We booked our 5-day trip online through Safari Bookings and were later contacted directly by Walking Stick Travel Tours via email to clarify the details. This guided safari was the grand finale of our nearly three-week holiday in Southern Africa. During the first two weeks, our group of four had been traveling with a roof-top tent, exploring the region on our own. Day 1: Arrival and Initial Safari Experience Our private group was picked up from our hotel in the morning by Philimon, our guide. After a one-hour drive in an open-door safari vehicle, we arrived at the Wildlife Management Area of the Okavango Delta. There, we were handed over to a local team of four who are experts in conducting tours in the area. We entered the Delta in two mokoros, traditional dugout canoes resembling long canoes, and were paddled for about an hour to our camp. Along the way, we encountered plenty of wildlife, including hippos, elephants, and numerous water birds. Upon arrival, we found the camp partially set up by the team. Unfortunately, the first day had a minor drawback: we weren’t served a proper lunch. It wasn’t clear why, but it seemed to be a miscommunication between Walking Stick Travel and the local guides. As we later learned, Philimon typically leads these tours himself but had delegated this one due to the low water levels in his usual area during September. In the late afternoon, we embarked on our first walking safari. Initially, we were skeptical, as walking safaris offer a much smaller range than vehicle safaris and animals are more likely to flee. However, the experience was far more immersive and rewarding. Spotting animals on foot felt thrilling and authentic, a stark contrast to the “zoo-like” feel of driving through national parks like Etosha in Namibia. Even smaller sightings, like red lechwe (gazelles) or birds, became fascinating. The sense of vulnerability on foot—especially when approaching a pond with hippos, Africa’s most dangerous animal—was both exhilarating and humbling. Our knowledgeable guide, Rowan, shared insights that left us amazed after every walk. Day 2: Extended Walk and Rare Wildlife Sightings Our second day began with a three-hour walking safari, the longest Rowan had ever done (shorter options were available). We were incredibly fortunate to spot both a hyena and wild dogs—rare encounters. We also came across elephants, wildebeest, warthogs, hippos, giraffes, African eagles, and a variety of birds. Rowan taught us fascinating details about the Delta’s ecosystem, including the sleeping habits of hippos, how elephant dung is broken down into soil by termites, and the essential role of aardvarks in creating burrows for other animals. In the evening, we returned to the water in the mokoros to witness a breathtaking sunset, a serene end to an incredible day. Day 3: Transfer to Khwai Reserve This day brought our second minor issue: the guides didn’t bring enough drinking water. While we avoided dehydration by boiling water from the Delta, this was a significant oversight for a guided tour. We departed the camp in the mokoros and met Philimon for the next leg of our journey: a 4-hour drive to Khwai Reserve. The ride in an open vehicle along a dusty, bumpy road in nearly 40°C heat was arduous, and we were relieved when it was finally over. In the late afternoon, we went on an evening game drive and were rewarded with incredible sightings, including lions, elephants, buffalos, zebras, and many gazelles. Day 4: Memorable Game Drives On the fourth day, we enjoyed two extended game drives, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The highlight of the afternoon drive was witnessing two hippos fighting, followed by our first leopard sighting of the trip. Philimon went above and beyond, even risking a reprimand from park authorities, to ensure we could see the elusive leopard as it emerged from the bushes. Day 5: Departure Our adventure ended with a transfer back to the airport. Final Thoughts Despite minor hiccups, this was an unforgettable experience. The food was excellent, and the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Walking safaris in the Okavango Delta are a must-try for anyone visiting the region. The connection to nature, the sense of adventure, and the fascinating wildlife encounters make it an experience you’ll treasure forever.

