Walking Stick Travel & Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours where clients assist with camp chores
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Fran | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional and efficient and quick to respond to our enquiries
We found Walking Stick Tours to be very efficient and professional, always quick to respond to our enquiries and felt that the price of the trip was great value.
Our guide Gabana was so knowledgeable about the areas we were visiting and the animals and their behaviour that we could experience and enjoy the bush safely while still having close encounters. Tracking a female leopard in the early morning, and sitting close to wild dogs by their den with the two adults guarding the pups as they emerge, and the excitement of the rest
of the pack returning from a hunt were highlights. We will remember the many great moments throughout the trip for a long time.
We were well looked after by our camp chef Election who worked hard to provide us with tasty and filling vegetarian meals everyday, we never went hungry and nothing was too much trouble for the camp assistants always helpful and cheerful.
We have recommended Walking Stick Tours to others while on our travels and would not hesitate to book with them again if we return to Botswana
Email Ian & Sarah | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a Fantastic Experience!
We had an amazing time! Thank you so much for everything.
Moses was a brilliant guide and ensured that we had a very positive experience taking home with us memories of a huge array of animals, previously only seen in books and zoos!
Simon and the team looked after us really well despite the challenges they faced with punctures and supply trucks. We loved our tents and found the camp beds really comfortable and the al fresco showers and loo surprisingly easy. Having animals so close to our camp made this especially magical.
The river safari in Chobe was a great end to the trip, allowing us to see many of the animals a lot closer up and from a different perspective, and the transfer from Chobe to Victoria Falls went very smoothly.
If we were doing this again, we would add in one or two extra days so that we could build in more 2-night stays during the holiday. This would make it more relaxing allowing for an occasional afternoon siesta instead of 3 consecutive days of long drives. That said, we thoroughly enjoyed what we did despite being very tired at the end!
A wonderful holiday and one that we will definitely recommend to others.
On the communication side, everything was great, but an indication of the potential travel times each day (in addition to the morning and evening jeep safaris) would have helped with our planning and to manage our expectations of time on the "road".
DE
Email Hanne and Marek | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Incredible Safari Experience
In June, we went on an 11-day safari with Walking Stick in the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession and Chobe National Park. The communication with Walking Stick in advance was good; our inquiries were answered promptly. As agreed, we were picked up at our hotel in Maun and went to the Okavango Delta for 2 days. In addition to the Mokoro tour, the guided walks in particular were a special experience that we really enjoyed. It was very impressive how our guide Emanuel spotted the animals and predicted their behaviour. We never felt unsafe during these walks.
We went on to Moremi, where we camped at a very nice spot at the Khwai River, with a view of elephants crossing the river. The game drives in Moremi, Khwai and Savuti were very exciting and eventful. We saw an incredible number of animals, in addition to elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, we also had some excellent lion and leopard sightings. The wild dogs with puppies were a particular highlight. Our guide Gabana responded fully to our requests, spared no effort to find the animals and always had a very good eye for great photo opportunities and optimal lighting conditions for taking pictures. The places he chose for an evening sundowner were always very special. We really enjoyed the game drives with him.
The rest of the crew was also super nice and went out of their way to make our vacation special. The tent was spacious and comfortable with the integrated shower and toilet. The food was very good and plentiful. We didn't have to sacrifice comfort during the 11 days in the wild.
On the way from Savuti to Chobe River Front, our safari vehicle had damage that could not be repaired. Phillomon immediately arranged for a replacement vehicle to pick us up so that we could complete our planned game drive the same evening. It was impressive how quickly the spare part was organized and the vehicle repaired, so that we could bring our safari to a successful end without restrictions.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience in the middle of the wilderness with an incredible crew and unforgettable impressions. Our best safari yet. We are already longing for a repeat of Walking Stick Safari in the next few years.
Email Ben | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very skilled at finding game
Had a great time with Phillimon and the team. Had a week across two camps with them and, although the delta was drier than we’d hoped and we had a couple of mechanical issues, the trip was super memorable and enjoyable. Thanks to the team!
DE
Email Prarthana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well equipped and excellent customer service .
We did 5 days delta and maromi reserve camping trip . Walking stick has an excellent team which makes the whole journey more magical. Our guide Dylos and Kenny , chef Prince and Richmond made sure that we were comfortable in all ways. Logistically everything was taken care of. We had hot shower everyday in the Bush which was a luxury. We hope to come back again and do a longer trip with the same team and definitely recommend Walking Stick everyone .
Email Jesper Morch | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Magic days in the Delta
Over the past 25 years I have made an average of four annual trips to nature reserves in east and southern Africa. Ten years ago i was fortunate to run into Walking Stick and their leader Philemon Kamogelo. The experiences Philemon and his team gave us then were never surpassed until my recent trip with my dear friend Melanie from Cape Town.
