Okavango Delta Safari

Introduction
Okavango Delta Botswana

The Delta, created by the flood waters of the Okavango, is so large it can be spotted from deep space like a giant hand, bringing relief to the dry region. Little-known to the outside world until a few decades ago, this secluded 17,000 square km maze of lagoons, channels and islands forms one of the most beautiful and pristine wildlife reserves on Earth - it is the largest inland delta in the world, a mix of labyrinth channels, palm fringed islands and fertile floodplains.

A complete connection with nature
Home to a kaleidoscope of almost every creature in Africa, the Okavango Delta transcends the rules of mother nature by lying in the heart of the scorched drylands of the Kalahari. Our safaris are based on the western side of the Delta. 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 bush babies to name a few.

The Luxury Safari Camp stands proudly on a palm fringed island, surrounded by infinite grassy plains, punctuated with water meadows and seasonal lagoons. Intimate and comfortable, the Camp's attention to detail allows you to relax and enjoy yourself. As dawn breaks, fresh tea and coffee is served to you at your bedside. And while the sun rises over the floodplain, you watch the wildlife shed its misty morning shroud. Bursting with life, the bush continuously shifts and transforms as you ride from island to island.

With rider, horse and game becoming one, you thunder through the shallows, stirring up plumes of cooling spray as a herd of red lechwe drum through the deeper waters. Emerging from the shallows, you hear the sound of hooves hitting land and reverberating off a nearby lagoon.
With a great love for the wilderness, your host orchestrates this exciting adventure by drawing on his years of experience and implementing an interactive approach to the horseback safaris.

Accomodation

The Classic Hemmingway style camp provides you with the creature comforts of life whilst allowing you to experience the wild beauty of the African bush.
The Safari Camp is situated on the western side of the Okavango Delta. The camp features large, walk-in, twin bedded tents, each with their own en-suite shower and toilet. Centrally there is a large furnished mess tent and tucked away a private pool. On the longer safaris guests have the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding out to a mobile fly-camp. There is a daily laundry service except at fly-camp.

In Camp 
Whether you are traveling alone, as a couple or as part of a larger group, your time spent around the camp fire, drinking sun downers on the deck, or dining al fresco will mean you are sure to acquire new friends during your stay.
Prior to your early morning ride you will be woken just before dawn by a tent lady bearing gifts of tea or coffee, and there will be time for a slice of home made toast or a bowl of fruit before you set off.  On your return, late in the morning, you may wish to have a quick shower before indulging in Lydia's mouth-watering array of lunchtime fare.
A siesta now beckons, whilst the sun is at its strongest, but sunbathing by the plunge pool, a good book, sorting through your photos or watching the wildlife on the plains in front of the camp are popular alternatives.
Tea is served prior to your evening ride or drive, and on your return there is time for a sun downer and shower before dinner is announced. The menu is varied and excellent, accompanied by attentive staff and a good selection of South African wines. Much time is spent re-living the events of the day, with the occasional myth creeping in too!

The electricity in camp is supplied by a generator that runs for approximately 5 hours a day.  There are no power points in the tents and the lights run off solar powered batteries. There are power points (electrical outlets) available in the mess tent for charging batteries etc.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Horses include a variety of Thoroughbreds, Namibian Hanovarians, Arabs and Kalahari-Arabs crosses, ranging from 14 - 16.2 hands (140-165cm). There is a choice of English and Western style trail saddles, each with their own water bottle.

We spend 4 to 6-hours a day in the saddle with groups of no more than 7 guests. 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 we can not take beginners. Riders should be aged 12 years and over and anyone over 60 needs to be riding fit and strong. There is a maximum weight limit of 15 stone, 210lbs or 95kgs. Over this, you will need to enquire, but only if you are an advanced rider. It will be at the discretion of the company whether novice riders will be permitted to ride, taking into consideration their safety and enjoyment and that of the group as a whole. Everyone is required to complete our riding questionnaire.