After reading many reviews of companies that operate through Botswana and the surrounding areas, we chose Walking Stick Tours and booked both 2 nights in the Okavango Delta, three nights in Moremi and three in Khwai. It was by far the best decision we ever made. Phillimon and his staff made sure we had the most memorable safari ever! We started in the delta where we met our local guide Tiger who was the most loveliest and polite guide. He took us on a few mokorro rides and also walking tours, where we got up close to elephants, giraffes, zebras and huge gathering of hippos. He knew the area inside out, and was almost like he knew the animals too, studying their behaviour and keeping up safe from a disgruntled hippo! After two nights here, we met back up with our guide Phillimon, where we were spoilt for the next week. Within minutes of entering Moremi, we saw a male and female lion up close (actually mating...) and from there it was non stop animals. They were everywhere! It was unbelievable just seeing elephants every few minutes, no shortage of giraffes, zebras, Impala, warthogs - and we were lucky to see wild dogs in action, a few leopards (one which had just hunted), lions and lots of local birds. After a few days here, we headed off to the beautiful Khwai, and because there is more water here, you get to see SO many elephants. Crossing the river, bathing in the water, drinking, having dust and mud baths - it was elephant heaven. We also had one walk right up and around our vehicle which was amazing. Even if it made my heart rate elevate. More hippos, lions, crocodiles, wildebeest, buffalo and the absolutely gorgeous baby hyenas at their den. Overally, we saw so many babies - elephants, hippos, lions - everyone had young ones with them! It's so important to use a local guide, Phillimon grew up in the Delta and is so knowledgeable. He taught us a lot about animal behaviour, and spotted absolutely everything - including a leopard hiding in a tree. He made sure we didn't leave without ticking pretty much everything off our list. His staff were also incredible. Chef Ollie - what a superstar! The most delicious camp food I have every eaten, and she even made me a birthday cake! The camp staff were very friendly and efficient and made sure our stay was perfect. In terms of the camp itself, the tent was spacious, the beds were comfy and it was so nice having a hot shower every night! We could not fault this tour at all. Even when we had a little car trouble, it was fixed immediately - or another car came to make sure we didn't miss out on any game drive time. I saw this mentioned negatively in another review but don't believe it, things can happen with vehicles and it didn't interrupt our tour one bit. Thank you to all the staff at Walking Stick. Our African safari tour blew all our expectations - it was truly the trip of a lifetime.

The 2nd camping safari trip, this time only in Moremi and Khwai, was again very well organized and very successful in terms of game drives. The team, this time made up of 4 people, was very engaged and successfully completed their work to our satisfaction. We would particularly like to emphasize Guid Olly, who with his extensive knowledge could tell us a lot of facts about the wildlife in Botswana, although we had already been to Africa more than twenty times. With great care and skill, he always brought us very close to the respective animals and helped us to take very impressive photos and videos. One of the best Guides we met. We often encountered lions in large groups, sometimes with several cubs. We accompanied a cheetah with 4 cubs on two hunt trips, but without success. Several encounters with wild dogs, one pack with 14 puppies, were also one of the highlights. Leopards were seen less frequently. Due to the strong dominance of the lions, it lives a very isolated life in Moremi and Khwai. Thanks to Olly's very good eyesight, we were able to watch it drinking a little longer at the begin of darkness on the Khwai River. We were also very satisfied with the chef Selection. He offered us a very varied and tasty meal. We would also like to comment positively on the other members of the team. Nevertheless, there were some minor problems, which do not need to be explained in detail. We were partly dissatisfied with the equipment in the tents. The cots were very worn out and made it difficult to sleep properly and caused back problems. The cots from last year were much more comfortable. In summary, however, we can confirm that Walking Stick Travel & Tours once again offered us a well-organized and eventful trip.

We had an amazing time! Our guide Moses was a brilliant guide and ensured that we had a very positive experience taking home with us memories of a huge array of animals, previously only seen in books and zoos! His knowledge of animals, birds, trees and plant life was amazing! Simon and the team looked after us really well despite the challenges they faced with punctures and supply trucks. We loved our tents and found the camp beds really comfortable and the al fresco showers and loo surprisingly easy. Having animals so close to our camp made this especially magical. The river safari in Chobe was a great end to the trip, allowing us to see many of the animals a lot closer up and from a different perspective, and the transfer from Chobe to Victoria Falls went very smoothly. If we were doing this again, we would add in one or two extra days so that we could build in more 2-night stays during the holiday (we did a 5-day trip). This would make it more relaxing allowing for an occasional afternoon siesta instead of consecutive days of long drives. That said, we thoroughly enjoyed what we did despite being very tired at the end! A wonderful holiday and one that we will definitely recommend to others. On the communication side, everything was great, but an indication of the potential travel times each day (in addition to the morning and evening jeep safaris) would have helped with our planning and to manage our expectations of time on the "road".

