HORESBACK SAFARIS – OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA FACT SHEET

For anyone who enjoys riding horses, saddling up is always a thrill. But to be able to head out on horseback amongst the wildlife of the Okavango Delta rates as one of the ultimate 'rides' to experience. The traditional equine mix of sweaty horses, fine leather and pounding hooves becomes that much more exhilarating when cantering alongside wild herds of game or cautiously skirting the ever-present predator. Plus, the environmental constraints of a conventional vehicle safari fall away, as deep-water crossings and thickly vegetated terrain become a part of the adventure. Rider and horse become one with the African plains and its inhabitants.

Riding in these conditions is not for your more temperamental breeds. The hardier lines such as Arabs and Kalahari horses make up the majority of the stable, and the tack is all of the English style. Because of the nature of horseback safaris, participants need to know how to ride

RIDING ABILITY: Minimum riding ability required is mastery of the basic aids, ability to post to the trot for stretches of 10 minutes at a time, to be comfortable at all paces and to be able to gallop out of trouble. It is a great advantage if you are a fit and a proficient rider.

TYPE OF HORSE: Full and part Thoroughbred, Pure Arab, Anglo Arab, American Saddle Bred. Between 14 and 17 hands. Well-schooled, responsive and even temperament. There is a wide range of horses (over 50) suitable for the competition rider to a steady hack. Every effort is made to match horse and rider.

WEIGHT LIMIT: Maximum weight is 200 lbs for a novice rider and 210 lbs for an advanced rider (15 stone or 95 kg). Guests may be required to step on the scales. A special program is available for clients over our weight limit, which offers shorter rides, game drives & walks.
High season weight Supplement: Over 200 lbs. (14 stone, or 90kg) a supplement of 50% will be charged for an extra horse. The weight limit remains 210lbs (15stone or 95kg)

SAFETY: All rides are lead by qualified profession guides. A 375 rifle is carried on all the rides. All camps and vehicles have radio communication and guides ride with a hand held radios. A demonstration is given at the beginning of the safari with a talk on how to handle big game situations.

TACK:Tack is English Style and each saddle has a seatsaver for comfort. Tack is of high quality and kept in good condition. Saddles are well known makes such as Ideals, Barnsby, and Symonds. Most horses are in snaffle bridles.

SIZE OF THE RIDES: Maximum of 8 clients.

ACCOMMODATION: Kujwana camp offers spacious safari tents with shower en suite (flush toilet). There are two double-bedded tents and four twin bedded tents complete with attractive furnishings, bedside tables, hanging cupboard, luggage rack, floor rug, and chairs. Moklowane has tree chalets with bucket and pulley showers and flush toilets. Fly camp has dome tents with camp beds, bedrolls with cotton sheets, duvet and towels. Long drop toilets for each tent and bucket and pulley showers with hot water. A tent personnel is on hand at all times.

MEALS: Safari cooks prepares 3 meals a day plus saddlebag picnic breakfasts and vehicle support picnic lunches. Emphasis is made on fresh vegetables and salads. Fresh bread is baked every day. Vegetarians are catered for. Light lunches, cold meats, salads and 3 course dinners served by candle light at the dining table near the campfire.

LENGTH OF THE RIDE: Between 4-6 hours in the saddle a day. This is broken by refreshment stops - picnic breakfast or lunch and a 10-minute walk for every two hours spent in the saddle. (This eases up the rider using different muscles, and helps the horse from constant pressure of the rider's weight).

TERRAIN: The Okavango Delta has been described as a water meadow. Palm islands, grassy flood plains, mopane forests and clear streams. Highest water is normally between May to September. Many of the flood plains are full at this time and the horses wade through from island to island. The going is normally quite good and firm along the edges of the islands allowing the ride to move on at a trot and canter.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Although our priority is horse riding, we offer alternative activities during the afternoons that are not day rides. A 6 hour morning can be tiring so afternoons are spent at leisure with evening bird walks or mokoro rides (water levels permitting). Afternoon game drives and night spotting are also offered.

NON-RIDERS: We can accommodate non-riders but they must be booked in as such. Non-Riders have their own guide and enjoy game drives, walks and Mokoros. They move with the riding guests to the various fly camps and join non-riding activities and picnics           

CHILDREN: We do accept children but they must be strong competent riders. They should have a certificate from a pony club or qualified teacher to attest this. No adjustment in price of children.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: This is only enforced when the client will not share a tent.

DRINKS: Iced drinks are available. Beer, bottled water, an assortment of cool drinks and limited choice of spirits. Cordials, tea and coffee are freely available and house wine is served with dinner. 

WHAT CLOTHES TO BRING: Clothes list will be sent with reservation form. Laundry can be done in camp. Light Aircraft transfers have a weight restriction of 10kg. Any extra luggage can be left at the OHS office in Maun. Luggage for light Aircraft should be soft holdall type. Riding clothes & clothes of bush colours are important.

INSURANCE: Clients must take out Medical Travel Insurance.

GAME VIEWING: Our Okavango Horse Safaris operate in a private concession. Game is plentiful, including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, lechwe, reedbuck, bushbuck, steenbok, impala, roan antelope, duiker, waterbuck, tsesebe, bat-eared fox, sidestriped and blackbacked jackal, African wildcat, baboon, vervet monkey, honey badger, spotted hyena, mongoose, meerkat, warthog, tortoise and ostrich; special nocturnal creatures - porcupine, aardwolf, aardvark, civet, genet, serval, spring hare; water species - hippo, crocodile, cape clawless and spotted necked otter; predators - leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dog. Safety precautions are taken when viewing any dangerous game.

WHERE THE HORSE SAFARIS OPERATE: Okavango Horse Safaris operate in a private concession 2,500 sq. km situated on the western side of the Okavango Delta bordering on Moremi Game reserve. The area includes three major river systems of the Okavango Delta, the Xudum, the Matsibie and the Kiri.

HOW TO GET THERE: Air Botswana fly from either Johannesburg, Gaborone or Victoria Falls and Air Namibia from Windhoek into Maun. We can book all Air Botswana flights. We arrange transfer by light aircraft from Maun to the nearest airstrip. Clients are collected from the airstrip and transferred by 4x4 vehicle to base camp. Please remember that internal transfer light aircraft have a luggage weight restriction of 10-12 kgs.

WEATHER CONDITIONS:  Summer months are September to April.  October, November and February are the hottest months, with temperatures varying from 12 degrees C to 38 degrees C at midday. The rains can start in October, with the occasional thunder shower. December to February are the wettest months. Winter is May to the end of August. No rain. Evening and early mornings are cold. Temperature varies from 8 degrees C to 24 degrees C at midday.

INFORMATION WE REQUIRE: Age, weight, height, and riding experience of client. Drinks preferred. Any specialised diet or allergies. Booking Form will be sent if you would like to make a reservation.

INDEMNITY: Guests will be asked to sign an indemnity in camp before they ride.

MEDICAL: A medical kit is kept in the camp. Clients should take Malaria tablets.

OTHER: Guests are given personal attention and attention is paid to detail. A limited assortment of half chaps and riding gloves are kept in the camp

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