Many insurance companies will not insure your holiday unless you are wearing a hard hat or safety helmet whilst in the saddle. It is your responsibility to provide your own properly fitted hard hat or safety helmet. We cannot accept any liability whatsoever for head injuries sustained as a result of ignoring this advice.

For this ride you will have to provide proof of medical and emergency evacuation insurance.

Itinerary

After a short game-viewing air adventure in a Cessna 206 from Maun (or from Kasane), you will be greeted by your guide and whisked off to base camp where the Macatoo Mamas sing their traditional songs of welcome. After a refreshing drink you will be shown to your secluded and very luxurious tents, complete with toilet and washing facilities. Your private verandah overlooks a seasonal floodplain, home to baboon, hyena and elephant. Drinks are on tap, cake and biscuits are there for the taking and we trust you will already feel relaxed and at home.
The main attraction 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. The 4x4s are used for night drives, spotting the nocturnal species and for close up photography of kills and predators. When the water levels permit, we also go out in boats to put another perspective on the game.
Our safari team is inspired each day by the beautiful surroundings to provide the best safari experience possible for our guests. We are enormously privileged to have a huge unspoilt wilderness in which to run our safaris. 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.

Example 8 Day Itinerary

Day 1 On arrival in Maun, you are met and transferred by plane and 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 where 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, joining the rare semi-aquatic antelope, 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 out onto the flood plains, often disturbing troops of baboons. Returning 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 favorite 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 wildebeest and zebra. The riding may be fast as we approach deep reedy areas full of bird life. After our break, we ride back to camp along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees. 

Day 7. Your last full day's riding in this magical place takes you 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 with final sundowners in a surprising location. 

Day 8. For your final ride, we will go along some of the high palm islands which offer great vistas. We'll maybe take a final exhilarating gallop and run with the game before returning to camp to prepare for your onward journey.

          This is only a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Rates and Dates for Okavango Delta Safari

Dates Note: All trips should start on a Friday. We try to be flexible with departure dates so please ask for availability and we shall do our best to offer the most suitable dates for you

Other Info
Meeting: Abu Camp
Airport: Maun, Kasane
Transfer: Maun (charter flight) usually in at 11:40am, out at 3pm. You can also arrive via Kasane.

Climate:

Due to many variables such as weather, water level and game, many wonder when the best time to go is.
Please see detailed climate information below.

March / April
Weather: Warm / hot during the day – pleasantly warm at night. Small possibility of rain. Bush is green and lush – grass tall and green.
Temperature: Day: 25°-35°C Night: 10°-20°C
Water: Plenty of rain pools left over from the rainy season – but the floodwater is unlikely to be within riding distance of the camp.
Game: Because of the rain and waterholes, the game is dispersed all over the country – so not concentrated in herds yet. Possible still to see the plains game: zebra, wildebeest, impala etc as well as elephant, maybe buffalo and cats.
Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a raincoat and swimmers.

May
Weather: Cooler at night, but still pleasantly warm during the day. Very unlikely to rain. Bush still green but grass getting shorter.
Temperature: Day: 20°-30°C Night: 5°-10°C
Water: The Okavango annual floodwaters normally arrive in May or June – so are within riding distance for a couple of weeks before they actually reach camp. The floodwaters bring long shallow water canters on the floodplains and deeper channels to cross. As water levels rise, motorboat replaces vehicle game drives and mekoros are also in use into November.
Game: When the water arrives initially the birdlife is great as they feed off the shallow water areas. Game comes to drink from the water, with the buffalo and lechwe moving in as the water levels increase. However, there is a lot of water – so much of the game is still dispersed.
Clothing: A splash proof jacket, a fleece/sweater for evenings and one pair of long rubber riding boots plus one other pair of riding footwear and swimmers. 

