NAVIGATING THE OKAVANGO DELTA

RUSSEL WASSERFALL

Start researching a trip to Botswana online, and you will soon see images of someone poling a long, flat boat through the reeds of the Okavango Delta. This huge alluvial fan is one of the most breathtaking and biodiverse destinations on the planet. As the largest inland delta on Earth, and the 1 000th UNESCO World Heritage Site registered, it is one of the most exquisitely scenic and prolific game-viewing experiences in the world.

No trip to Botswana is complete without visiting the Okovango Delta and exploring the waterways in a traditional ‘mokoro’ canoe.

Nestled in the heart of Botswana, this incredible wetland system teems with wildlife and supports a rich cultural heritage. Part of that heritage is the flat-bottomed ‘mokoro’ canoe which is the only way to navigate the delta when the waters are high. It is also the centre of a wonderful community-based tourism initiative called the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT). 

For centuries, the Okavango Delta has been home to the Bayei tribe, who have developed a unique tradition of traveling in ‘mokoro’ (plural mekoro). Fashioning these traditional dugout canoes, required felling and shaping the largest available trees in the region, an unsustainable practice. So today, ‘mekoro’ made from fibreglass, provide access to the shallow channels and reedbeds of this watery landscape. The OKMCT has helped local people form the Mokoro Cooperative to help delta communities benefit from tourism and sustainable use of their natural resources.

Now a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Okavango Delta is one of the most exquisitely scenic and prolific game-viewing experiences in the world.

Mosopi Super Taola is a ‘Delta Boy’ born into a local tradition of Mokoro poling. A proud member of the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust he is a highly skilled local guide.

This initiative empowers local communities by training them as guides and mokoro polers. Visitors can take part in unique mokoro excursions, led by local guides, which not only provide an authentic experience but also generate income and employment opportunities for the communities.

The Women's Mokoro Safari, run by the Okavango Guiding School, is another remarkable project. This initiative trains local women as mokoro guides, promoting gender equality and empowerment. By supporting these projects, tourists can experience the delta from a new perspective while contributing to sustainable tourism practices that benefit both people and wildlife.