Kokomere Adventure Safaris
Donna and KT in the safari vehicle on the road through the Botswana bush

Locally owned in Botswana

Who We Are

People who love this land

Our story

Born from a love of the bush

Kokomere Adventure Safaris was founded with one goal: to offer a truly private, authentic experience of Botswana's extraordinary wilderness — guided by people who have spent their lives in it. We are based in Maun, not in a city office on another continent. When you travel with us, you're working directly with the people who will be there with you every step of the way.

Our commitment is simple: to provide you with a trip of a lifetime, while maintaining the lightest possible footprint on the Okavango Delta and Kalahari, and ensuring fair treatment of every member of our team.

The name

The Kokomere bird

Kokomere is the Setswana name for a woodpecker — a small but remarkable bird found throughout Botswana's bushveld. With its distinctive tapping echoing through the trees, the woodpecker is a familiar sound of the African wilderness.

Woodpeckers are perfectly adapted to life in the bush. Their strong bills allow them to excavate insects from beneath bark and, in some species, even dig into the ground for food. Their work also benefits countless other creatures: abandoned tree cavities provide nesting and shelter for other birds and small animals.

For us, the Kokomere represents something more than a bird. It represents curiosity, persistence, and a close connection with the living landscape — qualities at the heart of a Botswana safari.

And if you are quiet and patient enough, you may hear the tap, tap, tap of a Kokomere before you ever see it.

The team

Meet the people behind the experience

KT sitting atop a large termite mound under a bright Botswana sky

Keitopetse (KT) Kagande

Director & Lead Guide

Born and raised in Maun, Botswana — the gateway to the Okavango Delta — KT has spent decades in the bush, developing a deep, first-hand understanding of every destination Kokomere visits. With nearly a decade coordinating a premier Okavango wilderness programme, his knowledge of animal behaviour, seasonal patterns, and the land itself is exceptional.

KT founded Kokomere with a single vision: to offer guests an experience that is authentic, adventurous, and deeply personal. His warmth and passion for Botswana are evident from the first moment you meet him at the airport.

Donna seated on a rock in the Botswana bush

Donna Burge

Co-Founder

An equine veterinarian for over 20 years and an anatomy and physiology professor for 13, Donna brings a scientist's eye for detail and a teacher's gift for storytelling to every safari she's part of. She splits her time between Colorado, Virginia, and Maun — her three favourite places on earth.

Donna's love for Botswana's people and wildlife runs deep. She joined KT to build something that honours the land, supports local communities, and gives guests a genuinely life-changing experience. Her enthusiasm is infectious — and her patience is remarkable.

Why it matters

Locally owned. Community minded.

We believe the best safaris are run by people who are from the land they guide in. KT was born in Maun. Every member of our team — guides, camp crew, chefs — is Motswana (the correct local term for a citizen of Botswana; plural: Batswana). The money you spend with us stays in the community that depends on this wilderness.

We are not a booking platform or a reseller. You book directly with us. We answer your questions directly. And when you arrive in Maun, KT is the one waiting for you at the airport.

Get in touch with us →
The full Kokomere Adventure Safaris team and crew in front of the safari vehicle

Come and meet us in the bush

The best way to understand what we do is to experience it. Tell us what you're dreaming of — we'll design the rest.

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