Horse Riding on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

When the sun goes down over Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the scene looks otherworldly: a glittering stretch of unending white under a huge, open sky. You can’t get a better sense of this strange wilderness than on horseback, with the cadence of hooves hitting the hard crust as you ride across one of Africa’s most famous salt flats.

Why This Experience Matters

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are more than just a geological wonder; they are a living, breathing part of Botswana’s safari heritage. When you ride a horse here, you can venture off the beaten path and into the wild, where you can see springbok, zebra, and perhaps the hard-to-find brown hyena. This isn’t just a distant perspective; it’s an interactive excursion that lets you see Botswana’s wildlife and landscapes up close.

Where to Go Riding

Most horse riding safaris happen near campgrounds like Camp Kalahari and Jack’s Camp. These camps are luxurious but also quite traditional in the Kalahari. From these bases, you can go out onto the pans and follow old migration routes or find secret palm tree islands that look like mirages rising from the salt plains.

When to Go on a Botswana Horse Safari

You can ride horses all year long, but the dry season (April to October) makes the pans hard and rideable, which is great for big gallops across the open space. When it rains, you can observe the change as migrating birds and animals come back, making the pans a bright, sparkling sanctuary – a completely different landscape to experience during a Botswana safari.

Who a Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Horse Safari is For

A Makgadikgadi Salt Pans horse riding safari is an experience made for luxury tourists who are eager for adventure. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced rider ready for multi-day safaris or a beginner looking for a guided introduction. Small groups make sure that everyone gets personal attention, and skilled guides lead the rides, showing you every inch of this huge, untamed environment.

Ready to ride into the wild? Start planning your tailor-made Botswana safari with one of Discover Africa’s safari experts.