Maun, Botswana 

Okavango Delta Village Trip * Victoria Falls

June 17 - July 3, 2025

$4,995

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Details and Itinerary

( Subject to change...A comprehensive itinerary will be sent 30 days prior to the trip.)

 

 

After many expectant years, we are so excited to join forces again with our friends and co-laborers in Christ, Love Botswana, for an authentic and unbelievable trip into the bush and river villages of the Okavango Delta and the Northwest regions of Botswana and Namibia. 

 

Based in Maun, Love Botswana Outreach Mission is a pioneering organization, a growing and developing ministry that focuses on equipping indigenous leaders to effectively reach their communities for Christ. The organisation was founded by Drs. Jerry and Jana Lackey in 1987. The staff is made up of many nationalities to reflect the international scope of the work. Over 100 local staff are employed.

 

Through interactions with the local church, the international school, the community outreach department, Lorato House Rescue Centre and exposure to other local humanitarian programs and services, our team will begin to take part in what God is doing through this Mission. 

 

Our mission trip will culminate at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe with an exciting safari adventure, river rafting the Zambezi, seeing the breathtaking "Smoke That Thunders" Victoria Falls, and enjoy a cultural African dinner/show. While at our base in Maun, we'll take a horseback safari at the 4-Star, Royal Tree Lodge (as seen on The Amazing Race, hosted by Love Botswana)!

 

We'll begin our trip in Maun with an overview of basic Setswana greetings and terms; Botswana etiquette and dress standards, food, and every day living experiences. We'll spend a couple days doing ministry in Maun at their base of operations, and then hit the dusty roads of Northern Botswana to outreach into the Okavango Delta, ministering among the small villages and communities that Love Botswana impact. During our time in the Okavango Delta we'll be sleeping in tents, sitting around an "African" campfire each night, debriefing the days ministry, worshipping as the sun sets over the crystal clear rivers of the Okavando Delta...a mission experience you'll remember for the rest of your life!

 

Our outreaches will consist of many opportunities to share the Love of God through; A variety of different evangelistic opportunities, some building development, children's ministry, discipleship, and more. This mission trip will open your eyes and hearts to unreached people groups, stretch you spiritually as we dive deeper into the awesome presence of God through worship, campfire devotions, and prayer!

 

We've put together a mission trip that rivals anything you've ever experienced! Indiana Jones type adventures and powerful and very authentic ministry to a people group that doesn't know the Lord...you'll see that Botswana and will carve a place in your heart! So join our team of  high school, college-aged, and young millennials from all across America and make new life-long friends!!

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What’s Included:
• Round-trip international flight from NYC to Maun, Botswana

• One-Way flight from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Johannesburg, S.A.
• La Guardia Hampton Inn hotel accommodations (or similar) in NYC during training/team reception
• Hotel accommodations in Maun, All accommodations during our outreaches and Vic Falls Excursion
• All in-country transportation to/from airports and to/from ministry sites throughout the trip
• Daily meals (3 per day) in Miami during training and all in-country meals (3 per day)
• Ministry Materials, Translators, local guides, drivers, chefs, and all pre-trip set-up

• Trip t-shirt

• Medical Emergency Insurance

• All Free Day Excursions, Safaris, Zambezi Rive Rafting, and Horseback Safari.

 

What’s Not Included:
• Domestic flight from your hometown to Miami, FL
• Passport

• Immunizations (see CDC button)
• Snacks in all airports and Souvenirs

 

 

 

2025 Basic Trip Itinerary

( Subject to change...A comprehensive itinerary will be sent 30 days prior to the trip.

 

June 17: NYC.
Once you arrive, our airport greeting team will meet you at the airport and later that evening have dinner together as a team and begin our training. During this time we will have some team bonding time, go over trip logistics, rules, safety, cultural items, team communication, schedule...and then have a Commissioning service. *You will be sharing a room with others (same gender) as it helps create team bonding...and is just more fun!

DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: La Guardia Hampton Inn

 

June 18-19: NYC to Botswana.
Depart for Botswana (International ticket confirmation will be sent to you 30 days prior to departure.) 

After meeting our contacts in Maun, Botswana we will head to our accommodations, regroup, and get some sleep.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

June 20-25: Maun, Botswana.

Introduction of ministry, overview of basic Setswana greetings and terms; Botswana etiquette and dress standards, ministry we will be doing, and outreach expectations. A variety of ministry opportunities in Maun we will be part of the first couple of days. Horseback safari at the 4-Star, Royal Tree Lodge.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

June 26-29: Outreaches to the Okavango Delta.

Jesus Film Evangelism, hut to hut ministry, community development, children ministry, and more. We will eat dinner most nights around the campfire and under the beautiful African southern stars! Small group devotionals and worship.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

June 30-July 2: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Excursion.

We will overland to Chobe National Park for a safari and then on the see the magnificent Victoria Falls, David Livingstone called the Falls the "Smoke that Thunders". We'll have an special evening out with a buffet dinner and watching a traditional African cultural dance/show.  Our last day there we will river raft the Zambezi River...Totally amazing (and safe) experience! 

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

July 2: Fly from Vic Falls to Johannesburg & back to NYC

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: La Guardia Hampton Inn

 

July 2: NYC Arrival

Special Team Dinner, Team Meeting, Worship, and Final Team Debriefing.

DINNER. ACCOMMODATIONS: La Guardia Hampton Inn

 

July 3: All team members depart anytime for home.

 

 

Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions you are currently taking or should take in case you get sick, and also about the following vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Typhoid.  Malaria and Yellow Fever are not required or suggested for this trip as there is very low risk. See Center for Disease Control and Prevention requirements for Botswana; (click on CDC button).

 

Training

Training for this trip will take place at the La Guardia Hampton Inn in New York City. (Lodging can be subject to change.)

 

Training consists of specific ministry and outreach information, going over rules and safety regulations, team bonding time, and an evening meeting with worship and small group prayer.

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Health & Safety FAQs

 

What vaccinations do I need? We would strongly suggest following the CDC requirements/suggestions. You should consult with your own family physician, but what we always suggest is to make sure that all your Hepatitis A, Tetanus/Diphtheria, and Typhoid/Polio shots are all up to date. It is a personal choice and decision as everyone has their own risk tolerance, vaccination beliefs, and health and safety thresholds.

 

Is the trip insured? Yes! We carry short-term travel insurance for each member of the team that includes medical evacuation, AD&D coverage, and other great travel insurance benefits. However, you will still need to be covered on a health insurance plan or have one purchased for the trip. We use Good Neighbor Insurance (GNI) for our mission trip coverage. For more information, call 480-813-9100 or visit info@gninsurance.com

 

What if an emergency happens and I can’t go? If you have to pull out of a mission trip for whatever reason, we will apply all payments/donations to a future trip, minus costs we may not be able to recover.

 

Health history questionnaire. A few weeks prior to the mission trip, we’ll email you a Health History Questionnaire and a Consent/Release form for you to fill out and email back to us before the mission trip. Most of it is pretty standard and it just gives us an idea of medications being taken, past health issues, allergies, immunizations received, and other items for us to be aware of if there were to be a need for you to go to a doctor or clinic/hospital. Please fill out what you are comfortable with; everything is 100% confidential. 

 

Safety track record. Going overseas is a big deal, and it's totally understandable for individuals, parents, and families to be concerned and want to know what safety precautions are being taken for each trip, especially if they are new to Wide Awake Missions. We've been at this for over 30 years; we have taken thousands of teens and young adults overseas, and over the years of doing mission trips, we have been fortunate to have never had a major safety or medical issue.

 

International safety and travel warnings. We keep in constant contact with all travel warnings concerning each country we go to. Before we leave, we register our group with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the U.S. Department of State, and we log our itinerary with the State Departments of each country we  travel to.

