Walk Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pan
Take the Walk of Ancient Wisdom across the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. Sustainability, local culture and centuries-old traditions await you in this magical corner of the country.
Embark on a truly exclusive and immersive journey into the Kalahari culture, people, and heritage. This unique experience is not just a trip, but a one-off opportunity tailored for a select group of only eight friends or family.
Explorations Company specialise in meaningful travel, ranging from mask festivals in Papua New Guinea to off-grid horseback treks across the Mongolian Desert. The company, founded in 1989, is deeply rooted in conservation and sustainability, and the majority of the team have lived in or were born in the regions they service, which brings reassurance (and richness) to the traveller’s experience.
The San people, descendants of early Stone Age ancestors, are famous for their hunting and trapping skills. They have lived in harmony with the natural world for at least 20,000 years. The Walk (between the 9th and 17th of June 2024) takes place across the Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the most extensive salt flats in the world. It is one of the last places on the planet where the San can live by traditional methods, but their way of life is threatened by multiple outside forces, particularly the diamond industry. This one-of-a-kind walking safari offers a unique opportunity to understand their ancient culture as the Sans struggle to survive.
What is included?
Accompanying you on this adventure are two of Africa's most renowned private guides: Ralph Bousfield, a conservationist who comes from a long line of adventurers in southern Africa, and Aleksandra Orbeck-Nilsen, a former actor and model who has dedicated her life to supporting the San in preserving and celebrating their culture.
The guides will share their expert knowledge of the land and its inhabitants, enabling you to gain an insight into this fascinating community. You will walk with the San and see the environment through their eyes, watching the men prepare bows, arrows and quivers and spending time with the women, spotting elephants in the wild and learning about the insects; the expansive salt pans will, we are promised, deliver their secrets to the travellers.
Nights are spent in comfortable camps, and evening game drives are available to look for nocturnal inhabitants such as aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, porcupines and honey badgers. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a black-maned Kalahari lion.
A spokesperson for Explorations Company said: “This journey is not just about sightseeing and learning but also about making a difference. By embarking on this adventure, you will be helping to support the Sans people and their sustainable living initiatives, as well as wildlife conservation efforts in the area.”
From USD 27,500 pps (25% of fee (guide fee) is donated to local community and conservation projects) based on a minimum of 2 / maximum of 8 travellers. Price includes international flights.