Botswana Safari on Horseback

Arrive at Maun Airport and meet with the ground crew who will assist you for the scheduled seat-in flight to the Delta.

The flight takes around 30 minutes and offers a bird’s eye view of the Okavango Delta – it is amazing how tiny the breeding herds of elephant look from the air. A safari vehicle will be waiting for you at the camp’s airstrip for the 45-minute game drive – or an exciting boat ride (depending on the time of year) - into Macatoo Camp where staff will greet you with a welcome drink. After settling into your tent, you will be offered afternoon tea and homemade cake during a briefing from your guide before heading out into the African bush to enjoy the sunset and make the most of the photo opportunities offered by the evening light. After a hot shower and change, drinks and snacks are served in the comfortable mess tent ahead of a candle-lit dinner by the fire.

Early morning wake-up call along with your choice of tea, coffee and rusks which are served to you in bed.

A light breakfast is set up around the campfire ahead of your first long morning activity. We try to get out there as early as possible and depending on the season, we may head out in the boat through the flood waters or jump into the safari vehicle again driving through seas of tall grass to watch giraffe, zebra, antelope, elephant, buffalo – whatever is out there.

A hearty lunch is served every day – you will need it after the early start – the chicken pie is a firm favorite and wine is always offered to encourage a little nap before tea. Afternoon activities are leisurely and often include mokoro trips – the dug out canoes used by the local fishermen of the Delta – that enables you to travel over the flooded seas of grass. This is the ideal opportunity to ask questions and take photographs. Crocodile sightings are not infrequent and the bird-life is some of the best in the world.

Return to camp on time for dinner under the starred light sky and a good night sleep.

After listening to the dawn chorus over tea, coffee and rusks in bed, you will be eager to get back out there.

Heading off in a new direction, the landscape will be quite different to yesterday offering fresh game viewing possibilities – guides are always hoping to see the rare semi-aquatic antelope, the red lechwe.

After lunch, the camp pool is an ideal place to cool down. The deck is a great place to soak up some sun, read and doze, but keep your binoculars and cameras handy as zebra, buck and elephant frequently pass in front of camp. The swimming pool is also a popular watering hole for families of baboons, the babies on their mother’s backs are particularly cute.

After some lovely homemade cakes or scones, we head off for some sunset fishing from boats, or from the banks of pools where hippos wallow. Enjoy a sundowner in the bush and return to camp for a hearty dinner, and a chat around the fire before retiring to your tent for the night.

The dawn call of the African Fish Eagle has, by now, become as familiar as the morning alarm at home. The delivery of tea or coffee in bed heralds the start of your last morning in camp and you will be anxious to make the most of your final day.

We stay quite close to home, gliding through the waterways in the boat and admiring the vast open plains, home to blue wildebeest and Burchell's zebra. You’ll try to take in as much as possible as we approach deep reedy areas full of bird life including open-billed storks, squacco herons, slaty egrets and egyptian geese.

We will return to Macatoo along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees. There will be time to shower, change and pack before the game drive to the airstrip, on time for your flight.

Scheduled flight to the Northern side of the Okavango Delta, you are met at the airstrip and transferred to nearby Shinde. This luxury camp overlooks the permanent water, offering many opportunities for sunrise and sunsets pictures. Enjoy an afternoon game drive, if time permits, or a sunset cruise. Chat to the camp manager and your guide to plan your days. Meet at the fire for a pre-dinner drink and enjoy delicious food at the communal table.

Shinde’s excellent location in the Okavango Delta ensures a combination of permanent water access for year-round water activities and large dry areas for game drive routes. This blend of environments provides the habitat for a consistently wide variety of wildlife, including the elusive sitatunga antelope and a healthy population of leopards.

Motorboats or Mokoro provide a chance to experience the incredible bird, plant and reptile species found in the aquatic habitat of the Okavango Delta. Game drives are conducted by a personal guide in comfortable, specially designed game drive vehicles. When out on game drives our window seat guarantee ensures no more than four guests per vehicle.

Fishing is available throughout the year (with exception of January and February), with excellent bream fishing from May to September and superb chances of landing tigerfish during September to mid-November.

To add to the experience, we have included a 30 minute scenic helicopter flight over the Delta - Experience the crystal clear water channels meandering their way through lagoons, journey deep into the lush green flood plains exploring some of the many animal species of the Okavango region. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that must not be missed. The doors of the helicopter are removed for unrestricted views which offers great photographic opportunities.

Enjoy your last breakfast in the wilderness, and pack- up your suitcases before the road transfer to the airstrip.

Scheduled seat in plane flight to Maun, and time at leisure at the airport until your flight out.

Alternatively we can extend your stay with an extension to Victoria Falls, or a few days in the Kalahari, chat to us for options.