What traditional skills can I learn during cultural experiences?

Learn the traditional method of basket-weaving from the staff in our camps, who will demonstrate the ancient craft and give you a chance to try it for yourself.

Which regions offer the best cultural experiences?

All of the areas in which we operate – the Linyanti, the Okavango Delta, and the Mababe region – offer cultural experiences. But it’s always wise to speak to a Travel Designer about availability when planning your trip with us.

What traditional foods might I experience in Botswana?

Try the national dish, seswaa, a slow-cooked meat dish, and sample traditional morogo (spinach) and pap (maize porridge). Chat to a Travel Designer to find a camp with the right local cuisine offerings for you.

How does Wilderness support local communities?

We lease land from the Okavango Community Trust, helping support local livelihoods. Perhaps our most important initiative is Children in the Wilderness, a programme which provides environmental education to local youth, providing them with conservation-focused career pathways.

Can I purchase authentic crafts directly from artisans?

Some of our camps have Safari Boutiques or Trading Stores where you can purchase local wares. You can also buy hand-crafted baskets made by our camp staff. Simply chat to a Travel Designer to find out which camps offer these services.

MORE THAN A SAFARI

Discover Botswana’s cultures

Botswana is home to an array of cultures, each contributing to the country’s rich heritage.

Home Africa Botswana A cultural guide to Botswana

Botswana’s cultural heritage

To truly understand any place, you need to interact with its people. That’s why we’ve created experiences in our Botswana camps that immerse you in the local culture. Explore national heritage sites, learn from the local staff, and engage with the surrounding communities in a respectful, meaningful and educational manner.

A portrait of an older woman in a blue head wrap, checkered shawl, and colorful patterned skirt, sitting outdoors in a village setting with golden light filtering through the trees.

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Plan your Botswana safari

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Okavango Delta waterways with mokoro canoe safari in Botswana

Best time to visit

Discover when to visit Botswana for peak wildlife, green season beauty and water-based safaris.

Best time to visit

Flying over the Okavango Delta in a private helicopter

How to plan

A step-by-step guide to planning a Botswana safari, from destinations to logistics and timing.

How to plan

Wilderness game drive vehicles driver through the Okavango Delta channels

Safari costs

Understand Botswana safari pricing, what drives cost, and how to plan your budget.

Safari costs

Guests enjoying some down time on the private deck of their tent at Wilderness Savuti

Safari itineraries

Explore curated Botswana safari itineraries combining iconic regions and experiences.

Safari itineraries

Expand your senses at the Sanctuary at Mombo from the aromatherapy and beyond

Luxury safaris

Discover Botswana’s most exclusive safari experiences in private concessions and remote camps.

Cultural groups of Botswana

From the Tswana to the San, the BaYei and Hambukushu, Botswana is rich in culture. We couldn’t begin to list all of the ethnic groups in this country, as there are many, but here are a few of the major cultures.

The San

The BaYei

The Hambukushu

The Tswana

Wilderness Botswana Culture Kalahari San

The San

The San or Basarwa people, which include many sub-ethnic groups, each with their own Khoisan language, are indigenous to Botswana, with ancestral homelands in the Central Kalahari. Traditionally hunter gatherers, many today are cattle farmers or pastoralists. The San possess a wealth of indigenous knowledge on flora and fauna, as well as ancient animal tracking, hunting and survival techniques.

The BaYei

The first Bantu speakers to migrate to the Okavango Delta, the BaYei (or WaYeyi) people speak ShiYeyi. They are known for their fishing skills and their strong connection to the waters of the Delta, having historically depended on them for their survival. The BaYei, alongside other cultural groups, are associated with the invention of the mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe still used today.

The Hambukushu

Also a Bantu-speaking people who emigrated from Central Africa, the Hambukushu are known for the arts, including paintings, wooden carvings, traditional music used in ancestral worship, and intricate basket weaving. Generations of Hambukushu women have used these baskets to catch fish in the Okavango. The Hambukushu speak Thimbukushu, and also live in parts of Zambia, Namibia, and Angola.

A man performing a traditional Botswana dance in a skirt made of reeds or sticks, with onlookers and drumming in a natural setting.

The Tswana

The Tswana people are the largest ethnic group in the country, making up over 70% of the population. They are comprised of many sub-ethnic groups and tribes led by separate chiefs, but many speak Setswana, the official language of Botswana. Historically and in the modern day, many rely on herding and cattle farming, and continue to practice traditional medicine, song and dance.

The San

The San or Basarwa people, which include many sub-ethnic groups, each with their own Khoisan language, are indigenous to Botswana, with ancestral homelands in the Central Kalahari. Traditionally hunter gatherers, many today are cattle farmers or pastoralists. The San possess a wealth of indigenous knowledge on flora and fauna, as well as ancient animal tracking, hunting and survival techniques.

The BaYei

The first Bantu speakers to migrate to the Okavango Delta, the BaYei (or WaYeyi) people speak ShiYeyi. They are known for their fishing skills and their strong connection to the waters of the Delta, having historically depended on them for their survival. The BaYei, alongside other cultural groups, are associated with the invention of the mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe still used today.

