Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pay national park entry fees and book park campsites not in private hands; it's in a separ-
ate compound behind the main department building and well signposted.
Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm Sat)
Provides information on the town's many tour companies and
lodges.
THE MOKORO EXPERIENCE
One of the best (and also cheapest) ways to experience the Okavango Delta is to glide across the waters in a
mokoro
(plural
mekoro
), a shallow-draft dugout canoe traditionally hewn from an ebony or a sausage-tree log.
With encouragement from several international conservation groups, however, the Batswana have now begun to
construct more
mekoro
from fibreglass. The rationale behind this is that ebony and sausage trees take over 100
years to grow while a
mokoro
only lasts for about five years.
A
mokoro
may appear precarious at first, but it is amazingly stable and ideally suited to the shallow delta wa-
ters. It can accommodate two passengers and some limited luggage, and is propelled by a poler who stands at the
back of the canoe with a
ngashi,
a long pole made from the mogonono tree.
The quality of a
mokoro
trip often depends on the passengers' enthusiasm, the meshing of personalities and the
skill of the poler. Most polers (but not all) speak at least some English and can identify plants, birds and animals,
and explain the cultures and myths of the delta inhabitants. Unfortunately, polers are often shy and lack confiden-
ce, so you may have to ask a lot of questions to get the information.
How much you enjoy your trip will depend partly on your expectations. If you come in the spirit of immersing
yourself in nature and slowing down to the pace of life here on the delta, you won't leave disappointed. It's im-
portant to stress, however, that you should not expect to see too much wildlife. From the
mokoro,
you'll certainly
spot plenty of hippos and crocs, and antelopes and elephants are frequently sighted during hikes. However, the
main attraction of a
mokoro
trip is the peace and serenity you'll feel as you glide along the shallow waters of the
delta. If, however, your main interest is viewing wildlife, consider spending a night or two in the Moremi Game
Reserve.
Getting There & Away
Air
Air Botswana
( 686 0391;
www.airbotswana.co.bw
)
has flights to Gaborone (from
P882) and Kasane (from P369). In addition to domestic flights, there are international
flights between Maun and Johannesburg (South Africa), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and
Livingstone (Zambia).
