The director
Okavango Exploration Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- HATAB & BOGA
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours where clients assist with camp chores
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $750 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Yuanjjn | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
awesome
Our guide, Theno, accompanied us the entire way; he was a great guy, and we managed to see everything there was to see. The chef’s cooking was delicious, too. It was a trip that offered incredible value for money—highly recommended.
(automatic translation from Chinese)
CN
Email Jiang | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
To see more animals and time is ok
Driver likes talk to us, ask us what do we want to see and make it done, he tell us what is safe
CN
Email Zhang Jing | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A perfect trip—we saw all the animals we wanted to see. The campsite and the guide were both excellent.
We chose a six-day, five-night mobile safari covering Savuti, Khwai and Moremi. Our guide and driver, Theno, was extremely experienced, patient and professional. On one day, he even started the game drive at 5 a.m. and did not finish until 11 p.m.
We saw all the animals we had hoped to see, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, African wild dogs, and a wide variety of herbivores and birds.
The mobile camping experience was absolutely amazing. We saw an incredible number of animals right around our camp, including lions, leopards, honey badgers, elephants, buffalo, black-backed jackals and hyenas. At times, it felt like the camp itself was part of the safari.
The camping conditions were also far better than we had expected. We initially thought mobile camping might be quite basic and uncomfortable, but the tents were actually very comfortable, and each tent had its own private toilet and shower. The food was also surprisingly good and varied. In addition to our driver/guide, two staff members accompanied us and were responsible for setting up the camp and preparing our meals. Over the six days, we had fish, chicken, beef and pork, so there was plenty of variety.
For us, the most important part of the safari experience was the guide, and Theno was exceptional. He has extensive experience tracking animals and could often tell whether animals were nearby from their calls, tracks and the surrounding environment. For example, when we were tracking African wild dogs, he was able to locate and follow them partly by listening to their calls. He also frequently pointed out tracks left by lions, hyenas and other animals that we would never have noticed ourselves.
More importantly, he could anticipate where animals were likely to go next. When tracking a leopard, for example, he could predict its movements and position the vehicle in advance along the route where he expected it to pass. His experience and ability to read the bush made a huge difference to our safari experience.
Overall, this mobile safari was far beyond our expectations. It was an unforgettable experience, and we would highly recommend Theno and the team.
CN
Email kk | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing mobile safari, great guide, lots of wildlife, new tents & good food.
This 5‑day mobile camping safari through Botswana was absolutely the highlight of our southern Africa travels, and we could not recommend this operator more.
The route was thoughtfully laid out across Chobe, Savuti, Khwai and Xakanaxa, complemented by a breathtaking helicopter flight above the Okavango Delta. Our guide was incredibly skilled at locating wildlife; he was warm, genuine and endlessly patient. On our night safari in Khwai, he dedicated extra hours exploring to seek out animals for our group, rather than sticking rigidly to a set schedule.
One of our favourite surprises was just how much wildlife roamed close to our campsite. We spotted lions, hyenas, elephants, cape buffalo, leopards and black‑backed jackals right around the mobile camp — a magical, immersive encounter unique to mobile safari camping.
The tents were new, well maintained and comfortable out in the bush. The meals prepared daily by the camp chef were delicious and satisfying. Every member of the crew was attentive and worked flawlessly to look after our group throughout the trip. If you want a true deep wilderness safari experience in Botswana, this tour company is an excellent choice, and we would love to travel with them again!
CN
Email HuangLei | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent
I can’t recommend this Okavango safari enough. Our guide was incredibly dedicated and professional—always punctual, patient, and passionate about the Delta. His knowledge of the wildlife, birds, and local ecosystem was outstanding, and he went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible experience while feeling safe and comfortable. The scenery was breathtaking, from the waterways and islands to the wide floodplains, and the wildlife was simply spectacular. We saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and an incredible variety of birds. It was a truly unforgettable safari, and the guide’s professionalism made it even more special.
CH
Email Harsha Chourey | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
passionate about his work, curious, eager to explain...
I had an amazing experience with Theno and would happily recommend him to anyone planning an African safari.
Communication was clear, friendly, and to the point. All the information was provided accurately and on time, which made planning the trip very easy.
The service throughout the trip was excellent. Everything we needed was taken care of. The camps were comfortable and, in many ways, felt like a hotel — beds were made, warm water was available for showers, and breakfast and dinner were ready when we arrived. Lunch and coffee were also packed for us to enjoy during the safari. The staff were always very kind, welcoming, and friendly.