We had an incredible 6 nights with the Walking Stick team. Philimon is an exceptional guide and the rest of the team looked after us very well, with delicious meals, hot water and ready smiles. Unfortunately water levels in the delta were low so we weren't able to mokoro as planned but Philimon and Robert took us walking instead. Local staff and village connection ensure feels like you are getting the real and best deal in that they know the area incredibly well etc. Philimon's tracking in Moremi was exceptional and we benefitted hugely from his skills and contacts.

Review Walking Sticks safari. Owner guide Philemon. When choosing an African safari from a foreign destination, the choice can be confusing. Offers from tour companies in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana seem to be similar, however when studying the uniqueness of the Okavango river, creating the shape of a hand, as it flows into the Okavango region, forming a natural delta, home to many rare and endangered species that the choice becomes obvious. Now to narrow the choices, we prefer real close to earth safaris, not the fly in luxury lodges with day game drives but the sleep in the wild tented variety taking us back to the original safari experience. Our choice last year was Walking sticks safaris, when we traveled with friends from Maun on a eight day experience to Vic Falls. No surprise last week ( early July) this time just two of us called Philemon of Walking sticks to create a three day safari in Moremi Area. Right on time we met up, arranged to leave our vehicle for safekeeping at Walking sticks base and proceeded on our drive to Moremi Game reserve. Philemon and his team had the camp prepared, and as a local operator have designated private sites in prime areas. The tents have individual open air ablutions attached, so privacy from neighbours is in place, however if you are shy of a Lilac crested roller watching you shower or a Grey Loerie ‘go away’ bird shouting at you, then maybe this is not for you. Simon our chef produced simple and very tasty fare before we relaxed under the stars with a safety fire creating the ambience for bush stories. Yes the camp is open and in wildlife habitat, yes lions, hyenas and elephant may stroll through the camp, however if left alone do not interfere with the camp residents. If there is a Gold medal for tracker or game spotter than Philemon would win with ease. His Origin Bushmen and Tswana brings centuries of knowledge to bear on animal behavior and tracking skills. Recognition and bird-spotting, given the variety in the Delta is a true gift. Large pride of Lion, Wild dog ( becoming very endangered ) Cheetahs, Leopard, Buffalo, many Elephant, Giraffes and various types of antelope as well as numerous smaller species were spotted and photographed in the three days. Visitors return as we did, for the people we meet, the service provided and in the end we leave as friends. Botswana has a policy of low volume and higher pricing, value for money with Walking Sticks safaris, Philemon and crew is well spent.

They made our overall experience a memorable one. The team is excellent and they are very well equipped logistically and very experienced .

We had an amazingly interesting tour with Walking Stick Safari in the Okavango delta. Unfortunately we could not get to Chief Island, since there was not enough water in the river, - but the guys helped us to find an equally satisfying experience. We had mokoro trips and many walking tours in the savannah where we could discover animal and bird life in a close way. Experience of having long walks and discover elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalos, antilops and birds in their natural habitat without disturbing them was an unparallel experience. Obama, our guide proved to ba an excellend companion guide. During the 3 days we had our private cook Elecion, who was able to serve perfect and delicious lunches and dinners mad all on open fire. In the evenings we had great conversations with the guys and learned a lot about their life and preferences, just as well we told our life. We got good friends in the meantime. Thank you for all! :-)

