Walking Stick Travel & Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours where clients assist with camp chores
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $3,469 to $6,071 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Elloura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Walking Stick are the Best!
Walking Stick a wonderful locally run company and Philmon and the team were fantastic, made my experience very special. Saw every animal you could wish for and with someone who really loves the bush which was a bit infectious! Every effort was made to make my trip wonderful, you will not be disappointed! No-one else had booked on the dates I was going so I ended up on a private safari which was amazing and unbelievably incredible value. Don't pay a bunch of money to stay in a foreign owned hotel, go for something authentic!
Email Maggie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Botswana Safari trip
We have just returned from a great 5 night, 6 day camping safari with Walking Stick Safaris. First 2 days poled on a mokoro to an island in the delta with guided walks then 3 nights in the Khwai area. Luxury it is not but, especially in Khwai, good large tents with own bucket shower and toilet at the back and canopy over the front with proper comfortable camp beds. Fabulous game drives with Phillimon who is extremely knowledgeable, we saw masses. Joe, the chef, was a star, lovely meals plus cake and homemade bread on a camp fire, all washed down with a few glasses of wine while listening to lions roar (in the distance) and hippos grunting in the dark. We would thoroughly recommend Phillimon and his team. They are born and bred in the area so know it very well and it was great to support their small local company helping the local economy while having to compete with all the big travel companies. We wish them lots of success with their business.
SE
Email Joost & Mila | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great adventure, great crew! Go and explore Botswana with Walking Stick Travel & Tours!
We went on a seven-day private camping safari together with Philimon and his fantastic crew (Joe & Lucky). The communication with Philimon was excellent from the beginning to the end.
He is responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly. During the planning stage, he was not only giving us detailed information regarding the tour we booked from him, but also went beyond and gave us information and recommendations on which areas to include in our trip. Really appreciate his help and ideas.
The tour itself was a wonderful experience. Philimon arranged the transfer for us from Livingstone to Kasane and we spent the first two nights in the Northern part of Chobe National Park, close to the river. Being so close to nature and hearing the roaring of the lions and leopards at night is something special.
Everything felt safe and the equipment is good. Great tents, with a bathroom ensuite, and comfortable camp beds. We woke up early in the morning to start with the game drives and Philimon is doing everything to get you the best experience - he is going the extra mile. He knows a lot of people and all the guides communicate with each other in case there are some special sightings. We saw several leopards, many lions, and even wild dogs.
The meals were above our expectations. Every day it was a surprise what we would eat and the dishes were well-prepared. We also had some soup as starters and nice deserts. Joe is a very good chef!
We really enjoyed the great stories at the campfire after dinner. We learned a lot about Philimon´s life in Botswana and the small island in the middle of the Okavango Delta where he grew up together with Joe and Lucky. A lot of interesting and fun stories about the daily life and local traditions.
After the Northern part of Chobe, we drove to Savuti, Kwhai concession, and ended our trip in the Okavango Delta near Maun. The campsites were really good and the trip was itself was a good variation of landscapes and wildlife. The tour package was good value for the money.
It was special to spend the week with these three incredible people that grew up in the Okavango delta - surrounded by the wild animals their whole life. The crew has a lot of knowledge and Philimon spoke passionately about the animals and their behavior. The more you ask, the more you will learn.
Thank you again Philimon and crew for all your help and the memorable and amazing experience in Chobe National Park! We will never forget this!
CA
Email Brenda Allen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Walking Stick Tours is a 5 Star operation!
Our recent experience with Walking Stick Safari Tours in August 2019, was absolutely amazing! The owner, Philemon is simply the best there is! We stayed in lovely tents with a toilet/shower area at the back that was very comfortable. We did the "Best Of Botswana" Tour for 6 days and saw lots of the beautiful Okavango Delta and its animals. . We travelled mostly by a safari vehicle, which was bumpy and long at times, but lead by a knowledgeable guide and amazing driver. We also had two days in a remote area that we reached by a mokoro, or flat bottom boat. It was magical. What an experience for a Canadian. Botswana is a lovely country!
The staff named Photos and Gift and others were absolutely amazing. The food was super delicious and always served with kindness and care as they prepared it by hand over a fire daily. The settings for all of the camping spots were super amazing. We actually camped with elephants just walking by behind out tents. We could hear the frogs sing at night as we faced a river teeming with life. And through it all we felt safe and well taken care of by Philemon and his crew. We had lots of wildlife drives by safari vehicle, mokoro/boat cruises, and even a couple of guided walks. The staff is wonderful, from the cooks to the support staff. They are polite, hard-working, honest, and hospitable. The character of Botswanan people is incredible!
I am a world traveller, and can honestly say, it was the best holiday I ever had! We saw lots of animals in a variety of settings and was able to get to know the warm staff. It was everything I hoped for and much more. I strongly encourage you to go on one of Philemon's tours, he will give you a trip of a lifetime!
In fact, we had such an awesome trip that we want to book another trip in the years to come! Sending warm wishes out to Philemon and Photos and staff on a job well done!!!
Email Emily | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience, cannot more highly recommend!
