Delta Trail (Ride Botswana)

Day 1

Riding: 2 - 4 hours

On arrival at Maun airport you are met and transferred to the fringes of the Delta where you meet your horses and team. Your luggage is loaded onto pack donkeys or mokoros (depending on water levels) and transported to camp, whilst you venture on horseback into the watery wilderness of the delta. Before the sun sets you will arrive at your first secluded camp.

Days 2 to 7

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

A typical day starts with an early wake-up call and a light breakfast around the camp fire as dawn breaks. This is when the game is most active and so the best time to set out on horseback. Follow ancient elephant trails whilst searching for a variety of wildlife and enjoying the prolific birdlife. Canter across the flooded plains and meander through the wooded islands. Herds of buffalo may be in the vicinity, giraffe often saunter by and red lechwe may splash through the water alongside you whilst kudu peer from the thickets.

Return to camp for lunch and a siesta in the shade of a giant jackalberry or leadwood tree. A meditative evening ride is spent listening to the sounds of the bush with the snorting and splashing of the horses, before returning to camp for dinner under the stars.

During the week it is likely you (or the horses!) will want to rest and this offers the perfect opportunity to glide serenely through the lily-lined lagoons in the mokoro. This traditional mode of transport offers a different perspective - be certain to look out for the brightly coloured painted reed frogs hanging to the reeds! There are also chances to venture out on foot with your guides too - to learn some rudimentary tracking skills and discover the smaller creatures which inhabit the bush.

No two days are the same but each day is astonishing and you will discover this unique and unspoilt wilderness in a privileged way.

Day 8

Riding: 1 - 3 hours

Ride back to the fringes of the delta and the buffalo fence (which protects the wildlife from the domesticated cattle) for your transfer back to Maun airport

Day 1

Riding: No riding.

On arrival at Maun airport you are met and transferred to your camp in the Delta - Cha Cha Metsi camp. Cha Cha Metsi is a small and intimate camp with only 6 tents overlooking the Gama Tau lagoon and part of the Santantadibe river.

If opting for the road transfer then this takes c. 2 hours with, hopefully, game viewing along the way. You'll have time to settle into your tent before sundowners and dinner.

If choosing air transfers, then the helicopter takes about 20mins and you should have time to meet the horses and have a short ride before the sun sets.

Days 2 to 5

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

There is no set itinerary and you'll see out riding in different directions to explore as much of the area as possible.

A typical day starts with an early wake-up call and a light breakfast as dawn breaks. Mount up and spend the morning following ancient elephant trails searching for the large variety of wildlife, enjoying the prolific birdlife and cantering through the flooded plains. Herds of buffalo may be in the vicinity, giraffe may saunter by and lechwe may splash through the water alongside you whilst kudu peer out from the thickets. 

Return to camp for lunch and a siesta. 

In the afternoon enjoy a gentle evening ride appreciating the tranquility of the Okavango, listening to the sounds of the bush and snorting and splashing of your horses. Return to camp for dinner under the stars. 

Occasionally you (and the horses) may prefer a rest in which case you can take a sedate journey in a mokoro or perhaps a bush walk to look for the smaller creatures that inhabit the bush and learn some tracking skills.

Day 6

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

A more leisurely start as you head back to Maun and then onto Camp Kalahari in the Makgadikgadi pans. You can either transfer by light aircraft (20 min heli + 45 min light aircraft) or road (2 hrs to Maun + 3 hours to the Kalahari). Camp Kalahari is a lovely static camp nestled amongst acacias and moklowane palms with thatched central areas and a refreshing pool.

After afternoon tea, head out on an introductory ride to experience the magical open landscapes of the desert. Return to camp for sundowners so that the horses are safely in the kraal before the lions start prowling!

Day 7

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Ride at dawn for a light breakfast followed by a morning ride through the 'land of a thousand islands'. The remains of this ancient lakebed is dotted with sand dunes covered in palm trees and is a beautiful and fascinating landscape. During this dry season the white encrusted pans between the island provide excellent going for the horses and there are plenty of opportunities for fast canters! 

Return to camp for lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon head out in the game vehicle to search for the elusive brown hyena - these consummate desert specialists survive in arid areas where both water and food are scarce. Enjoy a night drive back to camp with the spot light to look for nocturnal species such as aardvark, bat eared foxes, porcupine, honey badgers and perhaps even a black maned Kalahari lion.

Day 8

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

A highlight for many, today you head off on horseback to discover some of the Kalahari's most endearing species - the meerkats. An ongoing habituation programme means you can get up close and personal with these captivating creatures, so you'll leave the horses with the grooms and approach on foot to sit amongst the family. Watch how they interact with each other, and if you are lucky, become a lookout post! As the day warms up, leave the meerkats to their foraging and ride the well-worn paths to find resident zebra and ostrich gathered around water holes before returning to camp for lunch.

In the late afternoon head out for an adventure on a quadbike as you ride straight into the middle of the ancient lakebed. Eventually all that can be seen is a vast flatness stretching in every direction as the sun sets and the stars rise. The silence is so complete you can hear your own blood circulating through your ears and there is not a single landmark - it's easy to lose your perspective. Return to camp for dinner.

Day 9

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

After breakfast ride through the bush to a traditionally built Bushmen village where the local Zu'hoasi people gather during the day. Your guides are privileged to work with these families who share their knowledge with each other and their guests. A two hour walk with these extraordinary people will provide a gentle introduction to the Kalahari and the bushmen's way of life. The group will point out distinct ecological characteristics of the area along with its animal and bird species. After your walk, return to camp by horseback in time for a quick refresh before your transfer back to Maun for your flight home.