 

On being alone. No one is ever allowed to go off by themselves outside of our outreach sites, ministry sites, and hotels. We travel as a team unit, eat as a team, and minister as a team—so no one is ever alone. We rely on our trusted and experienced contacts/translators to guide us each day. Also, each team member pairs up daily with an accountability partner. We always have a first aid kit that travels with us, and our contacts keep us informed on the best doctors, clinics, and hospitals to visit if there are ever any issues or emergencies.

 

Contact information and itinerary. You, your parents, and/or family will have a list of all our emergency numbers and will receive a more updated itinerary before each trip.

 

Leaders. We have a seasoned country director run the mission trip, and our leader/student ratio is usually one college-aged leader (and some parent volunteers) per five (under age 18) students. We allow the team to bring their smartphones, and usually, it's their camera as well. We use the hotel’s wifi; this way students can be in contact with their parents for updates. We also provide you and your parents the phone numbers of the international hotels where we will be staying during the trip.

 

What about theft? Theft is always a possibility when you travel abroad, so please don’t bring anything you cannot afford to lose. Most crime is petty like pick-pocketing—but since we travel as a group and use private, chartered buses and vans with a hired driver who guards our belongings, we’ve rarely had a team member lose anything.

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General Mission Trip FAQs

 

As we get within a few months of our mission trip, we will be in more communication to make sure everything goes smoothly, and we are always available to answer any questions you may have. We can’t even begin to express how unbelievable, fun, and adventurous this mission trip is going to be!

 

What about drinking water? Throughout the trip, we will drink plenty of bottled water and/or purified filtered water. 

 

Can I bring items for the outreaches? Yes! Feel free to bring balloons, face paint, stickers, coloring book, crayons, pencils, and Bibles to give away. If your school or church wants to be a part in a financial way, we will be buying food to distribute in villages, supplying some Bibles, and handing out other little things, so you/they can give towards these options if you’d like; just let us know.

 

Are there any additional costs? Pretty much everything is covered! We work with a variety of helpers and translators, and we do take a group "love offering" at the end of the trip for our main contacts as well—it’s the gesture that counts here and not the amount though.

 

Do I need a sleeping bag or towel? No, you will not need a sleeping bag or towel for this trip.

 

Can I use my phone? Definitely! Although wifi can be spotty, it’s nice to keep in touch and share photos with friends and family who are praying for you and have supported you. 

 

How many bags can I bring? You are allowed to bring one personal item like a back pack or day pack (usually a smaller type of school day backpack and not an actual carry on suitcase) and one checked piece of luggage (a suitcase or backpack/duffle bag weighing 48 pounds or less).

 

What’s a typical day like? Each morning, we enjoy breakfast and team devotions, and then we head off to our outreaches for the day. We typically bring lunch with us, and at the end of the day we’ll go out with our contacts/translators and enjoy team meals together at a local restaurant or at the hotel. Later in the evening, we bring everyone together and have some team fun, play some games, and some testimony time from the day of outreaches and ministry. We also love to have  worship nights and an occasional inspiring message by one of the leaders or special speakers.

 

Do I have to share my testimony in front of people? Well, as a team, we’d love everyone to get to know each other’s "story.”  As far as sharing in front of a group of people or church, we understand that speaking in front of larger groups can be frightening, so we’ll leave that up to you. You will see though that throughout the trip, you will begin to feel more and more comfortable with it. You will have numerous opportunities to pray for the needs of many people in the outreaches we will do.

 

Sports/skits? We will have some fun opportunities to play some pick-up games of soccer and basketball; and do some fun drama skits (and other games). It’s such a great way to connect and offers lots of opportunities to minister and get to know the people of Botswana better. Please let us know if you have any special talents you’d love to use during the trip or teach others, such as face-painting, making balloon animals, playing musical instruments, dancing, singing, etc.

 

*This list isn’t exhaustive, if you have any additional questions please just let us know!