WILD SELF

A TRANSFORMATIVE WILDERNESS TRAIL

Step away from the life you know. The emails, the meetings, the endless to-do lists, all fade behind you.

We set off for our first walk. The air is cool, the sun rising behind the ancient baobab tree. Sevara, our nature guide — grounded, gentle and deeply at home in this land — pauses to study fresh tracks in the sand. Broad, round prints with clear ridges: elephants passed recently. Ahead, a small herd moves silently through the bush. Their quiet, social presence stirs a longing in you for deep connection that later, back at camp, revelas itself during group reflection. For the first time in a long while, you feel present, alive, and in tune with something vast and wild.

Discover Your Wild Self is a transformative 7-day leadership trail through Botswana’s untouched wilderness. In a small group of up to seven, guided by an experienced local nature guide and skilled leadership facilitators, you’ll walk through wild landscapes, sleep under the stars, and explore your inner world through guided reflection and exercises.

If you’re at a personal or professional crossroads and seeking clarity, inspiration, or a renewed sense of aliveness, this is your invitation. Step into the wild, reconnect with yourself, and discover what’s truly possible.

This trail is for those who sense there’s more to life than the next meeting, milestone, or moment of escape. For those who’ve achieved much, yet quietly wonder, “What now?” or “What else?”

This trail is for you if:

• You’re in transition and seeking clarity about your next step, personally or professionally.

• You feel depleted, restless, or disconnected from your deeper sense of purpose and aliveness.

• You long to slow down, to breathe, and to remember what truly matters, away from noise, screens, and obligations.

• You’re drawn to the wild, not for adrenaline, but for the quiet adventure of rediscovering yourself beneath the surface of your busy life.

• You feel a deep longing to reconnect with nature, the stillness, the raw beauty, and the quiet sense of belonging that the wild awakens within you.

IS YOUR WILD SELF CALLING YOU?

There are many ways to travel, but few that guide you back home to yourself. This trail is not about ticking boxes or chasing achievement. It’s about slowing down, shedding layers, and listening deeply to what life is asking of you now.

You’ll walk away with:

• Clarity & direction: Through guided reflection, silence, and honest conversation, you’ll reconnect with what truly matters, and return with a renewed sense of purpose and perspective.

• Inner strength & stillness: Immersed in Botswana’s vast and untamed wilderness, you’ll remember what it feels like to be grounded, calm, and vividly alive.

• Meaningful connections: You’ll walk alongside others on a similar journey. Held by nature, supported by skilled nature guides and facilitators, and met with presence and authenticity, you’ll be seen for who you truly are.

WHY JOIN THIS LEADERSHIP TRAIL?

THE POWER OF NATURE AND INNER WORK

Immersed in the wilderness, we reconnect with the intelligence of the natural world and of our own bodies. Nature becomes both mirror and teacher: it slows us down, humbles us, and reveals the deeper rhythms of life that modern living often hides.

Through a blend of somatic and reflective practices — breathwork, mindful walking, solo time in nature, and deep individual and group reflection — we learn to listen rather than strive. Together, we explore the stories and events that have shaped us, becoming aware of the patterns that still guide our lives.

Drawing on ancient indigenous rituals and ceremony, we honor what needs to be released and reclaim what wants to live through us now. In this sacred space of simplicity and presence, we meet our wild, authentic selves, rediscover inner clarity, and make powerful commitments to bring that renewed vitality and wisdom back home.

Thursday 14 May — Arrival: Land in Maun’s warm, dusty air. We spend the night here to settle in, gather any last essentials, and meet the group.

Friday 15 May — Into the wild: In the morning we drive two hours to our unfenced base camp in a private concession, where wildlife roams freely. As the late-afternoon heat softens, we begin our first silent hike into the bush, setting up our small satellite camp beneath the open sky.

Saturday 16 to Thursday 21 May — Daily rhythm: Each morning we rise with first light and walk in silence, tracking wildlife as the land warms. By midday we rest in the shade, share lunch, and dive into inner work beneath the mopane trees. Afternoons invite quiet reflection before we head out again in the golden hours. Evenings gather around the campfire — simple, nourishing meals, stories, embers floating into the night — and sometimes the low call of lions in the distance. Midweek we take a full day to pause: journal, slow down, and soak in the stillness of the wild. We return to base camp on Thursday afternoon.

Friday 22 May — Departure: Morning coffee as the sun rises over the Delta. We journey back to Maun and fly home, reconnected with your wild self, renewed and deeply alive.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE LEADERSHIP TRAIL?

Rick’s life is rooted in a deep love for Africa, wild places, and meaningful adventure, paired with a natural gift for guiding others back to their true path.

