![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/2ecf295e-47b8-42d7-b762-38d92e3c9a5b_rw_1920.jpg?h=8b36ec3568abee5b085fe1365fb9e794)
'Boro Polers'. Botswana, April 2018
The Okavango Delta is one of the most extraordinary places of Botswana. It's the largest inland delta in the world. In the Delta there is a small village called Boro, situated at a waterfront. From there, you can make a mokoro trip; a dugout canoe which is operated by a poler. Boro village consists almost completely of families of polers. These guides learned the trade often from their parents or relatives. They are well-organised and are being represented by a local trust.
Unfortunately, we couldn't make pictures off-shore, but a lot of polers were happy being portrayed on the shore. Our guide 'Ranger' helped us in taking these pictures.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/c6c3a448-b608-4374-8c62-3761c479d2c7_rw_1920.jpg?h=f10b4789af04eb7a8e5f2a4bb5485863)
"Kenny", age 30. Poler since he was 7 years old. Learned the trade from his father.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/07db04c0-32a5-4632-8229-e31ff12b6120_rw_1920.jpg?h=ad700217a6b75eb73276d3a984f326fc)
Lethogonolo "Tony" Gaboyo, age 35. Born in Born and learned to guide from his parents.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/63ff7ade-7a77-4de3-a763-4e200812223c_rw_1920.jpg?h=d8070a44e483ed5a3ee954a24cef6108)
"Ranger", 43. Poler since 2001.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/fe39ade5-a5bc-4786-805c-40622b0dc006_rw_1920.jpg?h=fb67dcdc12907b04df2c6b4b11435eba)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/b4d8e5ec-65bd-4f39-aba4-4f378e1e5dd7_rw_1920.jpg?h=c8782aaa1f437072e2088150a9de0c4b)
Jack Botsalo, 67. Poler since 1986. Both his parents were polers.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/015fa8a5-bbcb-4e5f-a61b-1f9f6c2a0096_rw_1920.jpg?h=16affd0ce81232df31974f0e435a4be7)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/ff754e0d-a36b-443f-8ffb-0327cc753fa6_rw_1920.jpg?h=1d498e0a8413a2548c4be80bdb5eb9be)
Gel, 41. Since '97 a Poler, grew up in the Delta area. Learned to pole from his parents when he was seven.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/5519f940-3aa4-4ef7-82a7-2bfb1289248f_rw_1920.jpg?h=6cf315d4713e2bc0f89735a4f23e6054)
Oscar Botsang Daniel, 32 years old. Born in a family of guides. Learned from family and friends.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/8d45dc8d-bd8e-4fa6-a294-fdd478553f75_rw_1920.jpg?h=f1720c276fcfc79154706f13faefdaba)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/20350fec-3611-40d7-b358-19ba7ddd75d0_rw_1920.jpg?h=7f409096190af1fbdb4112cd55d7a2f7)
"Mitch"
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/d4cf2b61-fcaf-41eb-ad99-2cbb81a45634_rw_1920.jpg?h=ac2397a09893326b7531a2526c5c3ea7)
Seonyatseng Sox, 35. Been doing this job for 10 years. Born in the Boro village. Sisters and brothers are guides too.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/f5531c9a-5364-4e4b-abf8-07df79226415_rw_1920.jpg?h=6382c9132fab510632f83ae359b5c41c)
TopGun, Ketlhopamang Motlaleselelo, 38 years old. Guiding since 15 years.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/3f3a85bc-6482-4a10-9a3d-ae90d4ee862f_rw_1920.jpg?h=8a558d632835fd8d5f6b43d45f4ea793)
"Michael" Lotsaja, age 28. Guide since 4 years. He was born deep in the delta, now lives in Boro village. His grandfather taught him.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/91f8c67f-a664-4db0-b2e2-a8b19f686d73_rw_1920.jpg?h=598096da8de7ee34bfcd02e7d738463b)
Ranger.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/fd4f6785190f05c5627406ea952514de/d3ba33a7-d2d0-44e3-9d3e-0011abd99b28_rw_1920.jpg?h=ed5d5cf01b4ecba3f2d8b6efa41ee10b)
Ranger.