EXPEDITION WALKING SAFARI | JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2028
On foot among the wild animals
On foot and by mokoro through the Okavango Delta: your own camp, your own tracks, your own water.
The story of this expedition
From Brussels you fly to Maun. From there a small aircraft takes you over a landscape of waterways and islands to an airstrip in the middle of the Okavango Delta. From that moment the real adventure begins: no lodge, no jeep, no fence. You carry what you need, pitch your own camp and move on foot through one of the most densely populated big game areas in Africa.
A safari from a jeep you watch. A safari on foot you undergo. Without engine noise and without a metal shell everything changes: you smell, you hear, and you suddenly realise how big an elephant really is. You learn to read the wind, keep your distance and above all: stand still when you are told to.
Wat er ’s nachts gebeurt in de delta, lees je ’s ochtends in het zand. De trackers waarmee we werken, zien in een afdruk welk dier hier passeerde, hoe lang geleden, in welke richting en in welk humeur. Het is een vaardigheid die generaties lang wordt doorgegeven, en na deze expeditie kijk je zelf nooit meer op dezelfde manier naar een spoor.
The Okavango is the only major river in the world that never reaches the sea: it disappears into the Kalahari. You travel through it in a mokoro, a narrow boat pushed along with a pole, at water level among the papyrus reeds. From that same water we filter what we drink, because here the river is everything: transport, drinking water and the reason this ecosystem exists.
We deliberately choose July to September: the dry season, when the game concentrates around the remaining water sources, the grass is low and the chance of meeting animals on foot is greatest.
The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you fly to Maun. From there a small aircraft takes you over a landscape of waterways and islands to an airstrip in the middle of the Okavango Delta. From that moment the real adventure begins: no lodge, no jeep, no fence. You carry what you need, pitch your own camp and move on foot through one of the most densely populated big game areas in Africa.
A safari from a jeep you watch. A safari on foot you undergo. Without engine noise and without a metal shell everything changes: you smell, you hear, and you suddenly realise how big an elephant really is. You learn to read the wind, keep your distance and above all: stand still when you are told to.
Wat er ’s nachts gebeurt in de delta, lees je ’s ochtends in het zand. De trackers waarmee we werken, zien in een afdruk welk dier hier passeerde, hoe lang geleden, in welke richting en in welk humeur. Het is een vaardigheid die generaties lang wordt doorgegeven, en na deze expeditie kijk je zelf nooit meer op dezelfde manier naar een spoor.
The Okavango is the only major river in the world that never reaches the sea: it disappears into the Kalahari. You travel through it in a mokoro, a narrow boat pushed along with a pole, at water level among the papyrus reeds. From that same water we filter what we drink, because here the river is everything: transport, drinking water and the reason this ecosystem exists.
We deliberately choose July to September: the dry season, when the game concentrates around the remaining water sources, the grass is low and the chance of meeting animals on foot is greatest.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we start we are off grid. We filter water from the river, cook our own expedition food and pitch our camps in places that are safe and that nature allows. At night a watch system runs, because you sleep in the habitat of lions, buffalo and elephants.
You learn to stand still when you are told to, keep an eye on the wind and take your turn on night watch, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a detailed evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we start we are off grid. We filter water from the river, cook our own expedition food and pitch our camps in places that are safe and that nature allows. At night a watch system runs, because you sleep in the habitat of lions, buffalo and elephants.
You learn to stand still when you are told to, keep an eye on the wind and take your turn on night watch, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Picture this: a herd of elephants passing fifty metres away while you stand dead still in the grass, a mokoro sliding silently through the papyrus, and a night when you hear lions roaring from inside your tent.
During the Walking Safari you discover what happens when you let go of your position in the food chain for a while: more attentive, smaller and infinitely more present than you have been in years.
Picture this: a herd of elephants passing fifty metres away while you stand dead still in the grass, a mokoro sliding silently through the papyrus, and a night when you hear lions roaring from inside your tent.
During the Walking Safari you discover what happens when you let go of your position in the food chain for a while: more attentive, smaller and infinitely more present than you have been in years.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not have to be an elite athlete. The terrain is flat, but you walk long days in the heat carrying your own pack. Through our preparation programme (screening, trainingsschema en gerichte trainingen) bouwen we jouw niveau in 3 tot 6 maanden doelgericht op tot expeditieniveau.
Very safe. We work with licensed and armed walking guides who complete one of the strictest training programmes in the world in Botswana, supported by WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication and clear safety protocols. Conduct rules in big game country are covered extensively during the preparation, and at night a watch system runs.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not have to be an elite athlete. The terrain is flat, but you walk long days in the heat carrying your own pack. Through our preparation programme (screening, trainingsschema en gerichte trainingen) bouwen we jouw niveau in 3 tot 6 maanden doelgericht op tot expeditieniveau.
Very safe. We work with licensed and armed walking guides who complete one of the strictest training programmes in the world in Botswana, supported by WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication and clear safety protocols. Conduct rules in big game country are covered extensively during the preparation, and at night a watch system runs.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready to step into the delta on foot?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“On foot in big game country your attention changes completely. You are no longer looking at animals, you are moving among them. That demands discipline and conduct rules we train beforehand and apply daily on site.”
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