The Hambukushu

Also a Bantu-speaking people who emigrated from Central Africa, the Hambukushu are known for the arts, including paintings, wooden carvings, traditional music used in ancestral worship, and intricate basket weaving. Generations of Hambukushu women have used these baskets to catch fish in the Okavango. The Hambukushu speak Thimbukushu, and also live in parts of Zambia, Namibia, and Angola.

The Tswana

The Tswana people are the largest ethnic group in the country, making up over 70% of the population. They are comprised of many sub-ethnic groups and tribes led by separate chiefs, but many speak Setswana, the official language of Botswana. Historically and in the modern day, many rely on herding and cattle farming, and continue to practice traditional medicine, song and dance.

Cultural experiences

There are a few ways you can learn about the local culture both at camp and out on excursions. Be sure to chat to your Travel Designers to confirm availability, however, as each camp is different and activities vary from time to time.

A smiling older man in a light suit and a woman in traditional patterned dress and head wrap stand outside a white portable building in a Botswanan village.

Village visit

Wilderness Vumbura Plains guests can visit the Okavango Community Trust village of Eretsha.

Craft demonstrations

Watch a demonstration and learn basket-weaving techniques from the Wilderness DumaTau and Vumbura Plains staff.

A traditional boma experience with local food and drink around a fire

Boma night

Hear traditional songs, eat and share stories around the fire, and enjoy the African tradition of communal dining.

Traditional cuisine

Taste traditional local food like seswaa (slow-cooked meat with maize porridge or ‘pap’) at Wilderness Qorokwe.

Little Vumbura Botswana Purpose Community

Stories from our guests

"What really stood out to me was that the staff at [DumaTau] were truly exceptional and a key part of what made my stay so memorable – they engaged in meaningful conversations, sharing stories about the local culture and their own lives, which made the experience feel even more authentic”. – BB, September 2024 Review

Taste of Botswana

Signature dishes at Wilderness Vumbura Plains use the traditional powdered root of the Okavango waterlily, tswii.

The iconic baobab’s root powder, a natural superfood, is used at Wilderness Mombo and Wilderness DumaTau, in menu items such as smoothies. DumaTau’s impressive menu also features elements of Kalahari truffle, marula and ground nuts.

Be sure to chat to a Travel Designer about camp cuisine, as our creative chefs are always developing new dishes.

Meet Mma Glo, the chef behind our Tswii

Cultural calendar

Botswana’s annual festivals and national holidays are alive with song, dance, food and celebration, and are wonderful places to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Independence Day

This day celebrates Botswana’s independence from Great Britain in 1966, and is celebrated yearly on September 30th.

Maitisong Festival

One of the biggest annual cultural events, Maitisong is a 10-day celebration of music, art, poetry and theatre.

A subsistence farmer in a bright green shirt tending to his tall sorghum or millet crops under a clear blue sky in rural Botswana.

Dikgafela Harvest Fest

This is one of many festivals that thanks the ancestors for the latest harvest, and asks them to bless the next.

A large group of men, women, and children in a mix of modern and traditional clothing pose for a group photo outdoors in a sunny Botswanan village setting.

President’s Day

An annual occasion celebrates Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, & the leaders who came after.

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Explore Botswana safari experiences

Explore Botswana’s landscapes, wildlife and safari experiences, from the Okavango Delta’s waterways to Linyanti’s elephant herds, rich cultures and conservation success stories.

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Safari activities

Discover when to visit Botswana for peak wildlife, green season beauty and water-based safaris.

Safari activities

Wilderness Botswana Okavango Wildlife Pels Fishing Owl

Delta wildlife

A step-by-step guide to planning a Botswana safari, from destinations to logistics and timing.

Delta wildlife

Wildlife guide

A complete guide to Botswana’s wildlife and where to see key species.

Wildlife guide

Okavango camps

Explore safari camps in the Okavango Delta, from luxury lodges to intimate island stays.

Okavango camps

Linyanti camps

Discover safari camps in the Linyanti, known for elephants and predator encounters.

Linyanti camps

Conservation safaris

Learn how conservation tourism protects Botswana’s wildlife and communities.

Conservation safaris

Cultural guide

Explore Botswana’s cultures, traditions and community experiences.

Cultural guide

Photographic safaris

Discover why Botswana is one of Africa’s most photogenic safari destinations.

Photographic safaris

Responsible tourism

A man smiling in front of a sign for 'Diyoveya Honey, Elephant Aware', highlighting community conservation and honey making in Botswana.

By leasing land from government and community trusts, and helping fund local businesses, youth education initiatives, and human-wildlife coexistence programmes, we help Educate, Empower and Protect local communities. These are the three core pillars of our Impact strategy, which are spearheaded by our non-profit arm, the Wilderness Trust.

Conservation in Botswana

Frequently asked questions

Cultural encounters in Botswana

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Two goat herders walking with a mixed herd of cattle, enveloped in dust from the herd against a bright African sunset, Botswana.

Plan a culturally enriching safari

Our expert Travel Designers will curate a personalised itinerary for you, balancing your dream safari camp with unforgettable wildlife encounters and rich cultural experiences.

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