Guided Walking Safaris in Botswana | Everything You Need To Know

Guided Walking Safaris in Botswana are usually short walks in the mornings or more than three hours depending on the itinerary. Walking Safaris in Botswana will involve you tracking down wildlife that habitats within the different National parks especially the smaller ones that cannot easily be seen while on a game drive.

You cannot discover Botswana more thoroughly than by strolling all around the place. Tourists may easily stroll through the nation because of its relatively flat terrain, and Botswana walking safaris can range from one-day excursions to multi-day treks, depending on what you’re looking for. After tourists began to visit the continent and learned that walking around Africa provides you the chance to obtain a distinct perspective of what all the African countries have to offer, walking safaris in Africa became popular in the 1960s.

The majority of walking safaris in Botswana are done in groups, and these groups are always guided by knowledgeable tour operators who will take you all over the nation and even to remote areas. Although there are several locations from which you can embark on a walking safari while in the nation, national parks are where you should go for the greatest safari experiences. In spite of the fact that walking safaris are not as popular in Botswana as many tourists would want, a number of camps and tour companies have made every effort to enhance their offerings.

What you should be aware of before embarking on a walking safari in Botswana

There are a few things you should be aware of before going on a walking safari in Botswana, including the following:

• In Botswana, walking safaris are often conducted in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s heat is at its lowest.
• When taking a stroll through a national park, be sure to dress appropriately because wild animals typically see in black and white, so make an informed choice when selecting your attire.
• Not all of the country’s walking paths are well designated, so you’ll need to be prepared for all of them. To do this, you’ll need to wear sturdy hiking boots to prevent foot blisters.
• You should avoid wearing black and blue when choosing the colors of your clothing because these hues attract tsetse flies more than others.
• The only way you will survive attacks from the various creatures and be able to enjoy your walk worry-free is if you listen to your guides and do what they instruct you to do.
• Walking safaris in Botswana can be exhausting and time-consuming, so you should bring sun protection equipment like sunscreen.
• Make sure the animals don’t see you or smell you during these outings because the majority of them are quite suspicious of people and can attack when irritated. As an illustration, if you are walking through a park and come across an elephant, you need to watch out that it does not scent you with its husks because if it does, it will turn and go away.

While traveling across Botswana, you must go on a walking safari because the destinations are usually full of adventure. Some of the greatest spots to go on these walking safaris in Botswana include:

Walking safari in the Linyanti game reserve

Between the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park sits the Linyanti wildlife reserve. It is a privately owned reserve and one of many that permit walking safaris, most of which are planned by the numerous camps that are situated within the reserve. The dry season, which begins in May and ends in late October before the rainy season begins in November, is the ideal time for visitors to take a walking safari in the Linyanti Reserve. During your walk through Linyanti, you will be rewarded with the best views of animals passing by, birds flying around the reserve and it will also take you through the nearby villages where you will get to meet the different locals who will entertain you with the traditions and culture that they practice. The good thing about taking walks through the Linyanti reserve is that it is rarely crowded with tourists and this gives you ample time to actually enjoy the walk with your friends and loved ones.

Walking safari through the Okavango delta

A walking safari through the enormous Okavango delta will have you wishing there was more to see there. Because the delta frequently floods during the rainy season, making it exceedingly inaccessible, it is better to take Okavango delta treks during the dry season, which is from May to October. While on a safari in Botswana, you shouldn’t skip the exhilarating adventure of walking across the Okavango Delta under the leadership of a local tour guide who is familiar with all the paths surrounding the delta. A walking safari through the enormous Okavango delta will have you wishing there was more to see there. Because the delta frequently floods during the rainy season, making it exceedingly inaccessible, it is better to take Okavango delta treks during the dry season, which is from May to October. While on a safari in Botswana, you shouldn’t skip the exhilarating adventure of walking across the Okavango Delta under the leadership of a local tour guide who is familiar with all the paths surrounding the delta.

Walking safari through the Makgadikgadi

If you’re considering going on a safari walk in Botswana, the Makgadikgadi salt pans are also worthwhile to see. However, you should be aware that it can get rather hot there, so you should dress appropriately. Because it is too hot to walk through the salt pans between noon and three o’clock in the afternoon, safari excursions through the Makgadikgadi salt pans are only conducted in the early morning or late afternoon. Because of the oppressive heat, you should always carry plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing to avoid becoming perched. Nevertheless, despite the persistent heat and occasionally intolerable walking conditions, you will enjoy the zebra migration, which is thought to be the second greatest animal migration in Africa, as well as the countless birds and other animal species and, of course, the vast salt pans itself. All those who wish to thoroughly investigate it should go during the dry season because these are always submerged during the wet season.

The San Bushmen who live close to the salt pans will tell you all about their culture, demonstrate their hunting techniques, and help you find animals as you travel through the salt pans on the Makgadikgadi walking safari. This makes the experience more exciting. You can extend your Makgadikgadi walking safari by taking a stroll through the neighboring Nxai pans, but you should do so with the assistance of the tour guide to avoid getting lost. Zebras, impalas, hyenas, caterpillars, many bird species, small creatures like snails, and other smaller animals that cannot easily be seen during a game drive are some of the wildlife that you will observe while on your safari walk.

Although many of the national parks in Botswana have early morning bush walks, it is never safe to do so because of the enormous animals that frequently pass through them. In contrast, the parks indicated above have numerous camps that provide guided treks through them. However, it is advised to switch between camps when going on a walking safari around Botswana.

Even though there aren’t many locations in Botswana from which to enjoy a walking safari, they all have something impressive to offer, and as long as you stick to the walking routes your guides point out, you’ll be able to take in all the beautiful scenery the Okavango delta, the Makgadikgadi salt pans, and the Linyanti game reserve have to offer. You should contact the tour companies first if you are unsure of the best time to go on a walking safari because you do not want to go when the various locations are flooded or muddy.