Raised partly in Ghana and Sudan, his connection to Africa runs deep. From climbing Kilimanjaro to cycling 7,000 km from Cape Town to Nairobi, and endless safaris through East- and Southern Africa, his African adventures are vast.

After leaving McKinsey in 2015, Rick went on a journey in search of his wild self. Now, as an accredited FGASA nature guide, life coach and independent strategy consultant, Rick facilitates retreats and leadership trails in the wild that help others reconnect with their wild self, purpose and aliveness.

Learn more about Rick in the On Track Podcast recorded with Carlien Cavens.

RICK DE GAAY FORTMAN

SEVARA KATSOTSO

Sevara was born in a small village deep in the Okavango Delta, where the wild is woven into everyday life. With over 20 years guiding, he is recognized as one of Botswana’s best: a charismatic leader whose great sense of humor and calm presence instantly make you feel safe.

His ability to track wildlife is exceptional, reading the land with deep respect and skill, allowing guests to witness nature’s wonders up close. Sevara’s passion for the wild runs in his DNA, shaped by a lifetime in this unique landscape.

Fully licensed and qualified, he has spent countless hours on foot in the bush. Beyond guiding, Sevara mentors future nature guides at the African Guiding Academy, sharing his love and knowledge of the wild.

MEET YOUR GUIDES

"Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?"

- Charles Bukowski

DISCOVER YOUR WILD SELF 2025 EDITION

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

• Investment

  • Early bird (till 30 Dec 2025): €3,950 (excl. VAT)

  • After 30 Dec 2025: €4,450 (excl. VAT)

• What's included

  • Intake session

  • 3 meals per day during the leadership trail

  • Camping gear: tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag

  • 1 night in Maun, 1 night at base camp and 6 nights in the wild

  • Transport from Maun Airport to base camp and back

  • 1:1 integration session

• What's not included

  • Flights to and from Maun, Botswana

  • Travel and medical insurance (required)

  • Personal drinks and snacks

ABOUT BOTSWANA

Botswana is a peaceful and democratic country in Southern Africa, known for its vast, sunbaked plains, endless skies and the quiet stillness of the Kalahari Desert. It borders South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

With just over 2.4 million people spread across a land area the size of France, it is one of the most sparsely populated places on Earth. Most citizens are Tswana, whose ancestors settled here over a thousand years ago.

A former British protectorate called Bechuanaland, Botswana became independent in 1966 and has held free elections ever since. It is now considered the least corrupt country in mainland Africa. Its economy, built on diamonds and tourism, has helped create one of the highest living standards in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ABOUT THE OKAVANGO DELTA

The jewel of Botswana's tourism industry is the Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s richest wildlife areas and since 2014 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It's a lush, wild paradise in northern Botswana, where the Okavango River spills out into the dry Kalahari Desert. Instead of flowing to the sea, the water fans out into a vast network of winding channels, lagoons, and islands that appear like a miracle in the middle of the sand.

Each year, the river floods the delta, bringing life to the land. The water spreads slowly across grassy plains, drawing herds of elephants, antelope, and buffalo, along with lions, leopards, and countless birds. The air buzzes with insects, the reeds rustle in the breeze, and hippos grunt in the water at dusk.

INTO THE WILD: BOTSWANA, THE OKAVANGO DELTA AND KWAPA CAMP

ABOUT KWAPA CAMP

Our base camp is Kwapa Camp, set inside a private concession in the Okavango Delta, far from roads, lodges or tourist traffic, in the heart of true wilderness, with abundant wildlife all around.

Kwapa — home to the African Guide Academy, a respected training ground for aspiring nature guides — is simple and low-impact: khaki canvas safari tents, a campfire kitchen, and only a thin electric wire to gently deter elephants. Buffalo, wild dogs and impala often roam through camp. At night, you may hear lions calling across the dry season air.

Our trail begins and ends at Kwapa Camp, yet most of our time is spent even deeper in the bush, camping in small lightweight tents under the stars.

Embarking on a journey into the wild, and into yourself, naturally stirs questions. Below, you’ll find answers to the most common inquiries about this leadership trail: from practical details to what you can expect along the way. We hope this helps you feel prepared, supported, and excited to take this meaningful step toward clarity, connection, and adventure.

FAQ's

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH RICK

Have questions? Ready to say yes to this transformational journey? Whether you want to learn more or secure your place on the leadership trail, I'm here to help. This is your space to explore any questions you might have, feel into whether the trail is a fit, and get a sense of the journey that awaits. I look forward to meeting you.

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Prefer to write instead? No problem. Send me a message with any questions or thoughts you have. I’ll personally read and reply, and I’m happy to guide you from there.

READY TO SAY YES TO THIS TRANSFORMA-TIONAL JOURNEY? GET IN TOUCH!