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The best way to experience real Africa Walking the bush
EPIC JOURNAL

Botswana Walking Safari

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Botswana Walking Safari

written by: Brad Horn 5 Dec 2020

In July 2017 I had the pleasure of guiding a small group of intrepid clients on an epic canoeing and walking safari through the wilds of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

The area we traversed is the Okavango’s largest private concession area covering upward of 1800 square kilometres. It is absolute wilderness and we had it to ourselves.

We didn’t see another soul for a week and had lots of incredible encounters. There are very very few places in Africa that afford this level of intimacy and exclusivity.

The southern Okavango is a myriad of islands, channel and floodplains that are teeming with game. The core of the safari was 5 nights canoeing and walking, staying in our own small rustic camp that leap frogged ahead each day attended by 5 dedicated staff.

Sleeping in a bedroll in a small tent with a thin film of canvas between you and the African bush affords an intimate experience; the darkest skies with amazing stars and the incredible orchestra of night noises.

For the adventure oriented safari goer this safari has few peers. Hope you enjoy the footage.

 

Okavango Delta

Best of Botswana

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Way more active than this male lion! A safari that starts at an iconic lodge in Arusha (Ngare Sero) and ends with 3 wonderful nights at an iconic property in the Ngorongoro - Serengeti system (Ndutu Safari Lodge). In between you're staying near the majestic Great Rift Valley wall in Lake Manyara National Park (Wayo Manyara Green camp), the spectacular surrounds of Entamanu Ngorongoro on the crater rim and walking in the Serengeti at a stunning mobile camp, Ikoma. If you want the full African experience and authentic taste of the bush and all its richness, this is a fantastic and great value safari option.

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Classic Zimbabwe camps in line with our other wonderful Zim safari, with 3 memorable days of walking in the bush thrown in, staying in mobile camps. You can and will still walk at Mana Pools and also enjoy finishing on the Zambezi at Victoria Falls, but the walking from Daka Plains camp in Hwange National Park, is something very special indeed, elevating this safari into its own world of adventure..

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Testimonial
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From our travellers

