Mokoro safaris are one of the most peaceful and traditional ways to explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta. Travelling quietly through narrow channels in a dugout canoe, guests are able to experience the Delta at a slow and immersive pace while observing wildlife and birdlife along the floodplains and islands.
What is a Mokoro Safari?
A mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe used by the people of the Okavango Delta to travel through the shallow waterways and floodplains. Traditionally these canoes were carved from large tree trunks, although today most mokoros are made from fibreglass to help protect the Delta’s hardwood trees.
For generations the mokoro was an essential form of transport for local communities, used for fishing, gathering food, cutting reeds for building materials and travelling between islands within the Delta.
Over the past several decades the mokoro has also become one of the most distinctive ways for visitors to experience the Okavango Delta. Guided by skilled polers who stand at the back of the canoe and propel it forward with a long pole, mokoro safaris allow travellers to move quietly through narrow channels and explore the Delta at a slow and peaceful pace.
Day Mokoro Trips in the Okavango Delta
Day mokoro trips offer a relaxed introduction to the Okavango Delta. The day begins early at Lazy River Camp with a cooked breakfast before departing by vehicle for the mokoro launch area.
After a slow early morning game drive of around an hour and a half through the concession, guests reach the mokoro station at Ditshiping where the mokoro excursion begins. Gliding quietly through the channels with experienced polers, guests explore the waterways before stopping on one of the Delta islands for a guided walk.
A picnic lunch is enjoyed at the water’s edge before continuing the journey downstream by mokoro through the reed-lined channels. In the early afternoon guests return to the mokoro station and travel back to Lazy River Camp on another relaxed game drive, usually arriving in time to enjoy sunset at camp before dinner.
We provide a picnic lunch, drinking water and comfortable mokoro seating for the excursion.
Multi-Day Mokoro Expeditions
Multi-day mokoro journeys allow guests to travel deeper into the Okavango Delta and experience the rhythm of life on the waterways. Travelling quietly through narrow channels and exploring the islands on foot provides a unique perspective on this remarkable ecosystem.
Our mokoro expeditions combine traditional mokoro travel with guided walks across the islands and floodplains. Each journey is accompanied by a professional safari walking guide who works alongside the mokoro polers, allowing for more engaging wildlife interpretation and a deeper understanding of the Delta environment.
To support the journey, a safari chef accompanies the expedition and prepares meals while camp is established on the islands. The equipment used on these trips is lightweight expedition-style gear including small tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags.
These mokoro journeys are designed for travellers who enjoy a more active and adventurous safari experience. Guests take part in the rhythm of the expedition, including setting up their own tents, while our team prepares meals and manages the camp.
Starting Your Mokoro Safari at Lazy River Camp
Our mokoro safaris begin and end at Lazy River Camp, the Okavango base camp of Shangana Safaris. Guests are collected in Maun in the afternoon, usually around 15:00, and transferred by road to camp where they spend the first night before departing into the Delta.
The stay at Lazy River includes two nights in comfortable en-suite meru tents with dinner and breakfast provided. The camp sits beside a lagoon often filled with hippos, and elephants are frequently seen in the surrounding area, giving guests an early taste of the Delta environment.
After returning from the mokoro journey, guests spend a second night at camp before transferring back to Maun the following morning, normally arriving at around 11:00.
This structure allows for a relaxed start and finish to the mokoro safari while providing time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the camp.
Plan Your Mokoro Safari
If you would like to experience a mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta, feel free to contact us to discuss the different options available.
