Okavango Macatoo Safari

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be met on arrival in Maun and transferred by light aircraft into the heart of the delta. On arrival you will be greeted by your guide and taken to the base camp. After lunch under the trees, there is usually time for a rest before the evening ride where you can get to know your horse. Return to a candle-lit dinner.

Day 2 (B,L,D)

Awoken by a cup of tea or coffee in bed, followed by a light breakfast, ride westwards following elephant trails from one palm island to another, through seas of grass, into the backcountry. After lunch and a siesta, take a further ride out into the plains, later enjoying a refreshing drink while the sun goes down.

Day 3 (B,L,D)

Leave camp early to investigate fresh game tracks. Enjoy breakfast under a large baobab tree before returning to camp. The evening ride is spent exploring the lower flood plains where elephant often gather at a pool. As dusk closes in, have drinks around the fire.

Day 4 (B,L,D)

Ride through different country, making your way through clouds of bushman hair grass to plains dotted with fig trees. You might encounter giraffe or shyer antelope while passing through mopane woodlands. The pace increases as you break out onto the flood plains, often disturbing troops of baboons. Return to camp for an afternoon spent at leisure and later a night drive by spotlight.

Day 5 (B,L,D)

Today you will leave for the fly-camp, riding deeper into the heart of the delta. On reaching another river system you will find the fly camp already set up, looking out over a favourite elephant watering hole. 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 (B,L,D)

Ride through water on the vast open plains, home to wildebeest and zebra. The riding may be fast as you approach deep reedy areas full of bird life. After a break, ride back to Macatoo along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees.

Day 7 (B,L,D)

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 you may have to creep up to them using islands for cover.

Day 8 (B,)

Your final morning ride, maybe take an exhilarating gallop and run with the game before returning to camp for brunch and your transfer back to Maun by light aircraft.