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Botswana🇧🇼 | national parksOkavango DeltaMokoro channels, island walks, Chief's Island, scenic flights | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Okavango Delta
UNESCO World Heritage site
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The mokoro slides through papyrus with a hiss, and the only other sound is your poler's pole pushing into sand. A reed frog clicks somewhere to the left. This is the Okavango Delta, an inland delta in the north of Botswana, where the Okavango River spreads across the Kalahari sand instead of reaching the sea. Water levels peak in the dry months, because the flood arrives from Angola's highlands with a months-long delay. So expect water when the sky is dry, and plan around that. Trails here are mostly guided walks on islands, since big predators and elephants share the ground, so book a guide rather than wandering alone. Wildlife is superb, with elephants, hippos, lions, wild dogs and enormous bird numbers. Access is by light aircraft or rough sand tracks, which keeps crowds thin and costs high, so pick your area carefully. It suits patient travelers who like slow water and quiet camps. It frustrates anyone who wants fast ticking-off of sights or independent roaming.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 national park in BotswanaWhat makes it a must-see national park

Okavango Delta rewards backpackers who accept that the best exploring here happens on its own terms. The first reason is the mokoro, a dugout canoe poled by a local guide through shallow channels. You sit low, a few inches above the lilies, and you see malachite kingfishers, tiny painted reed frogs and sometimes a hippo pod from a distance no vehicle can match. The second is the choice of ways in. Self-drivers with a 4x4 and camping gear can reach public campsites in Moremi Game Reserve, on the eastern edge of the Delta, and cook their own dinners under a sky with almost no light pollution. Those without a vehicle can join budget mobile safaris from Maun that bring tents, food and guides, which keeps the experience open to people who cannot afford a fly-in lodge. The third is the sheer variety … read more 👉
Okavango Delta rewards backpackers who accept that the best exploring here happens on its own terms. The first reason is the mokoro, a dugout canoe poled by a local guide through shallow channels. You sit low, a few inches above the lilies, and you see malachite kingfishers, tiny painted reed frogs and sometimes a hippo pod from a distance no vehicle can match. The second is the choice of ways in. Self-drivers with a 4x4 and camping gear can reach public campsites in Moremi Game Reserve, on the eastern edge of the Delta, and cook their own dinners under a sky with almost no light pollution. Those without a vehicle can join budget mobile safaris from Maun that bring tents, food and guides, which keeps the experience open to people who cannot afford a fly-in lodge. The third is the sheer variety within one park: floodplain, mopane woodland, palm islands and the Panhandle in the northwest, where the river is still a single channel. That means you can mix canoe days, bush walks and game drives without leaving the Delta.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Mokoro trips on the seasonal floodplains: The classic Delta moment. A poler stands at the stern of a dugout or fiberglass canoe and glides you through reed channels at water level, past lilies, African jacanas and the occasional hippo.
  2. Moremi Game Reserve: The eastern part of the Delta, where dry land and water meet. Lions, leopards, wild dogs and big elephant herds roam here, and the sandy tracks are good for self-drive safaris. Entry is charged per person per day.
  3. Chief's Island: The largest island in the Delta, mostly dry and wild. It holds some of the densest wildlife in the region, including rhino reintroduced in recent years, and is reached from private concessions.
  4. Walking safaris on the islands: Guided bush walks on palm-dotted islands, typically two to three hours, where you read tracks,
… read more 👉
  1. Mokoro trips on the seasonal floodplains: The classic Delta moment. A poler stands at the stern of a dugout or fiberglass canoe and glides you through reed channels at water level, past lilies, African jacanas and the occasional hippo.
  2. Moremi Game Reserve: The eastern part of the Delta, where dry land and water meet. Lions, leopards, wild dogs and big elephant herds roam here, and the sandy tracks are good for self-drive safaris. Entry is charged per person per day.
  3. Chief's Island: The largest island in the Delta, mostly dry and wild. It holds some of the densest wildlife in the region, including rhino reintroduced in recent years, and is reached from private concessions.
  4. Walking safaris on the islands: Guided bush walks on palm-dotted islands, typically two to three hours, where you read tracks, dung and termite mounds. Walking changes how you notice small things, from beetle trails to tree bark.
  5. Third Bridge: A log bridge crossing in Moremi that gives access to swampy forest and a popular campsite. Hippos grunt in the pools nearby and predators are often seen on the nearby tracks.
  6. The Panhandle and Shakawe: The Okavango River channel in the north, where fishing, birding and papyrus-lined lagoons dominate. Huge colonies of carmine bee-eaters nest in riverbanks during the breeding season.
  7. Mokolwane palm island camps: Overnight stays on small islands in the seasonal swamp, where you sleep in a tent among palm groves and listen to lechwe and hippos at night.
  8. Scenic flight over the Delta: A light-aircraft flight shows the braided channels, lagoons and elephant trails from above, and it puts the scale of the fan into perspective. Flights usually last 45 to 60 minutes.
Okavango Delta pairs a morning mokoro paddle with an afternoon island walk well, since both use the same camp and the same guide team.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Okavango Delta

