Okavango Delta on Horseback

Upon your arrival at Maun airport, a warm welcome awaits from the dedicated team at African Horseback Safaris who will escort you to your scheduled flight. The scenic 30-minute flight provides a breath taking bird’s eye perspective of the Okavango Delta, where even the breeding herds of elephants appear as tiny, majestic figures on the landscape.
Upon landing at the camp's airstrip, a safari vehicle will be ready to take you on a 45-minute game drive, or an exhilarating boat ride (depending on the season), delivering you to Macatoo Camp.

Head to the barn for a horseback ride, deliberately paced to allow you to savour the stunning sunset and capture the beauty of the abundant birdlife and wildlife through your lens.

Wake up to the gentle call of Macatoo's cheerful "tent ladies," who ensure a delightful start to your day. Your choice of tea, coffee, and rusks is served bedside, setting the tone for a morning filled with adventure. A light breakfast is arranged around the welcoming campfire, preparing you for the first exhilarating ride of your holiday.

In the well-equipped barn, you'll find a diverse selection of horses, and Macatoo's experienced staff excel in creating ideal horse and rider partnerships. Depending on the season, the morning ride may involve thrilling gallops across dried floodplains, refreshing swims through floodwaters, or traversing seas of tall grass to observe giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes – encountering the vibrant array of wildlife that calls the Delta home.

As the dawn chorus serenades the new day, enjoy the tranquility over tea, coffee, and rusks served in the comfort of your bed. By now, any first-day riding nerves have likely dissipated, replaced with eager anticipation for another day on horseback. Setting off in a new direction, the ever-changing landscape promises fresh game viewing opportunities and a varied pace of ride.

The knowledgeable guides are always hopeful for sightings of the rare semi-aquatic antelope, the red lechwe.

Embarking on a new day of adventure, we ride deeper into the heart of the Okavango Delta, reaching corners of the wilderness where vehicles cannot tread, but our horses can. Crossing high palm islands reveals sweeping views of the Delta plains – is that a distant anthill or a graceful giraffe on the horizon?

While riders delve into the heart of the Delta, those who prefer alternative activities, such as walks, drives, or boat rides, will explore the rich surroundings, with all guests reuniting for an unexpected champagne breakfast under the shade of a majestic baobab tree. Here, stories from the morning's adventures are exchanged, creating a sense of camaraderie among all participants.

Awakening amidst the treetops, you are swiftly transported back to camp by vehicle, where you can change before embarking on another exhilarating ride through new and diverse terrain.
By now, your riding fitness has likely peaked, and the eagerness to pick up the pace is palpable. Cantering through clouds of bushman hair grass, you'll traverse vast plains adorned with fig trees, encountering giraffes and shyer antelope that gracefully vanish into the depths of mopane woodlands.

On this final afternoon in camp, some guests opt for a unique perspective by taking a helicopter ride, reaching even further into the Delta for captivating photo opportunities. The choice for your last sunset outing may pose a delightful dilemma – an evening game drive with a spotlight often unveils the lively local hyena clan or lions on the hunt.

As the dawn chorus of the African Fish Eagle graces the morning air, its call has become as familiar as the morning alarm at home. The delivery of hot drinks in bed marks the start of your last morning in camp, prompting a sense of eagerness to make the most of your final ride. Staying relatively close to camp, you'll splash through water on vast open plains, the habitat of blue wildebeest and Burchell's zebra.

The riding pace intentionally accelerates, as we aim to pack as much fun as possible into these final hours. Be prepared to get wet as we approach deep reedy areas teeming with bird life, including open-billed storks, squacco herons, slaty egrets, and Egyptian geese. Your return journey to Macatoo follows the myriad of waterways lined with large trees, eventually leading you back to the barn, where a bittersweet farewell awaits your equine companion.
After bidding adieu to your horse, there will be just enough time to shower, change, and pack before the game drive to the airstrip.