana’s starlit skies? Would you trade fine dining for food cooked over an open fire, shared with people who have called these lands home for generations? For those who would, Africa is waiting.
Article by By Roxy Kruger, Reservations & Marketing at Acacia Africa. Roxy grew up in sunny Durban, South Africa, and joined Acacia in 2017—a decision that’s taken me on the adventure of a lifetime. Uganda stole my heart with its generous locals and epic Nile rafting in Jinja, but nothing compares to soaring over Botswana’s Okavango Delta on a scenic flight—an experience I’ll never forget. My top tip? Pack a head torch, a deck of cards, and embrace the dust—it’s all part of the adventure!
