The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the top places on earth for game viewing, and we work with one of the best in the area, John Sobey. His outfit is a firm favourite amongst equestrian safari goers, guests are well known for returning again and again. This safari is the last word in African luxury and coupled with excellent horses and guides, makes it very hard to beat. Once again, these guys were voted 'Best Riding Safari in Africa' in 2010 by the Good Safari Guide.
Holiday Videos:
Summary of the trip:
The Okavango Delta is an intriguing phenomena, with ever-changing landscapes due to the seasonal flood waters coming through from Angola. The movement of the game, the dramatic seasonal changes in the flora and the varying interests of our guests ensures that no two safaris are the same; each one is unique.
The safaris are based at Macatoo Camp, situated on the western side of the Okavango Delta. Covering 17,000 km sq, the Okavango is the largest inland delta in the world, a mix of labyrinth channels, palm fringed islands and fertile floodplains. Trapped in the parched sands of the Kalahari desert, it is a magnet for the wildlife who depend on the delta's life giving waters. More than 400 species of resident and migrant birds, lions, elephant, hyenas, wild dog, buffalo, hippo and crocodiles congregate with a variety of antelope and smaller animals - warthog, mongoose, genets, monkeys and bushbabies to name a few.
The main attraction of this safari is the joy of riding good horses over superb country, with just about every landscape dotted with game. The riding is varied, sometimes quietly walking, stalking big game and admiring the bird life, sometimes cantering through the water-meadows alongside galloping giraffe and lechwe.
Getting there :
International flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town, followed by a connectng flight to Maun in Botswana
Transfer :
The private air transfer from Maun airport to camp is £300 pp return SPECIAL OFFER - FREE TRANSFER - available on all bookings of 7 nights or more & across the following months, Nov 09 - April 10 & Nov 10 - April 11
Accommodation :
The camp features large, luxury, walk-in tents, each with their own decks and en-suite shower and loo. Centrally there is a large furnished lounge and dining tent with a plunge pool tucked away on a private viewing deck across the delta.
Days / Nights :
Priced per night, recommended stay 7 nights. Open all year round
Price in £: All rates are pp, per night sharing. Jan - April & Nov - Dec is £340, May - Jul & Oct is £380 & Aug - Sep is £420
Start - End date :
Start date
End date
01 Jan 2009
31 Dec 2010
Date information:
Group size : Max 10
Level: Intermediate - Advanced
Horses: A good mix of Thoroughbreds, Boerperd crosses, Kalahari-Arabs & Namibian Hanoverians
Tack: English saddles and Western trail saddles used
Weight restriction :
15 Stones / 15 kg / 210 lbs
Included :
Full board & drinks, all riding and activities at camp including game drives &
Excluded :
Flights & transfers
Please Ask About:
Hiring the camp exclusively for a private group
Beach add ons
Mauritius
Mozambique
Victoria Falls add ons
Non riding partner activities & rates
Day by day Itinerary :
Day 1 - On arrival in Maun, you are met and transferred by plane and will enjoy a game drive to our camp which overlooks a seasonal flood plain lagoon. After lunch under the trees, there is usually time for a rest before the evening ride when you can get to know your horse. We return 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 refreshing drink while the sun goes down.
Day 3 - We leave camp early to investigate fresh game tracks, maybe joining the rare, semi-aquatic antelope and the 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 dotted with fig trees. We might encounter giraffe or shyer antelope while passing through mopane woodlands. Our pace increases as we break through to the flood plains, often disturbing troops of baboons.We return 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 already set up, looking out over a favourite elephant watering hole. We stay here for a one night bush experience. The afternoon may be spent swimming or walking. Fires are lit at night, creating 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 our break, we ride back to Macatoo along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees.
Day 7 - Our last full day's riding in this magical place takes us cantering 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 and final sundowners in a surprising location.
Day 8 - For the final ride, we will go along some of the high palm islands which offer great vistas. We'll maybe take a last exhilarating gallop and run with the game before returning to camp to prepare for the onward journey.