1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip

1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip

4.8(100) 8h
From €141
per personViator
11 Days and 10 Nights Private Northern Explorer Tour

11 Days and 10 Nights Private Northern Explorer Tour

4.8(40) 264h
From €6,387
per personViator
Botswana Camel Safari Experience

Botswana Camel Safari Experience

4.9(34) 1h
From €54
per personViator
Moremi Full Day Trip From Maun

Moremi Full Day Trip From Maun

4.9(31) 12h
From €291
per personViator
2 Nights Okavango Delta Mokoro WildCamping Tour, all-inclusive

2 Nights Okavango Delta Mokoro WildCamping Tour, all-inclusive

4.8(34) 72h
From €770
per personViator
2 nights 3 days Overnight Mokoro Trail Okavango delta

2 nights 3 days Overnight Mokoro Trail Okavango delta

4.9(17) 72h
From €697
per personViator
Small Group Immersive Cultural Tour in Maun

Small Group Immersive Cultural Tour in Maun

4.9(17) 3h
From €118
per personViator
12Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Okavango, Moremi & Chobe + Victoria Falls

12Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Okavango, Moremi & Chobe + Victoria Falls

4.8(17) 288h
From €3,936
per personViator
13 Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Best Of Northern Botswana -WildCamping + Victoria Falls

13 Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Best Of Northern Botswana -WildCamping + Victoria Falls

4.8(16) 312h
From €4,818
per personViator
7 Nights / 8 Days Delta Miracle Trip

7 Nights / 8 Days Delta Miracle Trip

4.7(15) 192h
From €4,470
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Flood Season (June to August): Floodwater from Angola’s highlands reaches the Delta between roughly June and August, so channels are full and mokoro trips are at their best. Days run 25-28°C (77-82°F), nights drop to 5-8°C (41-46°F) and daylight lasts about 11 hours. This is peak season with the highest prices.
  • Late Dry Season (September to October): Heat builds to 32-40°C (90-104°F). Animals crowd the shrinking waterways, so sightings are excellent and camps are still busy. Rates stay high.
  • Green Season (November to March): Afternoon storms bring 30-35°C (86-95°F) heat and humidity. Birdlife peaks with migrants, roads turn muddy, and lodges cut rates by 30 to 50 percent. Daylight stretches to about 13.5 hours.
  • Shoulder (April to May): Days of 28-32°C (82-90°F), thinning crowds and rising water
… read more 👉
  • Flood Season (June to August): Floodwater from Angola’s highlands reaches the Delta between roughly June and August, so channels are full and mokoro trips are at their best. Days run 25-28°C (77-82°F), nights drop to 5-8°C (41-46°F) and daylight lasts about 11 hours. This is peak season with the highest prices.
  • Late Dry Season (September to October): Heat builds to 32-40°C (90-104°F). Animals crowd the shrinking waterways, so sightings are excellent and camps are still busy. Rates stay high.
  • Green Season (November to March): Afternoon storms bring 30-35°C (86-95°F) heat and humidity. Birdlife peaks with migrants, roads turn muddy, and lodges cut rates by 30 to 50 percent. Daylight stretches to about 13.5 hours.
  • Shoulder (April to May): Days of 28-32°C (82-90°F), thinning crowds and rising water make this a good balance of price and comfort.
Book mokoro and camping trips for June to August several months ahead, or aim for May to land cheaper beds just as the water arrives.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Maun is the base for nearly every backpacker, and the cheapest options sit there rather than in the Delta itself. Inside the Delta, stays are mostly fly-in luxury lodges at US$400 to 1,000 per person per night, so budget travelers go in on organized trips from Maun instead.
Maun: Hostel-style places like Old Bridge Backpackers (on the Thamalakane River) and Audi Camp offer dorms for US$12 to 20, camping for US$8 to 15 per person, and basic rooms for US$40 to 70. Both run overland transfers and arrange mokoro and camping trips into the Delta. They also have bars, shared kitchens and trip boards, … read more 👉
Maun is the base for nearly every backpacker, and the cheapest options sit there rather than in the Delta itself. Inside the Delta, stays are mostly fly-in luxury lodges at US$400 to 1,000 per person per night, so budget travelers go in on organized trips from Maun instead.
Maun: Hostel-style places like Old Bridge Backpackers (on the Thamalakane River) and Audi Camp offer dorms for US$12 to 20, camping for US$8 to 15 per person, and basic rooms for US$40 to 70. Both run overland transfers and arrange mokoro and camping trips into the Delta. They also have bars, shared kitchens and trip boards, which makes it easy to find people to split costs with.
Delta access points: Community-run poling trips leave from Seronga and Sepopa on the panhandle and from the Mababe and Boro areas. Simple campsites near these villages cost US$10 to 20. Expect no shops beyond basics, so stock up in Maun.
Sleeping out: Mokoro trips of two to three nights use bush camps on islands. You carry in your own tent, or the operator provides one, with no showers and a bush toilet.
Shakawe: In the north, fishing camps offer riverside camping from US$10 to 15, handy if you travel the panhandle route.
Best hostels in Botswana