The whole team at Epic were fantastic in organising our trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. The itinerary was perfectly paced, giving us just the right amount of time in each destination. Their choice of hotels was exceptional — each one unique, beautifully appointed, and clearly selected with care. All of our transfers ran seamlessly, making the entire journey effortless. The team were always available to offer recommendations and answer any questions, and they truly went above and beyond in arranging a wide range of activities for us. The personalised itinerary app was incredibly handy and easy to use, and the pre-flight check-in service was a thoughtful extra touch. We can’t recommend them highly enough. Bec and Mark
Bec and Mark – South Africa + Zimbabwe
(On Namibia) What a fabulous two weeks we had in your delightful company in a country of varying and contrasting landscapes, the drama of which is etched forever.  Who can forget the incredible sight of the stunning desert landscape and the drama of the varying shades of sand dunes and rock formations adding to the beauty.  Viewed from the air and on land it seemed like a kaleidoscope that was endless. Game viewing in vehicles that allowed us to take in not just the wildlife, the flora, and the fauna but the heat and the dust!!  And I loved it!  Chatter, giggles and glass of vino added to the fun. The lovely people who were all so friendly and charming. Thank you to all of you for adding to this unique and very special Safari and especially to you Jocelyn for arranging it all with Epic.
Broughton party – Southern Africa
Dear Robynne, I speak for all of us in the recent touring party, but we all wanted to pass on our thanks and gratitude to you for playing a key role in creating what was a truly memorable African holiday. Whilst we had the absolute finest tour guide in Simon, the seamless and perfect attention to detail holiday experience that you created for our group was one that will remain in our memories for a lifetime. Every step of our holiday, be it from the pre-trip communications, to the robust and informative Travel App, and the welcome sign on our arrival at Johannesberg, all meant we kicked off our holiday in a perfect manner, and this then carried on for the entire journey, from the selection of beautiful and highly professional camps, to the perfect selection of wonderful accommodations in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Franschhoek. For this we are all extremely thankful to you and your team. Gavin and Liz.
Robertson group – Zimbabwe/South Africa
A photo taken in Africa feels like it’s for someone else. I don’t need to remind myself of any part of Africa because, in Africa, I was inescapably present. If you’d hypnotised me, I couldn’t have done a better job of blocking out the rest of world. What else would I think of while watching a pair of cheetahs push themselves to keep eating despite their burgeoning bellies; or a lion physically challenged to pull its kill to safety from circling hyenas and vultures; or a young baboon endlessly distracted while their troop moves on with steady pace and determination. The pictures that I took to memorialize these moments may be interesting to friends and family but are simply too one dimensional for me. In my mind these moments are enriched with the smell of dirt and grass, the smell of fresh blood and old/dried blood, the smell of the sun and heat radiating off every living thing during the day and that smell being slowly put to rest at night. I see the changing colours of the high grass in the winds and the crescendo of a sunset from yellow to orange to bright red with clouds of pink and purple. I hear the birds and crickets playing a calming soundtrack to a day filled with extreme exhibitions of both life and death. I feel a profound connection to a zebra with a broken ankle and another zebra that won’t leave its side; to a couple of gorillas that agree rolling down the grassy hill would be preferable to walking down; and to a lioness who only wants a moment to get a drink for herself and is tackled repeatedly at the hole by two of her cubs. Everything that is beautiful about life is in Africa absent the numbing competition of traffic, work, tv, social media, and the rest. Samadhi refers to “a state of profound concentration and absorption, often described as the merging of the self, mind, and object of meditation into one, leading to a state of bliss or enlightenment.” For me, this has only ever been achieved in Africa. Thank you to your entire team for the great gift that you shared with us. I cannot imagine a more perfect experience.
Christie family – East Africa
Epic did a seamless job in planning unique experiences in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. If this is your first time visiting Africa, Epic’s attention to detail makes the logistics very easy, they're in constant communication via WhatsApp. The lodges we stayed at were so differentiated, and the food amazing at each of them. Ndutu, specifically was very special to us. If you’re returning to Africa, they can plan new and interesting adventures. We intend to use them in future and recommend to our friends and family who've seen our photos and now want to go to Africa!
Graham – East Africa
Brad I just wanted to say thank you for your guidance, comedic timing, leadership and friendship for our climb. I was so impressed with your leadership and help in motivating all of our guys that entrusted you in your knowledge and patience. You really gave us the VIP experience. Listening to you encourage men with their focus and determination was inspiring to me. I’m not easily impressed but you managed to do it. Thank you again for this life changing experience.
Matt – Kili climb
Thank you (Rob) for a trip of a lifetime. Everything was magical and you made it effortless. You're a generous spirit, with so much knowledge on Africa and its many different cultures. In particular, thank you for being so patient with our many questions on the animals, their habits and habitats. We learned so much and now John loves Africa as much as I do. That is in no small measure due to your leadership of our merry band. Please be sure to tell your team how much we appreciate all the brush they cleared to ease all our transitions and last minute requests.
Julie and John
Words cannot describe the gratitude Harry and I have for each of your roles in designing an experience which was truly priceless. We knew this would be a special time together from the outset. Anytime a parent can enjoy time one to one with a child in this sort of adventure was set up to start from a great place. I could produce a small novel of vignette remembrances which I could share with you, in complete gratitude. James, I would have never known that this was your first guiding experience. The ease with which you took us through your massive playground. I’ll leave you with my final impression: that of our collective laughs on the trails and of the fun of it all, so simply put, which will forever be such a mainstay of my memories of this incredible trip. (**Annie and Harry, mum and son, travelled to Uganda and Tanzania, guided by Rob's son James. His first guiding trip with guests.)