Our goals for booking a safari in the Okavango area was to find someone locally-based, with a good track record, and reasonably priced, and Phil's team at Walking Stick was the perfect fit. We did a 4 day/3 night mobile camping safari (game drives in Moremi, canoe/walking safari in Okavango). Even though our flight was delayed about 12 hours, the team was flexible and let us push our safari one day back at no additional cost. Phil knows Moremi like the back of his hand and we saw everything we dreamed of, and more (he is friendly with other guides and communicated with them to find us lions, leopards, wild dogs, etc). Camp was comfortable and the cooking was great, being mindful of my traveling partner's nut allergy. Our canoe/walking safaris were also amazing. We only wished that we spent more time. Compared to what it seems other operators are charging for a similar experience, Phil's price seems competitive and the service more than worth what we paid.

In October 2023 three friends and I had the absolute pleasure of doing a 7 day safari in Botswana with Walking Sticks Travel & Tours. The great service began before we left Australia as we emailed to and fro asking questions and clarifying details about the trip and were provided with all the info we needed by the very helpful Kealeboga James. It was a mobile safari which meant we camped in 4 different areas. As such, we got to see different landscapes and animals through Okavango Delta, Khwai Community Area, Savute area and Chobe National Park. I arrived in Maun the day before our tour started but still I was greeted at the airport by Walking Sticks owner Phillimon who drove me to my hotel. He immediately struck me as a polite and respectful person and as we spent the week in his care he proved to also be professional, humble, flexible, trustworthy and extremely knowledgeable with regard to flora, fauna and all things nature. He was supported by a terrific, hardworking team including Chef 'Prince' (a funny fellow), another expert guide, and multi-skilled back-up people who did everything from poling the Mokoro canoes to setting up tents and completing many tasks required to look after our needs so all the hard work was done for us. Our tour began with an enthralling Mokoro trip through the beautiful pristine wetlands where we were amongst hippos, crocs, elephants and birds. Mokoro's are the main form of transport and our camping spot was inaccessible by road and located in a shady nook near the water where we could view elephants and hear the sounds of nature (eg lion's roaring) day and night. Our tents with en-suite were adequate and we enjoyed the food and gin & tonic 'sundowner's whilst watching the gorgeous sunsets. Each day we spent hours game viewing either on foot or by jeep and Phillimon had a gift at being able to track and locate all manner of wildlife including lion, hyena, wild dogs, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, baboon, leopard and a variety of antelope and birds. We learnt so much as he imparted his knowledge of their behaviour and the landscape. All our campsites were different and in lovely settings. If you are a person who loves nature and living amongst it, can be up at sunrise every day and handle the challenges of dusty, bumpy roads and hot weather (October) then this tour is for you. It is one of the most memorable experiences in my 40 years of traveling. Thank you so much to Phillimon - your integrity is a true asset. Walking Sticks is a locally owned and run business and deserves the highest praise.

This seven day trip has been one of the best experiences I've ever had. Phillimon, Prince, KB and Comfort were a fantastic team keeping us comfortable and well fed the whole time. Phillimon is an exceptional guide. He somehow not only knows where the animals are but where they will be moving to. We got closer than I thought possible, the animals didn't seem disturbed at all. We even witnessed a Wild Dog hunt right down to its brutal conclusion, a RARE opportunity indeed. Right from the pick up in Maun, the trip ran like a well oiled machine. First we went to a river station where we were picked up by the mokoro crew for two days on the waterways with camp set up on an island amongst the many channels. Elephants were everywhere and there was a lot of wildlife to be encountered on the morning and afternoon walking tours (all perfectly safe). The lamplit evening meals with all the sounds of the bush around us was idyllic and often thrilling with Hippo honks and the occassional lion roaring in the distance. This continued for the next 5 days which we spent in Khwai River Concession, Moremi and Chobe. Again, fabulous animal sightings with the same blissful end at the camp in the firelight eating dinner. We had private toilets and showers attached and hot water if we needed it. Phillimon kept us entertained with stories from past trips and histories of the area. Did I mention the sunset gin and tonics! We were spoilt indeed! From end to end it was a truly fantastic experience and these guys were warm, funny and very professional. We finished with a river cruise on the Chobe river near the border to Zimbabwe. Saying goodbye to the team was a little sad. I highly recommend Walking Sticks (ask Phillimon how that name came about, you won't guess). I'm thinking of the next trip, definitely with this crew with Phillimon at the helm. Wonderful bucket list holiday!!