Best quality hotels in Botswana

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Okavango Delta costs a backpacker about US$115 per day when joining a guided mokoro camping trip from Maun, and far more if you stay in a lodge. Costs rise in June to August and fall in the green season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park and concession feesUS$10-30Community and government fees are usually folded into trip prices, with Moremi Game Reserve about US$25 to 30 per day for foreign visitors
Accommodation (high season)US$12-25Dorms and campsites in Maun; bush camping is included in tours
Accommodation (low season)US$8-18Same places with cheaper camping and occasional dorm discounts
Guided tripsUS$70-150Two to three night mokoro camping trips average about US$100 to 150 per day with guide, poler and gear; shared groups cost less
Local transportUS$5-20Combis in Maun cost under US$1 per
… read more 👉
Okavango Delta costs a backpacker about US$115 per day when joining a guided mokoro camping trip from Maun, and far more if you stay in a lodge. Costs rise in June to August and fall in the green season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park and concession feesUS$10-30Community and government fees are usually folded into trip prices, with Moremi Game Reserve about US$25 to 30 per day for foreign visitors
Accommodation (high season)US$12-25Dorms and campsites in Maun; bush camping is included in tours
Accommodation (low season)US$8-18Same places with cheaper camping and occasional dorm discounts
Guided tripsUS$70-150Two to three night mokoro camping trips average about US$100 to 150 per day with guide, poler and gear; shared groups cost less
Local transportUS$5-20Combis in Maun cost under US$1 per ride, and shared transfers to Delta access points run US$10 to 30
Food and suppliesUS$10-20Self-catering from Maun supermarkets; meals on trips are often included, and restaurant meals cost US$6 to 12
Total Daily BudgetUS$115Typical for a shared guided trip in high season
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsPlan your hike in Okavango Delta: routes, terrain, and sights