We had planned and booked our trip for late September 2023. A heatwave was rolling over Botswana at the time. We asked if we could postpone some months. Although Walking Stick had prepared everything for a 12 day trip into the Delta followed by Moremi, they agreed. Correspondence between Cape Town and Maun was lively. Whatever our questions and requests, we invariably had reply and comments within 24 hours. Walking Stick is not the most fancy and luxurious of safari companies. Fortunately. It is exactly because Walking Stick is not that Melanie and I consider Walking Stick the best and most exciting experience available anywhere in east and southern Africa.
Philemon was our guide. His team included a chef, a back-up driver, a camp assistant, and two mokoro sailors. All of them from there same little village of 500 souls, which use had the good fortune to visit. The visit to the village was important - Walking Stick is very much a community based enterprise involving the village in many ways and form. But even more exciting was our daily encounters with the wildlife. At our first camp, we sat at sunset facing the river. To our left was 13 giraffes and 30 elephants. Straight ahead was an endless line of buffaloes. Maybe 150. And everywhere around us impala, wildebeest and zebra. And up in the higher branches of the tree see sat under, three fish eagles scouted the river for a possible catch.
A typical day at the Delta would be up at 7.00, tea, off in the mokoros and a walk or two. Back to brunch, maybe shower, and chill. Lunch made on open fire, a siesta and off on an evening tour of the delta in the mokoros. Later in Moremi, same pattern except the mokoro time was replaced by game drives in the huge Landrover.
Philemon and his team are without comparison the best, most competent, and most knowledgeable i have come across in my 100+ safaris over the years. They have my highest and most unreserved commendation. A trip with them is a glorious memory for the rest of your life. When yo do go, don't forget to get Philemon to tell you why their company is called Walking Stick. Melanie is as enthusiastic as `I am, and we are already beginning to plan or return to the Okavango and Walking Stick.
Email Melanie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best bush experience I have ever had
I have gone on Safari all my life - many were to super luxurious lodges. However, this was the best experience I have ever had. Being so close to the animals, learning from people who crew up amongst the animals and still being comfortable was just super amazing. It was extremely good value for money and the service from Philemon and his team was just super. The response to anything we asked was: "No Problem!" Philemon even went to extremely lengths to find a cellphone lost in the bush. If you want the real bush experience at a good price and still be comfortable, you cannot go wrong with Walking Stick Safaris.
HU
Email Imre Hercegh | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A friendly safari operating company with good people and skills
We had an amazingly interesting tour with Walking Stick Safari in the Okavango delta. Unfortunately we could not get to Chief Island, since there was not enough water in the river, - but the guys helped us to find an equally satisfying experience. We had mokoro trips and many walking tours in the savannah where we could discover animal and bird life in a close way. Experience of having long walks and discover elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalos, antilops and birds in their natural habitat without disturbing them was an unparallel experience. Obama, our guide proved to ba an excellend companion guide. During the 3 days we had our private cook Elecion, who was able to serve perfect and delicious lunches and dinners mad all on open fire. In the evenings we had great conversations with the guys and learned a lot about their life and preferences, just as well we told our life. We got good friends in the meantime.
Thank you for all! :-)
US
Email Mike | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Phil and his team were flexible, knowledgeable, and fun
Our goals for booking a safari in the Okavango area was to find someone locally-based, with a good track record, and reasonably priced, and Phil's team at Walking Stick was the perfect fit. We did a 4 day/3 night mobile camping safari. Even though our flight was delayed about 12 hours, the team was flexible and let us push our safari one day back at no additional cost. Phil knows Moremi like the back of his hand and we saw everything we dreamed of, and more (he is friendly with other guides and communicated with them to find us lions, leopards, wild dogs, etc). Camp was comfortable and the cooking was great, being mindful of my traveling partner's nut allergy. Our canoe/walking safaris were also amazing. We only wished that we spent more time. Compared to what it seems other operators are charging for a similar experience, Phil's price seems competitive and the service more than worth what we paid.
CH
Email Polo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful experience - privatized camping safari - great game drives
We experienced the privatized camping safari for our family and enjoyed every moment.
Throughout the 5 days safari we experienced a very high reliability and trust. Our guide (Philimon) is highly professional and we enjoyed the combination of a native local guide (and his stories) combined with his empathy for tourists and his high working ethics. He and his team (in the second car with cook/tent etc.) worked hard to make our experience unique and unforgettable.
I was travelling in Botswana (also Moremi) 25 years ago with my own car (self-driver) and I used to have some detailed information upfront. For this trip we had less detailed information upfront, means also less marketing. That was ok.
We had all the necessary information and our guide optimized our journey during the safari (e.g. added a boat-trip).
We assume that the longterm working-experience as guide/driver in the Okovango-Delta makes it possible to relate to both worlds (local and international) - and we enjoyed that a lot.
We do trust Walking Stick Travel & Tours and we recommend them to people who look for a privatized camping safari (with good value for money).