Harkness Safaris

Harkness Safaris is a small, citizen-owned, family-run mobile safari operator founded in 2008 by Andrew Harkness — NOT a fixed camp or lodge. British-born and now a naturalised Motswana citizen, Harkness has guided in Botswana since 2004 and has covered more than 1,000km of the Okavango Delta on foot; he is widely regarded as one of the leading private mobile safari guides in the region. The company is built around privately guided, tailor-made trips rather than fixed-departure group tours, explicitly welcoming both individuals and families.

Safaris follow a classic old-style mobile route locally known as 'The Milk Run,' running from Maun to Livingstone via the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and (on longer itineraries) the Central Kalahari. The same private mobile camp — and the same crew — travels with guests from start to finish, pitched fresh at a private campsite in each wilderness area and struck completely on departure, leaving no trace. Guests choose between 3.5m x 4.5m semi-luxury en-suite Meru tents or smaller 2.4m x 2.4m en-suite Dome tents, both with traditional bucket showers heated over the fire.

Activities include game drives, guided walks, mokoro excursions, and motorboat rides on the Chobe River. Harkness positions itself against a broader trend of guiding quality declining across Africa, emphasising genuine, ecologically knowledgeable bush guides over 'glorified drivers,' and a flexible, unscripted daily schedule built around each guest rather than a fixed itinerary.

<strong>At a Glance</strong> - Property type: Privately guided, small family-run mobile safari operator (est. 2008) — NOT a fixed camp or lodge; classic old-style walking/game-drive mobile safari - Rooms: Own mobile camp equipment, moved between private campsites: choice of 3.5m x 4.5m semi-luxury en-suite Meru tents or 2.4m x 2.4m en-suite Dome tents; same crew and tents travel with guests for the full trip - Max guests: Not stated on site; privately guided and tailor-made, explicitly caters to both individuals and families - Children policy: Explicitly welcomes families; no stated minimum age - Key activities: Game drives, guided walks, mokoro excursions, motorboat rides on the Chobe River; traditional fire-heated bucket showers - Facilities: Fully mobile private camp (no permanent structures); campsite struck and left exactly as found on departure — a deliberately low-impact, Leave No Trace approach - Power/Wi-Fi: Not stated on site; traditional off-grid mobile safari camp - Ownership/history: Founded 2008 by Andrew Harkness (British-born, naturalised Motswana citizen), guiding in Botswana since 2004; small, citizen-owned family business; affiliated with AITO, Expert Africa, Botswana Tourism Organisation and HATAB