The Graceful Polers of Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Transport in Botswana looks a little different, especially if you live in the riverfront communities of the Okavango Delta. Growing up here, you learn to become a poler of a Mokoro boat at a very young age. 

Come take a visual journey with us and admire their skill and grace at navigating through these beautiful deltas, just beware of  your ‘friendly’ neighbourhood hippos.

Drifting through the grass reads of the Delta. (Watch out for spiders!)

Mokoro boats—or shallow canoes—seat 2 people with the poler positioned at the back.

Balance is key while steering. Luckily, their long wooden poles do much of the work.

The Delta spans over 18,000 sq km, so if you don’t have one of these boats, you’ll be hard pressed to get around by yourself. ..

...but if you ask nicely they’ll let you give it a try. Pro tip: go barefoot. It’s much easier to balance with the feel of the boat under your toes.

All images: Rose-Marie Huet