Mokoro and Boat Safaris

Water safaris offer a peaceful, low-angle perspective on wildlife that a vehicle simply cannot match, gliding you close to the water's edge where animals come to drink and feed. From the silent mokoro canoes of the Okavango Delta to the hippo-and-elephant-lined boat cruises of the Chobe, they reveal a whole different community of life. The low viewpoint is also superb for photography, and the calm makes for one of the safari's most relaxing experiences.

Key things to know

• ➜Mokoro dugout canoes glide silently through shallow delta channels.
• ➜Boat cruises bring you close to hippos, crocodiles, elephants and waterbirds.
• ➜The low angle is superb for reflections and eye-level wildlife photography.
• ➜Water safaris are calm and quiet, revealing animals that a vehicle disturbs.
• ➜Bring sun protection, a hat and a dry bag to keep gear safe from splash.
• ➜Keep still and low in a mokoro — sudden movements unsettle the fragile balance.

Seeing the bush from the water

Water-based safaris — boat cruises, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips and canoe journeys — offer a completely different angle on the wildlife. From water level you glide quietly close to hippos, crocodiles, drinking herds and a dazzling variety of water birds, with none of the engine noise or dust of a vehicle.

They are also blissfully relaxing. A sundowner cruise as the light turns golden, or a silent mokoro gliding through papyrus channels, ranks among the most peaceful experiences a safari offers, and the low perspective is a gift for photographers.

• ➜Boat, mokoro and canoe trips give a low, quiet perspective
• ➜Superb for hippos, crocodiles, drinking animals and water birds
• ➜Relaxing and excellent for photography
• ➜Availability depends on rivers, lakes and the delta

Staying safe on the water

Water is beautiful but demands respect. Hippos and crocodiles are genuinely dangerous, so always follow the boatman's or guide's instructions, keep hands and limbs inside the craft, stay seated and never provoke a closer approach for a photograph.

Wear a life jacket where provided, bring sun protection — glare off the water is fierce — and keep cameras in a dry bag when not in use. With a skilled operator managing the distance and reading the animals' mood, a water safari is safe, serene and often the highlight of a trip; the caution simply keeps it that way.

References & further reading

1. Sinclair, A. R. E., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Serengeti IV. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Estes, R. D. (2012). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
4. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2024-1. www.iucnredlist.org.