LOCATION/TRANSFER
Fly to Maun in Botswana from:
Johannesburg, South Africa
Victoria Falls via Harare, Zimbabwe
Windhoek, Namibia
Gaborone, Botswana
You will be met in Maun where a charter plane will fly you directly into the Okavango Delta. You will be met at the airstrip and game drive to the camp.
HORSES
We have 30 horses ranging from full thoroughbreds, Namibian Hanovarian thoroughbreds, Arabs, Anglo Arabs and various other crossbred Kalahari bush horses. They range from fourteen hands high to 16.2 hands high and are also very varied in type and temperament.
Many have been with us for several years and are well use to the type of work and are reliably quiet and well behaved at all times. Others are retired competition horses from various places and backgrounds and need much more experienced riding. Normally the Horses are ridden for 4- 5 hours in the morning and 1-2 hours in the afternoon.
Much of the riding is game viewing and done at a walk - interspaced by trots and exhilarating canters across the flood plains. Most of the horses take either English or Western styled saddles. Bridles vary from mainly snaffles and rubber pelhams.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - 7 NIGHT SAFARI
Please note that three and four night itineraries are also available. This itinerary serves only as a guide; all scenarios are dependent on the season and levels of the Okavango flood. At times it may not be possible to go on fly camps and during cooler months one longer ride may replace the normal morning and evening rides. Local weather conditions also may affect game movements. Alterations to the itinerary are at the discretion of the guides.
Day 1
On arrival in Maun you are met and transferred by plane and a game drive to our camp which overlooks a seasonal flood plain lagoon. After lunch under the trees, there is time for a rest before the evening ride where you can get to know your horse. We return, as every evening, to a candle-lit dinner.
Day 2
Awoken by a cup of tea or coffee in bed, followed by a light breakfast we then ride westwards following elephant trails from one palm island to another through seas of grass into the backcountry. After lunch and a siesta we ride out into the plains, later enjoying a drink while the sun goes down.
Day 3
We leave camp early to investigate fresh game tracks, joining semi-aquatic red lechwe as they thunder through the water meadows. A champagne breakfast is waiting for us under a large baobab tree. The evening ride is spent exploring the lower flood plains where elephant often gather at a pool. As dusk closes in we have drinks around the fire.
Day 4
We ride through different country, making our way through clouds of bushman hair grass to plains with fig trees. We might encounter giraffe or shyer antelope while passing through mopane woodlands. Our pace increases as we break out onto the flood plains, often disturbing troops of baboons. Returning to the camp for an afternoon spent at leisure and later a night drive by spotlight.
Day 5
While staff pack up we leave for our fly camp riding deeper into the heart of the delta. On reaching another river system we find our fly camp looking out over a hippo pool. Here we stay for two nights. The afternoon may be spent swimming or walking. Fires are lit at night to create a strong human presence to keep marauding animals away from the horses. Night watches are fun and guests usually join in.
Day 6
Having kept watch under the stars the next morning we splash through water on the vast open plains, home to wildebeeste and zebra. The riding may be fast as we approach deep reedy areas full of bird life. After a picnic lunch we venture out again to the large lagoon to listen and watch as the night draws in and a lion starts to call.
Day 7
After breakfast we ride back to Makatoo along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees. We canter through the shallow flood plains admiring the deeper pools of lilies. Here the buffalo gather in numbers and we have to creep up to them using islands for cover. The evening offers a last quiet ride with memorable smells of sage as the sun goes down.
Day 8
For your final ride we will go along some of the high palm islands which offer great vistas. We'll maybe take a final exhilarating gallop and run with the game before returning to camp to prepare for your onward journey.
Note that this riding safari is exciting but not strenuous.
WHAT TO BRING
List of essentials:
Available to lend a selection of half chaps
A horse riding helmet or shade hat that must stay on.
Sunglasses with string, riding gloves and bandana
Bush colour Riding clothes:
Two pairs of cotton riding trousers and or long chaps
Two long sleeved shirts
A jersey and/or fleece
A lightweight, waterproof windbreaker jacket.
Four pairs of socks and underwear (suggest cycling shorts for men)
Two pairs of lightweight riding shoes, or one pair and one pair of long rubber riding boots for the flood (May to end of August)
Sun block, insect repellant, malaria pills and talcum powder.
Torch and binoculars
Film and a camera on a strong shoulder strap in a preferably waterproof pouch to be secured to belt. Otherwise a strong zip lock plastic bag.
Luggage Limit
26 lbs (12 kgs) per person in soft bags due to light aircraft. Excess luggage can be stored in our Maun office and there is a daily laundry service in the camp.