June / July / August
Weather: This is our winter and can be chilly in the early morning and evenings – warm in the middle of the day. Bush getting drier except around the edges of the islands where the green shoots start to come through.
Temperature: Day: 20°-25°C Night: 3°-5°C
Water: The water is at its highest levels, so plenty around to ride through and go boating on either in the motor boat or mokoro (canoe).
Game: Large herds of lechwe forming in the wetlands and perhaps hippo and crocodile in the area. Good potential for buffalo sightings with impala, tsessebe, kudu etc moving inland on islands.
Clothing: Splash proof jacket, a warm fleece/sweater for evenings and 1pr long rubber riding boots plus one other pair of riding footwear.

September / October
Weather: Winter is over and it gets progressively hotter building up to the first rains, which clear the hazy days and the skies are big and beautiful. Trees come into flower and then leaves go green and fruits grow. Evenings are warm and the plunge pool gets a lot of use! Bush is dry and grass short.
Temperature: Day: 30-45°C Night: 15°-25°C
Water: The floodwater normally stays around the camp area until October – but this, of course, depends on how big the flood was to start with. As the floodplain water recedes, drinking pools of water remain – hopefully until the next rains come!
Game: The game now tends to concentrate as the water sources lessen – often big herds of buffalo, elephant and with shorter grass more plains game can be seen. More likely to see wild dog as well as the cats who favor dry savannah such as cheetah. Young giraffe and lechwe; hyenas more evident cooling off in the pools.
Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a fleece/sweater and swimmers.

November / December / January
Weather: The rainy season is any time from November – but impossible to say exactly when and how much. Normally the rain comes for an hour or so every day and then often goes away for a week or more before it rains again. It is warm to sticky hot before the rain and cooler after each rain. Bush turns green with the rains and many of the trees and flowers come into bloom while the sunsets become increasingly dramatic. Temperature: Day: 30°-40°C Night: 15°-20°C
Water: Depending on the flood level, there will be some water around with the rain topping up the pools.
Game: Very good until the first rain when it disperses again – the young antelope are born at this time and are very entertaining to watch.
Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a raincoat and swimmers
Game List
From Horseback or at camp we normally see: Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo, Lion, Blue Wildebeest, Spotted Hyena, Tsessebe, Reedbuck, Red Lechwe, Impala, Kudu, Jackal, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Warthog, Mongoose, Steenbok, Spring Hare, Porcupine and Crocodile.
Sometimes we see: Roan Antelope, Duiker, Hippo, Bushbuck, Wild Dog, Leopard, Cheetah, Wildcat, Serval, Genet, Ostrich, Honey Badger, Pangolin, Python and Aardwolf.

Khaki, green and brown bush colors; please avoid wearing white.

NB: We do not supply hard hats or safety helmets - please bring your own, wearing one is your responsibility.
Wear your riding clothes and boots on the plane and bring your hat and wash bag as hand luggage in case your luggage gets delayed.

Luggage Limit: 
Luggage must be limited to a weight limit of 29 lbs (13kg) per person, packed in soft bags, so as to fit on the light aircraft. 
Excess baggage can be stored in our Maun office.

We recommend that you bring:

• a light-weight riding hat
• a shade hat with strap
• Two pairs of light-weight riding shoes or 1 pair and 1 pair of long rubber boots for the flood season (May to end of August)
• Sunglasses on string, riding gloves and bandana
• Bush color riding clothes (not white):
  * 2 pairs of cotton riding trousers.
  * 2 long sleeved shirts.
  * 1 jersey, fleece or multi- pocketed waistcoat.
  * 1 light weight waterproof windbreaker jacket.
• Four pairs sock and underwear (we recommend un-padded cycling shorts for men)
• Shorts, T shirts, sarong, bathing costume and sandals
• Sun block, lip salve, insect repellent, talcum powder and malaria pills (consult your doctor)
• Torch and binoculars
• Film and a camera on a strong shoulder strap, preferably in a waterproof pouch to be secured to your belt. Otherwise a strong zip lock plastic bag.

Please take into consideration when you are coming as the weather does vary, for further information please check out "Climate" section.