After multiple safaris, game drives and birdwatching tours, if you are looking to explore Botswana’s wilderness in a new and exciting way, then mokoro trips are definitely a must try!
What is a mokoro?
Mokoro is the traditional mode of transport in the Okavango Delta. A mokoro is a canoe that is dug out from a tree trunk using hand tools. It is a long process and is not worth the pain (or worth chopping down a tree) as wood wears out soon. Due to this, more trees were cut down to make more mekoro (plural of mokoro). As this practice is not environmentally friendly, the mekoro are now made from fiberglass as it is more durable and also easier to control. Though this removes the natural charm of the wooden mokoro, sustainable adaptations are the need of the hour.
Each mokoro is approximately 6 metres long and seats one or two people along with a ‘poler’, who controls the vessel with his long pole called ‘ngashi’. You might marvel at the ease with which the polers command the mokoro, and this is because they had mastered the art during childhood itself. For centuries, the mokoro has been the means of transport of the natives here, the San bushmen and the BaYei, and was also used for fishing. With the rise of tourism, they began using mekoro as an unparalleled mode of sightseeing and it has turned out as the most popular way to explore the Okavango Delta.
An exciting way to explore the Okavango
The Okavango Delta is blessed with its unique landscape of extensive waterways snaking their way through the lush grasslands. The heart of the delta especially, houses the most intricate water systems. This feature makes it possible to explore life here from a different perspective – from the waters.
The delta houses a rich animal kingdom and is quite literally a paradise on earth. You can explore its grandeur by blending in with the surroundings and silently gliding past wildlife. You will be just a little above water level which becomes the perfect vantage point to spot even the smallest frog to huge bush elephants. You might even come across hippos or elephants bathing in the water! Many others also come to rest on the water banks and as they go on about their routine, you can silently observe them.
Best time to take mokoro trips
The perfect time to take mokoro trips is early in the morning as many animals come closer to the waterways to hydrate. The ideal time to visit here would be July to October as this is when the water levels are high and mokoro trips are possible.
Why should you take a mokoro trip?
Well, to begin with, it is an extremely unique experience wherein you become one with nature and observe wildlife up close. If you are a photographer, then you would love this trip as you can click hundreds of wildlife photographs without scaring the animals off.
What makes mokoro trips a must try adventure on your visit to the Okavango Delta is because it is not possible in other regions of Botswana, due to their hot and dry conditions.
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