Transfer and Other Options:

Sample 1 week Itinerary
Day 1 We meet you at Windhoek airport and transport you to the ranch (75 minutes by car). Once you're unpacked and refreshed (possibly with a fine lunch depending on your arrival time) it's time to meet the horses and the rest of our staff. This is followed by a short ride to allow your horse to get to know you and, perhaps, you to get to know your horse! After the ride, over a refreshing drink and an evening barbecue, we explain the itinerary for the week and give you a briefing on riding in the African bush.
Hours ridden: 1-2
Meals: Lunch and a Braai (barbecue) at the Lion Bar

Day 2  Breakfast at 07.00 comprising tea, coffee, fruit juice, fruit, cereal, bread, eggs and bacon. At 08.00 we saddle up and depart for a savannah ride along ancient game trails. During this ride you encounter much of Namibia's abundant wildlife.  We return to Okapuka Ranch for a shower, drinks and a relaxing lunch. After lunch and a siesta by the pool we saddle up for our afternoon ride. We arrive back at around 17.00 for a drink at the bar. Dinner is served whenever you are ready.
Hours ridden: 5
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and a 3 course gourmet dinner at the Okapuka Park Restaurant

Day 3   After breakfast we saddle up and depart for a mountain trail ride. We start along the Okapuka riverbed then cross the mountains into Leopard Valley. The valley is protected by the natural mountainous surroundings and, until recently, has been largely unexplored. Our trail takes us through spectacular scenery to Leopard Dam. We stop for a well-earned picnic lunch at a shaded natural spring where those of you who are hardy enough to try the cool water, can take a dip.
After a 2-hour stop we continue our trek, and having passed Crocodile dam, eventually arrive back at Okapuka Ranch (16.00). Then it's time for a shower and a drink before you watch the lions feeding. Dinner is served whenever you are ready.
Hours ridden: 5
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and a 3 course gourmet dinner

Day 4   Today, after breakfast, we saddle up and depart for a short ride to the baboon infested "little Okapuka" Hill. Having ascended the hill we are rewarded with a spectacular 360° panoramic view of the surrounding hills, river-beds and savannah-lands. We ride down through ancient riverbeds in search of majestic kudu and gemsbok.
If available: After a short siesta we ride out towards Dune Camp where we arrive at around 17.00, to be greeted with a well deserved cold drink, a dip in the small swimming pool, followed by a hot shower in en-suite private tented bathrooms. The evening meal consists of a hearty braai with local beer or wine. Recollections of the day's experiences are exchanged around the fire until the seduction of the soft double bed with fresh linen is no longer resistible. Lights out!
Hours ridden: 6
Accommodation: Fly Camp in the mountains if available or back at the lodge
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and a tented camp braai

Day 5   Continental breakfast and around 09.00, having saddled up, we depart once again for a savannah ride. This area is well known for its Burchell's zebra and gemsbok. We return to our base camp at Okapuka Ranch for lunch. After a well-earned siesta we depart in search of white rhinos and white tailed wildebeest, the comics of the savannah. We climb the Hochland trail to watch the magnificent African sunset over the adjacent mountains savoring the majesty of Africa with sundowners. This is followed by a brisk ride in the sunset's afterglow back to Okapuka Ranch where we arrive, hopefully, before dark. Dinner is served whenever you are ready.
Hours ridden: 4
Meals: Continental Breakfast, lunch and a 3-course gourmet dinner.

Day 6   We saddle up at 08.30 hrs for a challenging ride. We start along the Okapuka riverbed towards Crocodile Dam. But instead of dropping down into Leopard Valley we continue to ride higher and higher. Today our goal is the top of the highest mountain on the Okapuka estate. Some of the terrain is so steep that we will have to dismount and lead our horses. However, once you have reached the top the reward is a view of a lifetime; both the cities of Windhoek and Okahandja (30 and 45 km away) lie at your feet. After we have caught our breath, both from the exercise as well as the breathtaking view, we will descend towards Okapuka Park Restaurant for a well-deserved late lunch at around 14.00 hrs. The rest of the afternoon is spend relaxing. And dinner is served whenever you are ready. Hours ridden: 5 to 6
Meals: Breakfast, late lunch and a 3-course gourmet dinner.

Day 7   Breakfast is taken at a leisurely pace and those of you who wish to take advantage of the helicopter tour can do so (weather permitting). The flight is not included in the package price. Those of you who whish can join us for a last ride. Lunch is taken at Okapuka Ranch. Those who prefer to visit the famous wood carving market at Okahandja to purchase those promised presents can do so (not included in the price). In the late afternoon and early evening there is a lion feed. Dinner, as usual, is served at Okapuka Park Restaurant.
Hours ridden: 2-4(optional)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and a farewell braai at the Lion Bar

Day 8   Breakfast is served until 10.30. After entering your comments in our Guest Book, you can say goodbye to your horse and the rest of our staff and continue your journey within Namibia or begin your return journey home.