Okavango Delta offers hiking that is nearly always led by a guide, because wildlife roams freely and there are no marked public trails in the way a European park has them. What people actually do is walk on islands, usually after being poled there by mokoro. Walks start at a camp or a canoe landing, move slowly across sand, grass and palm woodland, and last roughly two to four hours.
  • Island walking safari: Two to three hours, easy fitness level. Flat sand and grass, with stops to study tracks, termite mounds and birds. Elephants, giraffes, zebras and buffalo are regular sightings.
  • Mokoro and walk
… read more 👉
Okavango Delta offers hiking that is nearly always led by a guide, because wildlife roams freely and there are no marked public trails in the way a European park has them. What people actually do is walk on islands, usually after being poled there by mokoro. Walks start at a camp or a canoe landing, move slowly across sand, grass and palm woodland, and last roughly two to four hours.
  • Island walking safari: Two to three hours, easy fitness level. Flat sand and grass, with stops to study tracks, termite mounds and birds. Elephants, giraffes, zebras and buffalo are regular sightings.
  • Mokoro and walk combination: Half to full day, easy to moderate. A canoe ride across channels, then a bush walk on an island. Expect wet feet at landings and a lot of reeds.
  • Multi-day mobile trail: Two to four days, moderate. You paddle, then walk between island camps with tents and basic gear carried by the operator. Ground is deep sand in places, which tires the legs more than distance suggests.
  • Moremi self-drive and camp loops: Not hiking, but the main way independent travelers explore. Deep sand tracks and water crossings need a high-clearance 4x4. Walking away from camp is not allowed.
Terrain ranges from open floodplains to dense mopane and riverine forest, with seasonal channels that flood and drain depending on the year. Wildlife includes elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, wild dogs, red lechwe and over 400 bird species. Bring neutral-colored clothes, a hat and plenty of water.
Getting here usually means reaching Maun first, which has an airport and bus links from Gaborone and Kasane. From Maun, access into the Delta is by 4x4, shuttle transfer or light aircraft. Crowds stay low outside the main lodge zones, but popular camps in Moremi fill up quickly in the dry months. Park fees apply in Moremi and are charged per person and per vehicle, and private concessions include theirs in the camp price.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Okavango Delta is straightforward for hikers who go with a guide, and nearly all backpackers do. Walking and mokoro trips are led by licensed polers or guides who read the animals and the water, so follow their instructions on distance and pace. Hippos and crocodiles live in the channels. Keep hands and feet inside the mokoro and never swim. On island walks, elephants and buffalo are the animals that matter. Stand still, stay downwind and keep the group together if one appears. At camp, zip your tent, keep food sealed and do not wander out at night, since hyenas and elephants pass through. Malaria risk is highest from November to May, so talk to a doctor about prophylaxis, and use repellent at dusk. Midday heat reaches 35°C (95°F) or more in October, so carry at least 3 liters of water per … read more 👉
Okavango Delta is straightforward for hikers who go with a guide, and nearly all backpackers do. Walking and mokoro trips are led by licensed polers or guides who read the animals and the water, so follow their instructions on distance and pace. Hippos and crocodiles live in the channels. Keep hands and feet inside the mokoro and never swim. On island walks, elephants and buffalo are the animals that matter. Stand still, stay downwind and keep the group together if one appears. At camp, zip your tent, keep food sealed and do not wander out at night, since hyenas and elephants pass through. Malaria risk is highest from November to May, so talk to a doctor about prophylaxis, and use repellent at dusk. Midday heat reaches 35°C (95°F) or more in October, so carry at least 3 liters of water per day, a hat and electrolytes. Rain turns sand tracks to mud, which delays transfers, so pad your schedule. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is worth having because help is far away.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Three days is the practical minimum for Okavango Delta, and that covers a two-night mokoro camping trip plus a night at each end in Maun. Four to five days lets you add a day in Moremi Game Reserve or a game drive on the Delta’s fringe. Fly-in scenic flights from Maun last 45 to 60 minutes and cost roughly US$150 to 200.
Yes, but only partly. Okavango Delta is entered by guided mokoro and walking trips that leave from Maun, Seronga or Sepopa, and operators provide shared transfers for roughly US$10 to 30. Public combis run along the main road through Maun, but they do not reach most access points, so a prebooked tour is the usual route. Self-drive needs a 4x4 on sandy tracks.
Yes, fees apply, but most travelers pay them through their tour operator. Okavango Delta access depends on the area, with government fees for Moremi Game Reserve at about US$25 to 30 per day for foreign visitors, plus camping fees of around US$20 to 30 per night. Community concessions near Seronga and Mababe charge their own fees, and guides handle the permits.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Botswanan national parks near Okavango Delta

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Okavango Delta works best as the middle chapter of a longer Botswana loop. I would pair it with Chobe National Park in the north for river elephants, then add Makgadikgadi's salt pans for open space after all that water. Skip trying to squeeze it into two days. Book at least three nights, pack a hat and good binoculars, and let the guides decide the pace.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Botswana. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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