32 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List

14. Walk Among the Elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

There are few places on Earth where you can safely walk alongside wild elephants—and Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of them. This UNESCO-listed wetland is a paradise of lush floodplains, hidden lagoons, and wandering herds of wildlife, making it one of the world’s most spectacular safari destinations. Unlike traditional vehicle-based safaris, walking safaris in the Okavango Delta offer a thrilling, intimate connection with nature. Accompanied by expert guides and armed rangers, you’ll track elephants, lions, giraffes, and hippos on foot, learning about their behavior and the intricate ecosystem they call home. For the ultimate experience, spend the night at a luxury tented camp deep in the delta, where you can fall asleep to the sounds of roaring lions and distant elephant trumpets, waking up to pink sunrises over shimmering water channels. Best Time to Go: May to October (dry season), when the wildlife gathers around the waterways.