Annie and Harry
Booking through Epic Private Journeys took the stress out of organising an overseas trip to a country we weren’t familiar with, South Africa. We really appreciated the attention to detail and knowledge of the area shared with us. Sam and Lisa always made themselves available for any questions we had, including whilst on the trip which was great! The experiences we were exposed to were phenomenal, and the trip as a whole exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much.
Claire and Beau
Anita and the whole Epic team did an outstanding job organizing, planning and executing our trip to Kenya. Their attention to detail, from assisting us with choosing our outstanding accommodations, to having a pre-trip preparatory call with a staff member on the ground - to having several people immediately waiting for us at the airport and helping every step of the way, made our vacation the best ever! When there was a flood in Kenya just a couple months before our departure date and our accommodations were closed for the year, Anita was able to find us superb last minute accommodations, which ended up being the favorites of our trip. We loved every minute of our incredible trip and are so grateful for working with Anita and Epic.
Danielewicz family
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to East Africa, arranged for us by Sam and Epic Private Journeys. We had the most wonderful time! Their expertise in laying out our itinerary, and arrangements was impeccable! Thanks to their knowledge and experience, we were thrilled with each location that we visited, enabling us to enjoy the wildlife, as well as the culture of these beautiful countries. The guides, accommodations and travel arrangements were all fabulous. We enjoyed a mix of canvas tents and lodges, each with their own unique personality and natural beauty. This involved several moves throughout Kenya and Tanzania, and all of our travel connections went flawlessly! Their communication with us in preparation, for the trip was so helpful. From completing visa applications, to packing lists to recommending unique stops along the way, they were immensely patient and generous with their time, answering all of our questions, and making us feel completely prepared to go. And they continued to be in touch with us along the way, always available to provide guidance. We are so grateful to the team for this fabulous experience, and cannot wait to get our next African journey planned!
Julie and Monty
Re-entry has taken longer than expected, but I'm finally taking a breath to respond.  Might also be due to Pisco Sours twice daily during our entire trip! THE TRIP WAS FABULOUS!!! Everything we hoped for and more from an Epic trip.  A gift of memories beyond measure!! Hotels? We would return to all! I am clearly spoiled!   Thank you again for another successful adventure.  Cindy & Jack – Amazon & Machu Picchu
Cindy and Jack
Our trip to Africa was a dream come true; everything we wished for was granted by the genies at Epic! From the onset they listened, responded, explained and supported. Advice and recommendations were spot on, there was no point in which we felt the experience wasn’t designed entirely around us. We would do it again in a heartbeat. Anna
Anderson family
Climbing Kilimanjaro with Epic was nothing short of a life-changing experience. Their commitment to excellence and a genuine passion for providing a transformative journey created moments our family will remember for the rest of our lives. From the early calls about training and health markers to the team helping us with the climb on the ground, Epic's meticulous planning, attention to detail, and unwavering support ensured that every step of the climb was not just a physical feat but a soul-stirring adventure. For us, the journey was not just about reaching the summit but about the transformative moments along the way—the camaraderie forged in the tents with the guides, porters, and cooks, the breathtaking landscapes that unfolded with each day, and the profound sense of accomplishment as the summit came into view. Every person on the expedition was willing to help and went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for all of us, and we genuinely felt they enjoyed our presence as well. Epic's commitment to sustainability and ethical tourism also allowed us to have peace of mind throughout the journey, knowing that we would leave as little of a footprint behind. Climbing Kilimanjaro was a project on our minds for a long time. Embarking on this adventure with Epic made it an even better experience than we thought possible. They truly gave our family an 'experience for the books,' and we look forward to creating more memories with them in the future.
Leonardo Abedum de Lima Hanzawa
Our Safari in Africa was a once in a lifetime experience for our family. Throughout the planning Bridgit and Rob carefully listened to and answered our questions and fully understood our expectations, needs and concerns as a family of 5 traveling in Africa. Anita’s attention to detail with the complicated logistics made the safari seamless from beginning to end. Kudos Anita! Trekking gorillas in Uganda was one of many highlights and truly an unforgettable experience. Our kids thanked us too many times to count for such an incredible trip. Thank you, Epic, for making this a magical family vacation where lifelong memories were created!!!
Shelly – Family of five
Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful, successful climb/week on Kilimanjaro. We cannot begin to express how impressed we were with the crew/guides/cooks/porters and level of service and care. We had no idea we’d be taken such good care of and all agree it ”made” the trip. All of my friends thanked me again and again for finding Epic for our climb. We always felt safe and cared for. The connections we all made on the trail/at camp with these amazing souls will stay in our hearts and memories forever. What a beautiful group of people.
Lynne – Mt Kilimanjaro
I just wanted to thank you so much for everything you did to help put together our incredible Africa adventure. It truly was a trip of a lifetime, and I know how hard you worked behind the scenes to make it all happen. I also know how much effort it took in the eleventh hour when our flight got cancelled to make sure we would still be able to make our dream trip a reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We hope to embark on another adventure with Epic in the future, and in the meantime have been telling all of our friends to reach out to you to plan their next trip.
Dana
It was such a pleasure being with Epic and we had a fabulous trip. Thanks to your exquisite planning and extraordinary knowledge of the places we visited.
J. Rock – Botswana, Zambia
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