Budget Delta Mokoro Trail & Savuti Safari

Tour Highlights:

• Camping in the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta
• Safari Activities with Private Guides at Oddballs' Camp
• Guided Walking Safaris on Chief's Island in the Okavango Delta
• Mokoro Canoe Trips in the heart of the Okavango Delta
• Explore the renowned Savuti Marsh of Chobe Park

Day 1 to 4: Maun to Oddballs’ Camp - Okavango Delta, Botswana

This Botswana Safari Adventure begins in Maun, where you are collected by Delta Air for your scenic flight into the pristine Okavango Delta. Arriving at the bush camp your personal safari guide meets you at the airstrip. This local guide is shared between a maximum of two guests and is assigned to you for the duration of your stay in the delta.

Your base for exploring the massive Okavango Delta is Oddballs' Camp, a remote bush hideaway that is only accessible by plane. The laid-back safari camp is set on the edge of Chief's Island, the largest of the delta islands, bordering on the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve.

Spend your first night in the magical delta at Oddballs' Camp, before embarking on a two-night mokoro trail adventure to Chief's Island. On the morning of day two we load up our dugout canoes and head into the thick of the untamed bush for our camping trip. Your guide sets up camp along the way, but everyone helps out with meal preparation whilst camping on the Mokoro Trail.

We explore the intricate network of winding channels, peaceful lagoons and reed-dotted islets on this unique Mokoro Trail excursion. Truly lose yourself in the beauty of this untouched wilderness as you glide through its hidden waterways in a mokoro.

Mekoro are dug-out canoes used to navigate the narrow maze of waterways and estuaries in the delta. On mokoro rides your guide stands in the stern of his old-school canoe, propelling two passengers through the waters with a long pole - the African version of the Venetian gondolier. On the Mokoro Trail your guide trasnports you in his own traditional delta vessel, hand-crafted out of wood. This is the ideal way to experience the delta, encountering wildlife and birds, as you move slowly and quietly through the bush.

Discover the fascinating creatures and plants that make up this precious wetland ecosystem, walking with your guide in the wild heart of this inland delta. On your nature walks in the delta you get up close to the marvels, big and small, of one of Africa's last truly wild places.

Your experienced guide leads you into the unspoilt bush unarmed, helping you to spot wildlife and tune into the finer details of the delta. Sharing his in-depth knowledge your guide points out the fascinating insects, plants, animal tracks and other signs of animal activity in the bush.

This once-in-a-lifetime mokoro adventure immerses you in the wilderness, surrounding you by the pure splendour of the Okavango Delta.

We return to Oddballs' Camp for a relaxed final night in the delta, leaving enough time to venture off on a cultural outing. Your guide is a born-and-bred local who knows this part of the delta inside out. The guides come from Sedibana village, located near the camp, and are descendants of the baYei tribe which moved into the delta in the late 1700's with their mekoros.

You can visit the village with your guide to see the locals' simple way of life in this beautiful place. Here you may meet the chief, the elders and even the family of your guide. You have the chance to buy some local crafts in Sedibana, where the women are known for their basket weaving.

Back at camp, hearty meals are served out on the spacious deck areas where you can keep an eye out for visiting wildlife and birds. At the end of your last day at camp you can put your feet up and admire a beautiful sunset over the wilderness, listening to the sounds of nature as the stars come out.

• Flight into the Delta by light aircraft
• Guided Delta Walks on Chief's Island
• Mokoro Trail Excursion in the Delta
• All meals and accommodation at Oddballs' Camp
• Camping wild on the Mokoro Trail (meals included)

About Oddballs' Camp

At this charming Botswana camp you stay in one of the 15 large dome tents set under canvas-roofs on raised wooden platforms sheltered by reeds. Each well-equipped tent features a semi-detached en suite bathroom with an open-air, yet private bucket shower that has cold and hot running water. The comfortable tents are set on raised wooden platforms with viewing decks where you can sit back and soak up the pristine delta environment.

