Open your senses to become situational aware

This trail is aimed at guests wishing to experience the true meaning of Ubuntu: connecting to yourself and others through your connection with nature. When all around you is only vaguely familiar in your reptilian brain, your senses become alive again. Smell, hearing, sight, touch, taste and sometimes even your sixth sense might kick in. Your re-awakened senses will force you to be situational aware: ‘feeling alive’ as many of our guests have told us. We will literally help you to ground to the earth again and to open up and use all our senses to be really present in the here and now.

Reconnect to yourself by connecting to nature

We will use the bush as our mentor and use our daily experiences to reconnect to nature and to ourselves. Peaceful coexistence with all other living beings, wether it is a bull elephant, a tree or a cricket. We will get close to big and small animals and observe their natural behavior. We will use different silence, meditation and other exercises during our walks that will help you to connect to your environment. It is up to you if you want to share your experiences with the other participants afterwards or in the evening by the fire. Each day will be led by our guides who will make sure everything is done in a safe and ethical way and without impacting nature or its animals.

Highlights

Walking in a private ‘Big 5’ area
Staying in an unfenced camp and feeling at ease
Reconnecting to your senses and to yourself
Tracking and approaching big animals on foot
Developing a deeper understanding of wildlife behavior
Nightdrive and eating out in the bush
A two day walk including a sleep out and keeping watch
Getting physically and mentally energized

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Itinerary

Cost

Faqs

Map

Day 1 :

From Maun to our walking camp in the Okavango Delta

Upon arrival at Maun Airport you will be picked up by your guides and driven to our camp in the Okavango Delta. In our unfenced camp you will get a an introduction to the guides and all guests will briefly introduce themselves to one another. After that a safety briefing will follow and we will have sundowners on your evening gamedrive. We will explore the concession in the next few days to get an understanding of the animal presence and their movements.

Dinner

Day 2 :

Getting familiar with the bush and its wildlife

After an early breakfast you will go on a guided drive after which we will have some short talks about the area we operate in and the main species we will probably encounter on our walks. These experiences and encounters with nature will be used to become aware of your surroundings and of your own place within it. In the afternoon you will go on a guided walk and learn about the bush in an interactive and dynamic way.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 :

Reconnecting to the wilderness

Today you will go on a guided walk in the westside across the river and back to camp. You will walk (part of the trail) barefoot over land and through water to reconnect to the magnetic field of the earth again. You will encounter different animals big and small and learn about their senses and behavior while learning how to walk and navigate in the bush. There will be short lecture about nature and ecosystems early afternoon and you will do a guided game drive in the late afternoon and return in the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 :

Using all your senses

You will drive to an area rich in wildlife and explore this new area on foot. Focus will be on using your senses to find animals in their natural habitat while not being discovered by them. We will also do a senses circle. We will eliminate your sight in order to use all you other senses and really become situational aware. Our guides will be there to make sure you will be safe. We will bring lunch and coffee/tea. During this long day we will track and trace different animals while also allowing for time for reflection, silence and mindfulness.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 :

Walking to our overnight camp and sitting watch

Today you will pack your walking and some overnight stuff for our sleep out. Our guides will lead this walk to a pre arranged beautiful overnight spot where we will camp in the wild. The staff will transport our overnight stuff, food and cooking equipment by vehicle. At night you will keep watch in pairs for two hours each while keeping a small fire going. We will ask you to keep a list of all animal nightlife activity to discuss in the morning.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 :

Reflecting on the night and a silent walk back to camp

After a special and hopefully peaceful night we will all witness the sunrise together. After this we will share our experiences during our watch while cooking a hot breakfast over the fire and join the staff that picks us up in the vehicle. They will drop us off at another location for a silent walk back to main camp. On the walk we will track and observe animals, approach them and enjoy their presence. After dinner we will do a night drive.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 :

Energizing and eating out in the bush

Today we will do a morning walk where you can choose to wear shoes or (partly) walk barefoot. After lunch there will be some free-time and we will ask you to pack most of your stuff today as we will wake up early tomorrow. Later in the afternoon we will drive to the oldest tree in our concession area and do a senses circle around this 600+ year old giant. When darkness has fallen we will have a braai in the bush and share our experiences by the fire.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 :

Closure and drop off at Maun airport

On our last day we wake up early to do a last short gamedrive in our concession. At breakfast we will do a ‘post mortum’ of the trip and after breakfast and some last packing up we wil leave camp and drop you off in Maun to say goodbye.

Breakfast

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What should I bring regarding my health?

We have a comprehensive First Aid kit in camp, on board our vehicles and on walks; we cannot however cover everything, if you have any medical problems or existing medical conditions please bring enough medication and inform us of these problems as soon as possible.

Do I need vaccinations?

We do not know what you have already been vaccinated for. So for vaccinations, please consult your local GP or health provider.

Do I need to take malaria pills?

Our camp is in a malaria area. Although it is very remote and therefore very unlikely for malaria to occur, it is better to be safe than sorry. We suggest you speak to your local GP or healthcare provider and take the action he/she recommends as there are various differing ideas about what prophylactics to take, if at all. Some of the prophylactics can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches and a lowering of your resistance to the sun and it is important to bear in mind that malaria can be contracted despite taking tablets. We provide insect repellent but you are welcome to bring your own and please use them liberally, especially in the warmer months.

What is the weather like?

Summer (October – April) is hot in the middle of the day, sometimes as high 40 degrees Celsius in October, our hottest month, but this is uncommon, becoming cooler but still warm at night. The average day time temperatures are in the mid 30’s dropping to the low 20’s during the night. Botswana is a summer rainfall region and late afternoon showers can be common from December to April.

What clothing should I bring?

Bring along a good jacket, scarf, gloves and woolen or fleece headwear if you are travelling in winter. It can get quite hot during the day so light summer clothing is also a must. The best was to deal with winter is to dress in layers.

Can I drink the local water?

Although Botswana’s water is generally safe to drink, we supply filtered water. It is important to remember to drink enough water while on safari. If you are traveling in the summer months you should bring rehydration salts to add to your water. One sachet per person per day will be sufficient and will prevent any dehydration problems. Rehydration salts are available in most pharmacies in powder form, which is the most suitable for travel.

Are all food and drinks included?

In Camp all meals are provided; please inform us if you have any special requirements or if you are allergic to any food. Water, tea and coffee and soft drinks are available all day. Wines, beers, spirits are available at sundowners and in the evening.

Are there any limitations for luggage?

On safari we prefer to travel light. If possible restrict to hand luggage only. Otherwise duffel/soft bags are preferable, as these pack easier into aircraft and vehicles, hard cases are not recommended.

Do I need to bring money?

Since your training is prepaid, you will not need to travel with much cash. Botswana currency is in Pula (P) and Thebe(t). Pulas can be collected with your credit- or bank-card at the ATM in Maun before departure to the bush. The best denominations to bring to Botswana are Euro and US Dollars.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping of our staff is optional and the amount is entirely up to you.

What are necessary items to bring?

Binoculars are a must for safari. 10*42 is an ideal magnification, but any will do.
A camera with extra rechargeable batteries.
A good torch, handheld or better: head torches with 3+ LED units (Petzl, Black Scorpion are good brands)

Is there electricity in camp?

As it is almost always sunny, we run on solar power. We have adequate electricity in camp and charging facilities for local, USB and European plugs. USA clients should bring converters to South African or European plugs.