Our experience with Walking Stick has been fantastic! We have spent 2 unforgettable weeks in Botswana visiting the most important nature reserves. The Team has been amazing: Wago showed us incredible wildlife sightings, Joe's cooking was always delicious (especially pizza and chocolate cake!), See and KB were perfect in making us feel confortable all the time. We could not have asked for more!

We had booked this safari in 2020 and due to covid pandemic we finally made it in October 2023. An eagerly awaited holiday and safari that exceeded all expectations The highlight of our trip to Southern Africa. Phillimon is the best guide and tracker you could hope to meet. We saw some amazing sights including a wild dog hunt and kill. Lions hunting, at a kill, lounging about, elephants and more elephants, hipos a plenty, cape buffalo, leopard and lots of giraffes, zebra and antelope. Seeing hyena pups at a den with the mother was another highlight. The first 2 nights was spent on the Okavango Delta and we did 3 walking safaris with an amazing guide. Watching hippos from a mokoro on the water was a dream come true. Magical African sunsets with G&T / cold beer. Dinner prepared by Chef Prince with camp fire and great wines. You couldn’t find a better safari company than Walking Sticks with Phillimon, KD, Prince, Comfort and Kealeboga. Highly recommended. Thank you Phillimon & Walking Sticks for making our dreams come true. Tam

My family of 5 (kids 17, 14 and 7) did a 6 day trip with Philmon and his Crew and had a once in a life time experience of mobile safari in Khwai and Moremi. The team was very dedicated to take good care of us and Philmon knows his way around this wild area very well - thus we ended up seeing the big wildlife attractions such as Lion and Leopard but also the little things that add to a complete safari. As we were not trying to check the boxes in which animals we saw but rather wanted to experience the wilderness as a whole and just with our family, the mobile camping we did was the best choice for us. We will never forget the daily camp fires and the warm water at 530am that the team was preparing every morning! Thank you Philmon and the team for these 6 days - we could feel how much you love to show us around in your wonderful country!! I can highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a rustic and authentic safari experience away from the crowds and the internet! Matthias Schepers

Our group ( my husband, father, 2 brothers and 2 friends) enjoyed a 6 night safari with Philimon as guide. Our friend had been in Botswana and he promised us the true bush experience and wow he did really deliver by booking with walking stick. Safari We did a 6 night safari to okavango / moremi/ Khwai / chobe Philimon picked us up in Maun and then took us to the Okavango delta where they took us on mokoros ( local kayaks) to the camp on an island. Immediately we saw crossing elephants and hippos in the river. In this area we did walking safaris which really was a special experience, we saw lots of animals including hippos. In Moremi the campsite really was as adventure. We saw a leopard at night and there were quite some elephants and baboons passing trough. When we arrived in Chobe I thought that we already had an elephant overload but still seeing them play and swim in the river was a nice experience. The game drives in all areas were great. Philemon really goes all out to ensure that you see as many animals as possible. While in Savuti we were the first ones to spot a lion in the morning due to Philemon’s great tracking skills. He is very knowledgeable about animals and birds. Food & drinks Dix the chef offered a great variety of food including fresh baked bread. Really enjoyed each and every meal and the sitting in the evening at the campsite fires with nice wines/beers and G&Ts. Accomodation The tents were comfortable, with clean and comfortable linens. The toilets were way better than expected ;) The camping is really in nature and I have never felt this close to animals before ( while still feeling safe). Communication/ booking During the booking process the contact with Philemon was very professional and he will really think along with you to plan the perfect trip. I just cannot stop raving about our trip! Recommend walking stick to everyone if you want a true African safari experience. Next time hopefully we will able to go longer