Walking Stick Travel & Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours where clients assist with camp chores
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Tam | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing. Exceeded all expectations. Phillimon is an outstanding guide, tracker and tour operator.
We (4 friends) had booked a Walking Sticks 7 day mobile safari “The Best of Botswana” during covid and finally made it in October 2023. An eagerly awaited holiday and safari that exceeded all expectations and the highlight of our trip to Southern Africa.
The trip was great value and Walking Sticks such an ethical company who honoured our deposit paid in 2020.
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, hippos a plenty, cape buffalo, leopard and lots of giraffes, zebra and antelope and loads of birds. Seeing hyena pups at a den with mother was yet 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’s & cold beers. Dinner prepared by Chef Prince with a camp fire and great wines.
You couldn’t find a better safari company than Walking Sticks with Phillimon, KD, Prince, Comfort and Kealeboga. Highly recommend.
Thank you for making our dreams come true.
Tam
Email Jules | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experienced, local, run by a trustworthy professional.
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 manager 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 small, locally owned and run business and deserves the highest praise.
Email Natalie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Ethical local company, fantastic experience.
Fantastic locally owned company. Phillimon and his team took the best care of us and we were treated like royalty. Actually, more like treasured family. Food was great and Phillimon's skills as a tracker and guide meant that we had some incredible sightings. We booked and paid a deposit with Phillimon only weeks before Covid hit and had to postpone this over and over. He honoured our deposit for FOUR YEARS!!! Many other companies would have taken the money and run, but he not only held it, he kept the price the same. That's ethics!! I highly recommend Walking Stick Safaris!!!!
CH
Email Polo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful experience - privatized camping safari - great game drives
We experienced the privatized camping safari for our family and enjoyed every moment.
Throughout the 5 days safari we experienced a very high reliability and trust. Our guide (Philimon) is highly professional and we enjoyed the combination of a native local guide (and his stories) combined with his empathy for tourists and his high working ethics. He and his team (in the second car with cook/tent etc.) worked hard to make our experience unique and unforgettable.
I was travelling in Botswana (also Moremi) 25 years ago with my own car (self-driver) and I used to have some detailed information upfront. For this trip we had less detailed information upfront, means also less marketing. That was ok.
We had all the necessary information and our guide optimized our journey during the safari (e.g. added a boat-trip).
We assume that the longterm working-experience as guide/driver in the Okovango-Delta makes it possible to relate to both worlds (local and international) - and we enjoyed that a lot.
We do trust Walking Stick Travel & Tours and we recommend them to people who look for a privatized camping safari (with good value for money).
US
Email Mike | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Phil and his team were flexible, knowledgeable, and fun
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. 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.
HU
Email Imre Hercegh | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A friendly safari operating company with good people and skills
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! :-)
Email Melanie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best bush experience I have ever had
I have gone on Safari all my life - many were to super luxurious lodges. However, this was the best experience I have ever had. Being so close to the animals, learning from people who crew up amongst the animals and still being comfortable was just super amazing. It was extremely good value for money and the service from Philemon and his team was just super. The response to anything we asked was: "No Problem!" Philemon even went to extremely lengths to find a cellphone lost in the bush. If you want the real bush experience at a good price and still be comfortable, you cannot go wrong with Walking Stick Safaris.
Email Jesper Morch | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Magic days in the Delta
Over the past 25 years I have made an average of four annual trips to nature reserves in east and southern Africa. Ten years ago i was fortunate to run into Walking Stick and their leader Philemon Kamogelo. The experiences Philemon and his team gave us then were never surpassed until my recent trip with my dear friend Melanie from Cape Town.
We had planned and booked our trip for late September 2023. A heatwave was rolling over Botswana at the time. We asked if we could postpone some months. Although Walking Stick had prepared everything for a 12 day trip into the Delta followed by Moremi, they agreed. Correspondence between Cape Town and Maun was lively. Whatever our questions and requests, we invariably had reply and comments within 24 hours. Walking Stick is not the most fancy and luxurious of safari companies. Fortunately. It is exactly because Walking Stick is not that Melanie and I consider Walking Stick the best and most exciting experience available anywhere in east and southern Africa.
Philemon was our guide. His team included a chef, a back-up driver, a camp assistant, and two mokoro sailors. All of them from there same little village of 500 souls, which use had the good fortune to visit. The visit to the village was important - Walking Stick is very much a community based enterprise involving the village in many ways and form. But even more exciting was our daily encounters with the wildlife. At our first camp, we sat at sunset facing the river. To our left was 13 giraffes and 30 elephants. Straight ahead was an endless line of buffaloes. Maybe 150. And everywhere around us impala, wildebeest and zebra. And up in the higher branches of the tree see sat under, three fish eagles scouted the river for a possible catch.
A typical day at the Delta would be up at 7.00, tea, off in the mokoros and a walk or two. Back to brunch, maybe shower, and chill. Lunch made on open fire, a siesta and off on an evening tour of the delta in the mokoros. Later in Moremi, same pattern except the mokoro time was replaced by game drives in the huge Landrover.
Philemon and his team are without comparison the best, most competent, and most knowledgeable i have come across in my 100+ safaris over the years. They have my highest and most unreserved commendation. A trip with them is a glorious memory for the rest of your life. When yo do go, don't forget to get Philemon to tell you why their company is called Walking Stick. Melanie is as enthusiastic as `I am, and we are already beginning to plan or return to the Okavango and Walking Stick.
DE
Email Prarthana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well equipped and excellent customer service .
We did 5 days delta and maromi reserve camping trip . Walking stick has an excellent team which makes the whole journey more magical. Our guide Dylos and Kenny , chef Prince and Richmond made sure that we were comfortable in all ways. Logistically everything was taken care of. We had hot shower everyday in the Bush which was a luxury. We hope to come back again and do a longer trip with the same team and definitely recommend Walking Stick everyone .
Email Mallory | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible guiding in amazing places
Philimon's tracking skills and enthusiasm for showing you everything there is to see are second to none - can't ask for more than two leopards in 3 days, hyena cubs, a pride of lions on the hunt and pack of wild dogs with a kill, plus buffalo, innumerable elephant, hippo, zebra, crocs etc etc. Friendly back of house team and good food. Moremi and Khwai outstanding.
