WILD SELF

READY TO FEEL ALIVE AGAIN?

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. Evans, 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, reveals 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 8-day leadership trail through Botswana’s untouched wilderness. In a small group of up to eight, 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 somatic exercises.

Step into the wild and reconnect with your purpose, find clarity, and feel fully alive.

• You are navigating a personal or professional transition and seeking clarity about your next step.

• You seem to have it all together, yet something feels like it's missing.

• You're longing for connection, nature, adventure, and to feel fully alive again.

• You sense some-thing needs to change, but lack the clarity to name it.

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

• 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.

THIS TRAIL IS FOR YOU IF...

• Slow down: Leave the noise of everyday life behind. Slow down, move at the rhythm of nature and open up to fresh perspectives and new ways of seeing.

• Reflect deeply: Create space to explore the questions that matter to you now, and to rediscover the sides of yourself daily life leaves little room for, through guided reflection, deep conversations and somatic exercises — to reconnect with your purpose, and gain clarity to know what's next.

• Make meaningful connections: Share this journey with a diverse group of up to 8 participants. Small enough for meaningful conversations, shared experiences and real connection with yourself, others and nature, without losing the space to be alone.

• Reconnect with nature: Explore the Okavango Delta — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — on foot with a highly experienced nature guide. Track elephants, lions, and other wildlife, feeling present and fully alive as you spend your days outside and sleep underneath the stars.

EXPLORE WHAT TRULY MATTERS

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.

Day 1 — Arrival: Land in Maun’s warm, dusty air. We spend the night here to settle in, gather any last essentials, meet the group, and get a taste of Maun's culture.

Day 2 — Into the wild: In the morning we drive two hours to our base camp in a private community 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.

Day 3 to 7 — 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 do guided reflection and somatic exercises 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.

Day 8 — Departure: Morning coffee as the sun rises over the Delta. We journey back to Maun and fly home, with renewed clarity, reconnected with our purpose, and feeling deeply alive.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE TRAIL?

Facilitator and nature guide (18 - 26 April 2027 and 30 April - 8 May 2027)

Rick’s life is rooted in a deep love for Africa, wild places, and meaningful adventure. 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.

Rick is a former McKinsey strategy consultant, life coach, breathwork teacher and accredited (FGASA) nature guide. Rick combines a background in strategy and leadership with a deep love for Africa, adventure, and personal growth, rooted in one idea: you can only lead others as far as you're willing to lead yourself.

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

RICK DE GAAY FORTMAN

ESTHER GOEDMAN

Lead nature guide (18 - 26 April and 30 April - 8 May 2027)

Sevara is one of Botswana's most respected field professionals, with nearly two decades of experience as a professional safari guide. Born and raised in a remote Okavango Delta village, his deep connection to the wilderness has shaped a lifelong career in guiding, grounded in a genuine, practical understanding of the Delta's ecosystems.

Sevara specializes in walking safaris, holding extensive hours on foot as a certified walking guide, ensuring the highest standards of guiding and safety. His years leading guest experiences has given him a natural gift for sharing the bush with authenticity and warmth.

Guests traveling with Sevara can expect a thoughtful, engaging guide who combines deep bush knowledge with a genuine passion for the wild.

MEET YOUR GUIDES

Facilitator and nature guide (30 April - 8 May 2027)

Esther is the founder of Goedman Executive Search, an ICF-certified coach, an accredited (FGASA) nature guide, and mother of two university-aged children.

For over 20 years, Esther has used her network and talents to help people move forward. She believes in the power of migration and diversity, and sees in every person the potential for growth that has always been there.

Learn more about Esther on her LinkedIn profile.

SEVARA KATSOTSO

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

- Charles Bukowski

DISCOVER YOUR WILD SELF 2026 EDITION

DISCOVER YOUR WILD SELF 2025 EDITION

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Dates, location, group size and guides

  • Trail 1: 18-26 April 2027, Okavango Delta (Botswana) max 8 participants, Rick and Sevara

  • Trail 2: 30 April - 8 May 2027, Okavango Delta (Botswana), max 7 participants, Rick, Esther and Sevara

• Investment

  • Early bird (till 31 Dec 2026): €4,250 (excl. VAT)

  • After 31 Dec 2026: €4,750 (excl. VAT)

  • Secure your spot with a €750 deposit

• What's included

  • Intake and integration session

  • Hotel in Maun (1 night) and camping in the wilderness (7 nights)

  • Transfers to/from Maun Airport

  • All drinks and meals

  • Camping gear (tent, mat, sleeping bag)

• What's not included

  • Flights to and from Maun, Botswana

  • Travel and medical insurance (required)

  • Personal drinks and snacks

• Financial considerations

  • Payment plans available

  • If the investment is a concern, please reach out directly

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 KAZIIKINI CAMP

ABOUT KAZIIKINI CAMP

Our base camp lies along the Gomoti River, inside a community-run concession managed by the Kaziikini Community, far from roads, lodges or tourist traffic, in a stretch of the Delta renowned for rich predator activity. Being here means your trail directly supports the community that calls this land home.

Set among towering fan palms on the Gomoti floodplain, our mobile camp is simple and low-impact: khaki canvas safari tents, a campfire kitchen and outdoor dining area. Elephants, buffalo and impala are often close by, with lion and leopard regularly seen and heard. At night, you may hear lions calling across the dry-season air.

Our trail begins and ends at Kaziikini Camp, yet most of our time is spent deeper in the bush, camping in small 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!

SECURE YOUR SPOT

Pay a €750 deposit to secure your spot on the 18 - 26 April or 31 April - 8 May 2027 trail. For T&C, see FAQ.