This Tour Is Offered By
Walking Stick Travel & Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours where clients assist with camp chores
- Destinations:
-
BW
Walking Stick Travel Tours is a Botswana based mobile safari operation. The company is run by a highly experience staff who grew up in the legendary Okavango Delta and owned by Phillimon (Philly) Kamogelo. Philly started to drive a mokoro canoe at the age of seven. Before setting up his mobile safari operation Philly obtained his guiding license and worked at Odd Balls Camp and Orient Express for many years. Walking Stick Travel Tours is officially licensed by the Botswana Tourism Authority.
Reviews89
Competent, knowledgeable, hard working and safety conscious
My husband and I had a wonderful trip with Phillimon to the Moremi reserve in the Okavango Delta for 2 nights and 3 days. From beginning to end it was a totally memorable experience.
James, in the office, is a great communicator and was always quick to respond to emails and questions which gave me total confidence in booking with Walking Sticks Safari.
Phillimon picked us up at a set time from our accommodation in Maun and took us to the campsite after taking us for a game drive in the afternoon. We saw lots of animals including lions.
The campsite had already been set up by Prince, our cook, and KB his assistant. Both were charming, good fun and very helpful.
After waking the following morning at 5:30 and having breakfast we had another 6 hour game drive, back to camp for lunch and a rest and then another 3 hour game drive late afternoon returning to camp at 7pm for dinner. Again we saw many animals including a lioness with her two cubs, zebra, hyenas, wild dogs, hippo, buck and just missing out on seeing a leopard but not for lack of effort on Phillimons part. The following morning we had another short game drive, lunch and then a return trip to our accommodation in Maun stopping on the way if more animals were seen.
Phillimon was born and bred in the Okavango Delta and knows the delta like the back of his hand. At all times he worked really hard to show us as many animals as possible and never gave up despite some challenging weather conditions; a hugh amount of rain had fallen in Botswana over the last month.
It was such fun that we didn’t want it to end. Phillimon knows his stuff and we felt relaxed and safe with him at all times. We saw some wonderful animals and experienced the delights of the Okavango Delta.
I would definitely recommend Walking Sticks Safari as a company to see the Okavango Delta with. We had a great time and we would definitely use them again.
DE
Reliable and friendly tour operator for a great wildlife experience in Botswana
Walking Stick tailor made our 13 day safari through Moremi, Khwai, Savuti and Chose National Park, including 2 nights Mokoro safari in a community area close to Moremi.
The email communication before the trip was always precise and the response time short.
Our guide was very experienced and patient who was luckily a great wildlife tracker. We had losts of wonderful sightings with liones, lion babies and leopards.
Our service crew (Truck driver, chef and camp site assistant) was very friendly and attentive. It was always nice after a day safari packed with great sightings, sat at the camp fire and sip a G&T. Sometime, an elephant or a small group of zebras was a just few steps behind the tent. We enjoyed our trip very much.
If you fancy the rustic way with mobile safari to explore the magnificent wildlife in Botswana, Walking Stick is an experienced and reliable local tour operator with good value.
CH
Fantastic experience on land and on water
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.
CH
A unique adventure
We did a 10-day safari in October 2024 under the tent with Phillimon's Walking Stick.
During our tour we slept in 5 different places (Delta Okavango, Moremi, Khwai, Savute, Chobe).
We could only highly recommend this experience and the Phillimon team. Everything was very well organized, including the transfers between the camps, the organization of our life at the camp, the morning and evening safaris.
In addition, the airline lost our luggage and it arrived two days later, but Phillimon found a solution to help us out and he personally took care of our problem.
His team took very good care of us, even in the camping conditions, we ate every day like in a restaurant. The night under the tent in the middle of nature is simply a unique experience, because we could hear the sound of animals not far from us, but at the same time we felt completely safe.
We immediately noticed Phillimon's passion for his country and for nature, he knew how to pass on his knowledge to us and thanks to him we saw lots of animals during our 10 days.
Communication with him and his team went very well in English. They had lots of interesting stories to tell us.
If someone really wants to do a real Safari in Botswana, we recommend Walking Stick. Go with your eyes closed and let yourself be carried away by this team in the nature of Botswana.
(automatic translation from French)
Let Walking Stick Tours guide you through the essence of this powerful country
If you are seeking to be close to the animals, observe them from your camp chair, watch them roam through the campsite at night and early morning, then this is the safari for you. On this unforgettable 11 day journey we navigated the tranquil waters of the Okavango Delta , up early for daily safaris with our knowledgeable guide OT who prioritises your safety while enriching your adventure all the time incorporating everything magical savannah delivers. The thrill of spotting native wildlife (lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos, Jackal, giraffes, zebras, painted dogs, hyenas, and many more all in the comfort of your vehicle, boat or mokoro. Our meals and sleep were interrupted by the call of the wild, so don' t miss this opportunity to create lasting memories as you soak up and sweat the harsh beauty of Botswana. Lastly, a special thanks to our "safari Squad" OT, (guide), Ollie (cook), Election (driver & camp hand) and Freddie (apprentice camp hand). Everyday you rose with a smile, great food and company as we journeyed through Moremi, Kwai, Delta, and Chobe National parks.