I compared several tour operators before booking, and Theno offered the most reasonable price considering the length of the trip and everything that was included.
What really stood out was how flexible and committed Theno was to making sure we got the best possible safari experience. He adapted the itinerary along the way to help us see as many animals as possible. Khwai was not originally part of our plan, but he took us there anyway. He also added both a Mokoro and a boat ride, even though they were not originally included.
Theno is reliable, punctual, and very experienced. Everything went smoothly and according to plan.
And of course, the safari itself was unforgettable! We saw 4 of the Big 5 and spotted lions almost every day. A big part of that was thanks to Theno’s experience and incredible instincts — he often seemed to know exactly where the lions might be and would take us in the right direction. We were also lucky enough to see a leopard hunting, along with many other animals and a huge variety of beautiful birds. Theno knows a lot about birds as well and was always happy to share interesting information about the different species we saw.
My two cents: The whole experience was absolutely worth more than what I paid. One of the reasons I chose a local operator was because I wanted someone local to genuinely benefit from my trip, and I was very happy with that decision.
Thank you, Theno, Muambo and Thoot for an unforgettable safari experience!
Email Jane and Brian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Adventurous and unforgettable wildlife safari in beautiful wilderness
We are a family of 4 from the UK, and we had a fantastic experience with Okavango Exploration Safaris. This was our first experience as a family of travel to Africa. Theno personalised the tour for us and took time in planning stage to create a bespoke itinerary that worked with our travel. We feel so lucky to have met Theno and Mayambo who were reliable, fun, easy company, incredibly knowledgeable, and made us feel so welcome and able to experience wildlife and learn about the people and history of Botswana. The wildlife experience was mind-blowing. We saw over 160 species of birds and we had so many close encounters with animals including wild dogs, lions and lion cubs, leopard, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, water monitors, ostrich, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, sable antelope, tsetseve, warthogs, buffalo... we could continue! We joined a participatory safari tour and the camping was superb. Great kit and wonderful sites to camp where we experienced the southern hemisphere stars and the soundscapes of the reserves at night from the safety of our tents. Our teenagers (14/15) enjoyed helping with the tasks, which were minimal and good fun. Mayambo's cooking was excellent - hot meals cooked on an open fire, with freshly baked bread also cooked in the fire. All four of us enjoyed every meal. The tour was excellent value for money - we had unique access to the reserves at night and saw so much for a fraction of the price of some other safari options. and we whole-heartedly recommend Botswana family business run by two brothers who have grown up in the Okavango Delta and are passionate about sharing their incredible homeland.
AT
Email Stephan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Adventure and unsurpassed warmth
We were welcomed very warmly, and our safety was looked after when we stayed two nights in tents in the Okavango-Delta. We found more comfort than we expected in such a trip at this price level. We were not quite lucky in the excursions, meaning that we saw comparatively few animals, but chef Mjambo compensated for that by pampering with delicious meals and funny stories he had to tell. Guide Boka was knowlegeable and polers Nanas and L.P. were super friendly. An unforgettable experience.
Email Jay | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
First Class Operation
We experienced incredible service and care from the team at Okavango Exploration Safaris. As a travel company owner, I work with countless agencies abroad and I could tell this was a well run operation from our initial communications.
So how was the experience? Well, I've done several camping safaris in different countries and they weren't nearly as well organized or comfortable.
There are also lots of small touches that made the trip feel luxurious, despite it being a budget tour. Things like shower, toilet, charging station, hot water basins in the morning to wash pie faces.
Shout out to our guide Bee who was incredibly dedicated to ensuring we saw the wildlife we possibly could. And I can't forget chef Moyambo who setup camp and always made sure we had delicious meals.
ES
Email Pablo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
More than a safari operator
From the very beginning, I felt welcomed and genuinely cared for. The level of service throughout the entire safari was exceptional, and every detail was handled with so much professionalism and attention.
A special thank you to Theno, whose knowledge and passion made this experience unforgettable. Every drive was much more than just seeing animals — he shared incredible insights about their behavior, the environment, and so many details I would never have noticed myself. His ability to spot wildlife and explain everything in such an engaging way was truly impressive.
The food also exceeded all my expectations — every meal was excellent and added so much to the experience.
What I will remember most is not only the incredible moments in the bush, but also the warmth, kindness, and dedication that made me feel comfortable throughout the whole journey.
Thank a lot, for creating an experience I will never forget. I would recommend this company without hesitation.