04 Jun 2026

In an effort to explore the remote and pristine Okavango Delta, Ledvak Holdings, a Gaborone-based wildlife filmmaking company, will embark on a walking safari from the Xaxaba settlement to the Moeti kgotla in Maun.

Themed: The Longest Walk, the activity will offer a truly offbeat and exclusive experience led by experts and selected indigenous community members residing in the NG32 concession. 

The concession covers settlements such as Xaxaba, Daunara, Xuoxao, Xharaxao, Morutsha and Ditshiping.

Scheduled for this month and sponsored by the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), the walk will last 14 days.

In an interview on Monday, event organiser, Molibi Otukile confirmed they were working on a special project that give participants the opportunity to discover the untouched wilderness of the NG concession on foot while simultaneously promoting trail guiding as a profession.

He noted that trail guiding was a rare practice in the traditional tourism industry, as most delta activities centred around safari vehicles, boat excursions and scenic flights. 

Otukile believed the walking safari was ideal for offering an intimate, immersive way to explore the delta.

According to him, a walking safari provided a different experience and allowed people to see wildlife behaving naturally in habitats inaccessible to vehicles. 

“It also helps travellers appreciate the hidden gems of the delta, including its plants and wildlife, by showcasing how indigenous people have coexisted with animals for generations,’’ he said.

Otukile noted that the activity also aimed to uplift the livelihoods of delta residents, particularly those in NG32, by creating jobs for guides and trackers to provide sustainable incomes. 

He highlighted that while most local guides had theoretical knowledge, they lacked practical experience. 

He believed this activity would equip them with hands-on skills and direct exposure to industry workflows.

According to him, becoming a professional guide required practical skills, strong personal traits, and ecological, environmental, and indigenous awareness to lead travellers safely and memorably. Even high-end tour companies, he said, often required trail guides to complete practical, on-site evaluations.

“Walking in the wilderness will be a true highlight of the safari experience. With our eyes trained on the ground, it is the most authentic way to explore a place. We believe this initiative has the potential to market our country’s tourism to the global community,” he added.

Participants will have the opportunity to look for animal tracks (spoor), smell native plants, and take time to admire smaller, often unnoticed creatures.

Otukile also stated that the walk would be filmed for a documentary to market the unique products the delta offers.

Prior to the event, Otukile highlighted that they would conduct a five-day workshop in one of the delta islands. 

There, experts will train the selected participants in trail guiding and wildlife filmmaking within their areas of operation.

In addition, they have requested the use of a Botswana Defence Force shooting range in the Shokomoka area.

Here, trail guides will undergo simulated defense drills to showcase their reaction skills during wildlife encounters.

Furthermore, the team will visit the participants’ home areas to film backstories by engaging with their close family members, friends, and communities. 

Prize money will be awarded at the end of the project to those who outperform the rest.

“While we document the activity to sell our tourism product, we also aim to inspire and empower locals, especially young people faced with limited employment opportunities, to pursue trail guiding as a sustainable career,” he added.

Otukile emphasised that participant safety was paramount when navigating a wilderness home to dangerous animals.

Consequently, they have engaged highly experienced guides and experts to lead the walk, and all participants will be fully insured.

Companies like Helicopter Horizons, which offers scenic flights over the delta, have also provided helicopters for medical evacuations. A paramedic will be on board to administer first aid at the scene if necessary. BOPAI

n an effort to explore the remote and pristine Okavango Delta, Ledvak Holdings, a Gaborone-based wildlife filmmaking company, will embark on a walking safari from the Xaxaba settlement to the Moeti kgotla in Maun.

Themed: The Longest Walk, the activity will offer a truly offbeat and exclusive experience led by experts and selected indigenous community members residing in the NG32 concession. 

The concession covers settlements such as Xaxaba, Daunara, Xuoxao, Xharaxao, Morutsha and Ditshiping.

Scheduled for this month and sponsored by the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), the walk will last 14 days.

In an interview on Monday, event organiser, Molibi Otukile confirmed they were working on a special project that give participants the opportunity to discover the untouched wilderness of the NG concession on foot while simultaneously promoting trail guiding as a profession.

He noted that trail guiding was a rare practice in the traditional tourism industry, as most delta activities centred around safari vehicles, boat excursions and scenic flights. 

Otukile believed the walking safari was ideal for offering an intimate, immersive way to explore the delta.

According to him, a walking safari provided a different experience and allowed people to see wildlife behaving naturally in habitats inaccessible to vehicles. 

“It also helps travellers appreciate the hidden gems of the delta, including its plants and wildlife, by showcasing how indigenous people have coexisted with animals for generations,’’ he said.

Otukile noted that the activity also aimed to uplift the livelihoods of delta residents, particularly those in NG32, by creating jobs for guides and trackers to provide sustainable incomes. 

He highlighted that while most local guides had theoretical knowledge, they lacked practical experience. 

He believed this activity would equip them with hands-on skills and direct exposure to industry workflows.

According to him, becoming a professional guide required practical skills, strong personal traits, and ecological, environmental, and indigenous awareness to lead travellers safely and memorably. Even high-end tour companies, he said, often required trail guides to complete practical, on-site evaluations.

“Walking in the wilderness will be a true highlight of the safari experience. With our eyes trained on the ground, it is the most authentic way to explore a place. We believe this initiative has the potential to market our country’s tourism to the global community,” he added.

Participants will have the opportunity to look for animal tracks (spoor), smell native plants, and take time to admire smaller, often unnoticed creatures.

Otukile also stated that the walk would be filmed for a documentary to market the unique products the delta offers.

Prior to the event, Otukile highlighted that they would conduct a five-day workshop in one of the delta islands. 

There, experts will train the selected participants in trail guiding and wildlife filmmaking within their areas of operation.

In addition, they have requested the use of a Botswana Defence Force shooting range in the Shokomoka area.

Here, trail guides will undergo simulated defense drills to showcase their reaction skills during wildlife encounters.

Furthermore, the team will visit the participants’ home areas to film backstories by engaging with their close family members, friends, and communities. 

Prize money will be awarded at the end of the project to those who outperform the rest.

“While we document the activity to sell our tourism product, we also aim to inspire and empower locals, especially young people faced with limited employment opportunities, to pursue trail guiding as a sustainable career,” he added.

Otukile emphasised that participant safety was paramount when navigating a wilderness home to dangerous animals.

Consequently, they have engaged highly experienced guides and experts to lead the walk, and all participants will be fully insured.

Companies like Helicopter Horizons, which offers scenic flights over the delta, have also provided helicopters for medical evacuations. A paramedic will be on board to administer first aid at the scene if necessary. ENDS