Okavango Delta
Footsteps Across The Delta
Footsteps Across the Delta is situated in the Shinde Concession, one of the most diverse regions of the Okavango Delta, offering a variety of habitats: riverine forests, palm islands, permanent swamps and dry veld. The semi-permanent camp is true to the original ‘under canvas African safari’ experience. It is essentially an exclusive camp with a maximum of six guests that offers a specialised walking experience.
Simply furnished meru-style tents, each with an open-air bush shower and an adjoining bush toilet. The main dining area is under canvas with evenings spent relaxing around the campfire sharing stories of the day. There is a small viewing platform and for those needing a little pampering with a difference, a bush bath.
The Footsteps experience focuses on walking in the delta led by a highly specialised armed guide, suitable for those looking for a little more than your average safari (thus the minimum age is sixteen years old). The emphasis is on exploration and discovery, each morning tracking fresh spoor to reveal the night’s events. Other activity options at the camp include fishing and mokoro excursions and possibly game drives, depending on water levels and the preference of guests.
Footsteps is also the base camp of the highly successful Young Explorers, where families book exclusive use of the camp and a specialised guide runs a family-oriented safari programme.
Facilities
Dining room, campfire, bush bath
Local Wildlife
Emphasis here is on the smaller mammals, insects, tracks and birds.
Optional Activities
Walking safaris, mokoro excursions and fishing provided on a shared basis.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Head to the viewing platform for great views of water birds and other wildlife. A lot of the plains animals also come here to drink at the end of the day.
If you have any questions regarding our Botswana tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to thank all at Reef and Rainforest for arranging so superbly yet another exceptional wildlife experience. As you are aware our ‘expeditions’ tend to be species led and this year’s brief was to observe and photograph the ‘Three Big Cats of Africa’ in a truly wild setting (i.e. no fences). Your recommended destination, Botswana, did not let us down, in fact the whole trip proved an outstanding success in all aspects.
We stayed in three camps (three nights in each) across the Okavango Delta and surrounding area, each provided a different environment which ensured our aims were met. Each camp was run to a very high standard, was extremely comfortable and provided excellent meals. The quality of guiding and tracking in all our camps was of the highest standard. As Botswana manages its natural resources so well all the camps were small (no more than 18 guests) ensuring a very intimate safari experience in pristine wild African habitat.
I am delighted to report our big cat objectives were realised. All observations were lengthy and offered excellent photographic opportunities. However, unexpectedly, the highlight of our spectacular trip turned out to be sightings of two separate packs of African Painted Dogs. We visited two dens, the first had a very healthy number of adult dogs, approximately fifteen and eighteen pups. The second had seven adult dogs and sixteen pups. At Lebala we had the privilege of spending a prolonged period of time following the pack of dogs as they hunted, an experience we will never forget.
When one also considers the significant mammal and bird species we observed, Botswana is truly a must visit destination for the wildlife enthusiast. Incidentally we also observed three serval and two African wild cats. We also thoroughly enjoyed our few days at Victoria Falls, possibly the most spectacular waterfall in the world, the hotel in Zimbabwe was excellent. Viewing the falls from the Zambian side and also the helicopter flight are both well worth doing.
This was our third consecutive trip with Reef and Rainforest, and I would be very surprised if there is not a fourth being planned very soon. Thank you all once again.
