We have done a lot of camping over the years, including car camping, canoe camping, and backpacking. And we didn’t realize how deluxe tent camping amenities could be until we went on our 4-night Okavango Mokoro Safari.

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Traveling by Water – On this type of safari all people, personal items, camping equipment, and food is transported by water to campsites. A long, narrow, flat-bottomed mokoro is maneuvered by a person (poler) standing in the back using a long wooden pole to steer and propel through the water.  Traditionally mokoros were dugout canoes made from ebony or sausage tree trunks. But now they are made out of fiberglass. We sat on plastic seats with comfortable back rests as we experienced the peacefulness of gliding through the reed-bordered channels of water in the warm sunshine.

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Our Safari Team – Safari tour companies work with local village community organizations that provide the guides, mokoros, polers, and camping staff. Our adventure included 6 staff and 4 mokoros: Carlos, our knowledgeable guide and skillful poler; MG, our incredible chef; plus Alias, Eric, Shake, and Phaladi who gave invaluable assistance with equipment loading and transport, camp set up, food preparation/service/clean up, and many other tasks that needed to be done. The six of them were lots of fun and provided an exceptional experience for us! We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. 

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Campsites – We camped on two different islands, staying two nights at each spot.  When we arrived at each site we discovered that our large dome tent was pitched and inside were two comfortable mattresses covered with sheets, blankets, and a regular-size pillow. Wow! And just a short distance from our tent was the toilet booth with a toilet seat and a separate shower booth. We quickly learned that hot showers on a camping trip were an extra special treat!! We might never camp again without a hot shower feature.

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Cuisine – MG, our very talented chef, far surpassed our expectations! For almost every meal he prepared at least one delicious dish that was cooked over an open fire, not on a Coleman type of camp stove with valves to adjust the level of heat. Meals included a variety of dishes and we dined at a long table, complete with table cloth, folded napkins, and incredible views of river channels and the bush. Our two favorite foods were the vegetable quiche and fresh made dinner rolls, both made in cast iron pots surrounded by coals. So yummy!! We enjoyed second and third helpings! And for our last evening meal MG prepared tasty traditional Botswana foods: mealie pap, chakala sauce, and fried cabbage. 

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Bush Walks & Mokoro Rides– For each day of our safari we enjoyed an extended mokoro ride and a 2 to 4 hour bush walk. We alternated which activity occurred in the early morning and late afternoon. 

During our mokoro rides we explored more water channels, looked for flowering water lily plants, photographed colorful birds and shy hippos, watched herds of large and baby elephants cross from one island to another, and looked for animals venturing to the water for a drink.  We were hoping to see leopards or lions, but only saw buffalo, giraffe, and zebra. 

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When in Kruger National Park we went on two bush walks, each with two guides carrying rifles. The walks for our mokoro safari included the two of us and our guide Carlos who carried only a sharpened stick. A couple of times Alias, also a trained guide, came along. It took a bit of time for us to feel somewhat comfortable in the vicinity of large animals, such as elephants and buffalo, with Carlos only carrying a stick. But he was very knowledgeable and experienced in the bush. He kept a constant eye out for animals that might be camouflaged in the trees and bushes.  And we learned that climbing up the base of tall termite mounds makes it easier to spot animals. 

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Carlos and Alias showed us how to identify various animal tracks, types of trees, and warning signs an agitated animal might give. During our walks we also found buffalo and zebra skeletons plus sets of buffalo and kudu horns. 

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