I cannot say enough good things about Walking Stick Tours! My husband and I did the 11day/10night Okavango Delta-Moremi-Khwai-Savuti-Chobe tour. We saw everything we wanted and more, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Every location had something different to offer and I am glad that we decided to do the 11-day trip. We were so well taken care of by our guide and support team and our every need was met, often before we even thought of it. This was a once in a lifetime experience and I cannot more highly recommend Walking Stick Tours! Will absolutely be coming back. Thank you!!
Email Peter Smith | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organised, professional and customer focused
My wife and went on the Walking Stick Travel & Tours 11 day Safari through the Okavango, Moremi, Khwai, Savuti & Chobe in September 2022. Our contact was Philimon and all our bookings were done via email with him. We travelled in one Land Cruiser (with trailer) with the Walking Stick Team of Elliot (Guide & Driver), Joe (Chef) and Kia (general support). Everything was well organised and the Team were such great fun to be with that we were sad the trip had to come to an end after the 11 days. The meals were varied and tasty, the game drives were very informative and interesting and we saw pretty much everything except Rhino during our game drives. During the drives we saw Cheetahs hunting, a leopard with a kill that had it stolen by hyenas, lions with their kill and many other sightings. The tents were very comfortable with shower and toilet in an enclosed area out the back of the tent. Warm water was brought to us every morning for our hand basin and shower. It was a great experience to lie at night in the tent listening to the sounds of the African bush before going to sleep. Afternoon game drives were always ended with a G&T and snacks around the fire followed by dinner near the campfire. All in all it was a fantastic experience and exceeded expectations. If you want to experience the real Africa with a great team and feel safe, then don't hesitate to book with Philimon and his team at Walking Stick Travel & Tours
Email Tam | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing. Exceeded all expectations. Phillimon is an outstanding guide, tracker and tour operator.
We (4 friends) had booked a Walking Sticks 7 day mobile safari “The Best of Botswana” during covid and finally made it in October 2023. An eagerly awaited holiday and safari that exceeded all expectations and the highlight of our trip to Southern Africa.
The trip was great value and Walking Sticks such an ethical company who honoured our deposit paid in 2020.
Phillimon is the best guide and tracker you could hope to meet. We saw some amazing sights including a wild dog hunt and kill.
Lions hunting, at a kill, lounging about, elephants and more elephants, hippos a plenty, cape buffalo, leopard and lots of giraffes, zebra and antelope and loads of birds. Seeing hyena pups at a den with mother was yet another highlight.
The first 2 nights was spent on the Okavango Delta and we did 3 walking safaris with an amazing guide. Watching hippos from
a mokoro on the water was a dream come true.
Magical African sunsets with G&T’s & cold beers. Dinner prepared by Chef Prince with a camp fire and great wines.
You couldn’t find a better safari company than Walking Sticks with Phillimon, KD, Prince, Comfort and Kealeboga. Highly recommend.
Thank you for making our dreams come true.
Tam
Email Jules | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experienced, local, run by a trustworthy professional.
In October 2023 three friends and I had the absolute pleasure of doing a 7 day safari in Botswana with Walking Sticks Travel & Tours. The great service began before we left Australia as we emailed to and fro asking questions and clarifying details about the trip and were provided with all the info we needed by the very helpful Kealeboga James. It was a mobile safari which meant we camped in 4 different areas. As such, we got to see different landscapes and animals through Okavango Delta, Khwai Community Area, Savute area and Chobe National Park. I arrived in Maun the day before our tour started but still I was greeted at the airport by Walking Sticks manager Phillimon who drove me to my hotel. He immediately struck me as a polite and respectful person and as we spent the week in his care he proved to also be professional, humble, flexible, trustworthy and extremely knowledgeable with regard to flora, fauna and all things nature. He was supported by a terrific, hardworking team including Chef 'Prince' (a funny fellow), another expert guide, and multi-skilled back-up people who did everything from poling the Mokoro canoes to setting up tents and completing many tasks required to look after our needs so all the hard work was done for us. Our tour began with an enthralling Mokoro trip through the beautiful pristine wetlands where we were amongst hippos, crocs, elephants and birds. Mokoro's are the main form of transport and our camping spot was inaccessible by road and located in a shady nook near the water where we could view elephants and hear the sounds of nature (eg lion's roaring) day and night. Our tents with en-suite were adequate and we enjoyed the food and gin & tonic 'sundowner's whilst watching the gorgeous sunsets. Each day we spent hours game viewing either on foot or by jeep and Phillimon had a gift at being able to track and locate all manner of wildlife including lion, hyena, wild dogs, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, baboon, leopard and a variety of antelope and birds. We learnt so much as he imparted his knowledge of their behaviour and the landscape. All our campsites were different and in lovely settings. If you are a person who loves nature and living amongst it, can be up at sunrise every day and handle the challenges of dusty, bumpy roads and hot weather (October) then this tour is for you. It is one of the most memorable experiences in my 40 years of traveling. Thank you so much to Phillimon - your integrity is a true asset. Walking Sticks is a small, locally owned and run business and deserves the highest praise.
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.
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.