African Horseback Safaris

If, like me, you are an avid horse rider, the phrase “African horseback safaris” probably awakens in you a deep-seated exhilaration driving you to make whatever plans necessary to make this dream come true. A horseback safari on a game rich private concession in the depths of the watery Okavango Delta in Botswana is a unique experience.

Imagine cantering along through a shallow flood plain next to a herd of giraffe, you watch in amazement their slow motion cantering gait and wonder to yourself, how else would you experience something of this magnitude in this remote wilderness! The close encounters with wildlife you experience from the saddle allow you to feel part of the natural wilderness.

African Horseback Safaris is an award winning horseback safari operator based at Macatoo Camp on the western side of the Okavango Delta. The camp features 6 large, classic African safari style tents, each with twin beds and their own en-suite shower and loo. Oil lanterns light the tents at night. Centrally there is a large mess tent with sofas, books and games, a terrace from where you enjoy the spectacular sunsets and tucked away, a private pool. Meals are cooked on the open fire and are delightfully tasty. It is here that horse-mad people from all over the world meet to share this magnificent wildlife experience.

To be able to join a horseback safari in a Big 5 wilderness area (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo territory), you have to be pretty proficient on horseback. You will need to feel confident about keeping up with the group, capable of riding at all paces; rising to the trot and controlling your horse at the canter.  You may be required to gallop out of trouble, so beginners will not be allowed to ride. However you are still welcome at the camp if you are not a proficient horse rider. Other game activities are offered to the partners of those horse-mad people.

Going on safari on horseback means that you will be riding between 4 and 6 hours a day into the wilderness viewing various game species from the back of your horse. A maximum of 7 guests will join a safari. The horses are well trained, sure-footed and fit and you will be matched up with a horse of good size and temperament for you.

Qualified experienced field guides will lead you on horseback through the delta interpreting the intricate language of the African bush, reading tracks and signs left by wildlife and following them for that classic close up sighting. The guides have many years experience of living in the bush and when something goes bump in the night, its always nice to know they are nearby to save you.

Macatoo Camp is a remote wilderness camp within the Okavango Delta and getting there can only be done by light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane. Combining this safari camp with a few nights at the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe allows for a wonderfully varied itinerary.