Full-Day Mokoro Experience in the Okavango Delta

Overview

Available languages

English

8 hours

Mobile ticket

Experience the best of Botswana's Okavango Delta with our unique full-day safari and mokoro adventure. Glide through serene waterways in a Mokoro (traditional canoe), spot diverse wildlife in their natural habitat, and enjoy the expertise of our local guides who provide rich insights into the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage. With all essentials included—transfers, meals, park fees, and refreshments—this all-inclusive tour ensures a seamless and unforgettable journey. Book to support local communities and sustainable tourism while creating lasting memories in one of the world's most cherished natural wonders.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

All Fees and Taxes

Soda/Pop

Bottled water

Mix of fruits, sweets, chips, peanuts and raisins

Prepared according to guests' dietary requirements

Breakfast consists of cereal, yoghurt, milk, muffins, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Alcoholic Beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Cresta Maun

Plot 16719, On the banks of the Thamalakane River, Lekawen Drift Maun Botswana

Maun Airport

Maun Botswana

Cresta Riley's Hotel

Main Maun Botswana

Thamo Telele

Tsanakona Ward Maun Botswana

What To Expect

This activity offers a full-on experience of the Okavango Delta through a traditional canoe (mokoro) made of fiber glass. Morning pickup is between 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM from Maun accommodation. The guests will be transferred to a mokoro station at Ditshiping Mokoro Station. Upon arrival at the mokoro station guests are treated to breakfast before embarking onto the mokoro to start their excursion. The guests will be assigned a poler from the community who will be taking them on the mokoro excursion and guiding them through the channels sharing all the indigenous knowledge of the wildlife and fauna they are surrounded by. From the poling station it will take the guests about an hour and a half to get to the island where they will either opt to have their lunch picnic before or after the bushwalk. After some relaxing time, guests will continue on the adventure exploring more of the unlimited channels and choosing to stop at any other islands at their request. Guides provide insightful commentary, ensuring a memorable and educational experience. The excursion concludes between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM and guests return to Maun and dropped-off at their accommodation.

Options

Full-Day Mokoro Experience in the Okavango Delta

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

3 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Excellent
mariagZ1086JM,
Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had a great time on the full dayOkavango Delta experience. I was a solo and was made to feel very comfortable both on the ride there. The driver bought a poncho for me because it was cold in the morning The poler, Lennox, that took me through the Delta was very well informed about all the species and showed me how to identify dung and footprints. I highly recommend this trip.
A full day of wildlife and local culture in Botswana!
Z8948ELmelissac,
Oct 28, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The Full-Day Mokoro Experience was the very first thing that we did in Botswana - and it was the perfect introduction to the country! From the start, the Open Sands Safari team was very communicative. I got a WhatsApp message a few hours after I booked the tour, and I got another message the day before the tour with information about our guide and pickup time. Our guide, Shaku, picked us up at our lodge at 6am on the day of our trip. He gave us nice warm ponchos to wear during the early morning drive, since it was quite windy in the back of the open-air truck. We drove about 2.5 hours from our lodge to the Mokoro Station via a dirt road that required 4WD. It felt very remote to me, but we passed several villages along the way, and eventually we crossed through the gate into the NG32 concession. Once we were in the concession, we saw abundant wildlife - elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, hippos, warthogs, and more. Shaku, who I believe said he had been a guide for over 15 years, stopped for each animal that we saw and taught us about the animals as we went along. Before we reached the Mokoro Station, we stopped in the shade and had a little breakfast of coffee, cereals, bananas, muffins, and more. Once we reached the Mokoro Station, we met Waka, who would be our Mokoro poler and guide. We sat in the Mokoro while Waka stood and guided it in the shallow water. Waka grew up on a nearby island and has lived in the village near the Mokoro Station for most of his life. We asked Waka many questions about plants and animals, his life here in this village, what it was like to grow up here, conservation in Botswana, and more. We are so grateful for his openness to answering our many questions. After a bit, Waka parked the Mokoro on an island, and we began a 90-minute bush walk. During the bush walk, Waka pointed out animal tracks on the ground, and we admired the wildlife (elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, etc) from a safe distance. The highlight of the day was when Waka noticed some tracks on the ground - then looked up in the tree and saw a leopard's lunch half-eaten! Waka was able to spot the leopard hiding in the bush watching us. He pointed it out to us, and then we moved along. I thought I would feel afraid in that moment, but I felt so safe and secure with Waka. (It seemed to be quite uncommon to come across a leopard, by the way!) After the bush walk, we took the Mokoro to another island to eat our packed lunch. I am vegetarian, and thankfully they were able to accommodate with a vegetarian meal for me. After lunch, Waka guided the Mokoro back to the Mokoro Station, where we met Shaku and began the 2-hour drive back to Maun. This was such an amazing start to our trip in Botswana, and our first safari ever! During our trip we also went on safari in Chobe National Park, but the Full-Day Mokoro Experience was such a different type of trip, I am glad that we did both. The Full-Day Mokoro Experience with Open Sands had many of the same animals, but it was also a much richer experience from the cultural perspective. We got to see glimpses of what life is like in villages in Botswana and speak to people who lived there, plus learn about and ride in the traditional Mokoro canoe. Our guides Shaku and Waka made us feel so welcome. And Shaku was so great at taking photos for us! This was a day I'll cherish for a long time!
Great experience
Bart K,
Sep 22, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience! Although a long and bumpy ride, it's well worth it. All arranged perfectly! Recommendation to all!