   Subject to change

Most of Namibia enjoys a minimum of 300 days of sunshine a year, but generally, the winter climate is the most pleasant. Namibia has a dry climate. Most days are pleasantly warm (the average temperature is between 20 to 34 C), while the nights are generally cool (in winter temperatures can fall to 0 C.)

There are two relatively short rainy seasons, the shorter occurs between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs between January and April. The storms are brief and spectacular. Forked lightening illuminates the dark thunderclouds while the rain refreshes the air and soaks down the dust.

These charts show the monthly rainfall (in mm) and the monthly minimum and maximum temperatures in Windhoek .

 

Provided when riding: saddle bag, water bottle and waterproof poncho.

Winters are usually mild to warm which calls for light clothing in the middle of the day and a sweater or jacket for evenings and early mornings when it can be quite cold. When riding, it is better to wear riding or walking shoes with chaps because some of the trails involve challenging gradients, which often require leading your horse. Cotton jodhpurs are better than synthetic products.

A light safari jacket with many pockets is ideal for carrying your compact binoculars, penknife, sun-hat, sunglasses, sun block, moisturizer, lip balm with spf, etc. Points for electric shavers (electric current 250VAC) are available. You are advised to bring battery-operated or conventional razors if you choose to stay in the tented camps.)

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Endurance saddles with bumnahs
Horses:		Purebred Arabians
Pace:		All gaits, walk, trot, canter - 4-5 hrs. Some canter /gallop are more than 2 km | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3.5 to 4 out of 5)    Good Intermediate
Age:		Min 16
Weight:		Max 200 lbs
Riders:		Min 1	Max 6

Important
Riders should be experienced and secure in all gaits! No novice riders are allowed here! They can accept non-riders; jeep game safaris will be substituted for the riding safaris! Riders must not weigh more than 90 kilos / 200 pounds. Maximum number of riders in safari group is 6. Minimum age of 10 years old.

Horses
The horses are our greatest and most important assets. They are schooled in all aspects of trail riding and chosen for their stamina, endurance, well being and amiable character. There are 25 pure-bred Arabian horses and 5 Arabian crosses. Tough and willing these horses are very rarely sick, sorry or unsound. Some of the horses were bought in Namibia or were born at the lodge, whereas others were imported from South Africa, Europe and the United States. A number of the horses not only compete successfully in national and international endurance rides, but also have achieved excellent results in the show ring. At the stables the horses live in large sandy paddocks. On a regular basis they go on holiday in a 1,500 hectare camp where they can graze, play and be 'wild' horses again. This keeps their minds and spirit alive; they are willing to work and a pleasure to ride. All effort is made to ensure the right combination between horse and rider.

Tack
The tack is new and hand-made and specially designed for long hours in the saddle. It is based on both the South African and Australian stock saddles. The horses are ridden in snaffle bridles on a loose rein.
Even though the riding style is English some of them are trained in Western Pleasure.

Safari Trails
The safari trails are designed to provide you with as much variation and choice as possible. The goal is to ensure that you ride in some of the most spectacular landscape this planet has to offer and come into very close contact with the game. You can ride more or less anywhere with few restrictions. Most of the trails follow natural paths created over hundreds of years by the local wildlife. As such, a trip to this enchanting country is a unique experience for adventurous visitors.

Endurance Ride Options
A number of the Arabians are competing successfully in endurance in Namibia. The opportunity exists for you to compete in an endurance ride. You will be accompanied throughout the ride by an experienced endurance rider who will set the pace. Your stay will be a combination of game watching from horseback, training and the actual endurance ride. Two horses are assigned to you - one for the endurance ride and the other for safari rides. These rides are open to guests – but the distance entered will be at the discretion of the guide.

Non-Riding Activities:

• Game drives
• Sunset drives
• Mountain drives
• Lion feeding
• Hiking trails
• Windhoek tour

Your Horseback Safari Package:
Includes: 8 days / 7 nights full board from lunch on the day you arrive to breakfast on the day you depart, accommodation based on a double room sharing, 6 days riding accompanied by an experienced guide, 2 visits to the lions, use of swimming pool, tennis court (bring own racket and balls), sauna and hiking trails. Drinks (fruit juice, still and sparkling water, beer and wine) are included when having a picnic or sundowner.
Excludes: Flight, insurances, game drives (except for non-riders), sunset drive, mountain drive (except for non-rider when staying 7 or more nights), beverages consumed at the bar and restaurant, transport from Windhoek Airport to Okapuka and v.v. and other transports and/or activities (woodcarvers’ market in Okahandja, visiting the Penduka women, etc.), personal expenses and gratuities.

Passports
Passport valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from Namibia required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require a visa.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the consulate or high commission for visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business and Transit: US$50.
Validity
Valid up to three months from date of issue for stays of up to three months from date of entry. Extensions for a further three months are available from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at high commission); see Contact Addresses.
Working Days Required
Three to four.