This remote tented camp features elevated decks with bar and lounge areas opening out onto the bush and campfire, so that guests can enjoy the dreamy views in comfort and style. Sitting on one of the decks of Oddballs' you look out over the delta grasslands and untamed woodlands beyond, catching sight of birds and even wildlife nearby. The dining room overlooks the Boro Channel, Chief’s Island and across into the Moremi Game Reserve. Your evenings can be spent relaxing around the open campfire or in the social lounge and bar areas, where you can get to know your fellow guests.

One of the best things about this safari camp is its simplicity - offering a real back to nature experience in a beautiful location deep within the Okavango Delta. This family-friendly safari camp uses solar power to generate electricity and wherever possible to heat water too.​ Oddballs' Camp offers a down-to-earth safari experience with private guides from the local area and no motorized activities. The focus here is on slowing down and appreciating this magnificent wilderness setting and its wild inhabitants.

Camping on the Mokoro Trail in the Delta

The Mokoro Trail takes you deeper into the delta where you camp wild in the bush.

Your guide sets up a remote camp in a level clearing, looking for a shaded spot under some trees. On these two nights you sleep in dome tents fitted with twin sleeping mattresses and pillows. The pillows and mattresses have fresh covers over them, but you need to bring your own sleeping bag. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag from Oddballs' for the Mokoro Excursion. The tents feature little canvas awnings that provide shady spots for sitting back and taking in the pure wilderness.

A camping table and chairs are set up for dining in the bush by latern light. During the mokoro trip guests help to prepare meals together, making mealtimes a social group effort. At the end of your adventure-filled days spent gliding along the waterways of the Okavango you can relax beside the flickering campfire, listening to the sounds of mother nature.

Day 5 to 6: Oddballs’ Camp to Camp Savuti - Chobe, Botswana

Day four starts with breakfast at the rustic Okavango Delta camp, before we set off for our next safari destination in Botswana.

We fly from Oddballs’ Camp to the Savuti airstrip inside the world-renowned Chobe National Park. Then a 20 to 40 minute game drive takes us through the bush to Camp Savuti in Chobe National Park. This intimate safari camp looks out over the wildlife-rich Savuti Channel and African bushveld surroundings.

Over the next few days you explore the diverse Savuti region of Chobe Park on morning and afternoon game viewing drives in open safari vehicles, going in search of the plentiful wildlife found here. Savuti is known as one of the best places in the world to see predators, especially large lion prides. Predators roaming the plains and grasslands of the Savuti Marsh region include numerous hyenas, jackals, endangered African wild dogs and even cheetahs.

In recent years the Savuti Channel began to flow again, after over ten years of lying dry. The waters of the flowing channel have brought this once-arid part of Chobe back to life, reviving the vegetation. The oasis-like marsh attracts herbivores of all shapes and sizes, which in turn draws the prowling predators. The now vibrant Savuti Marsh ecosystem boasts such an animated wildlife spectacle that it has become the subject of some award-winning documentaries.

We drive along the fringes of the channel and marshy wetland areas, admiring the wild scenery and looking out for the plethora of birds and wild animals. Your guide will happily answer questions on the game drives and share his detailed knowledge about the local fauna and flora of Botswana with you.

• Flight to Savuti by light aircraft
• Morning and afternoon game drives
• All meals and accommodation at Camp Savuti

About Camp Savuti

This private safari camp hosts up to 10 guests only at a time, offering exclusive accommodation in five Meru-style tents with en suite bathrooms. These spacious tents are set on raised wooden decks tucked away along the Savuti Channel. These roomy tents are positioned to provide guests with some privacy.

The area around Camp Savuti hosts a high concentration of wildlife, including large predator populations. Lions and hyenas are frequently spotted on game drives in Savuti, as well as elephants and a range of antelope species.

As with the tented rooms, the main lodge areas provide comfortable vantage points looking out over Savuti Channel. The bar, dining and lounge spaces open onto viewing decks where guests can keep watch for birds and animals.

Day 7: Camp Savuti to Maun, Botswana

On day seven you have a chance to take one more early game drive in the wildlife-rich Savuti region before tucking into a scrumptuous breakfast back at Camp Savuti.

After breakfast you hop back onto a small plane and return to Maun, enjoying the views of northern Botswana as you fly.

• Morning game drive in Savuti
• Flight to Maun by light aircraft