On Horseback Through the Okavango Delta

Ride into the heart of the Okavango Delta on one of the world’s most sought-after safaris, as you set out to explore this great wilderness area of Botswana on horseback. Exclusive to your group, you will spend your days sleeping under the stars and encountering Africa’s great wildlife from the most intimate vantage point imaginable – riding right alongside it.

When to go
May-Oct
 
From Price
£19, 500 PP*
(excl international flights)
Ideal Length
7 Nights
 



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Experience Highlights

  • Explore the wilds of Botswana, venturing across the Okavango Delta on horseback as you wade through floodplains, weave between islands and ride alongside elephant, buffalo and hippo – all from the comfort of your saddle.
  • Stay at a beautifully appointed tented camp set deep within the Okavango Delta, exclusively yours, with the option to try different horses from the camp’s herd, including homebred Boerperde and spirited Arabians.
  • Spend two nights at a remote fly-camp in the wilderness, where luxurious canvas tents, hot showers and star-filled skies await – accompanied by the sounds the wild as your horses graze nearby.
  • Complement your days in the saddle with mokoro canoe expeditions, game drives in search of leopard and wild dog, guided bush walks and starlit bush dinners cooked over an open fire by your guide.

There are few ways to encounter the African wilderness more profoundly than on horseback – and nowhere better than in the Okavango Delta. Taking over a private camp exclusively, experience one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife adventures with Pelorus, guided by a specialist equestrian team to the heart of a remote wilderness that few travellers ever reach.

First Rides In The Wild

A helicopter transfer delivers you straight to your luxury tented camp - a dramatic arrival that sets the tone for the days to come. After settling into your spacious canvas tent and gathering over lunch, your guides will introduce you to the herd before your first orientation ride across the shimmering floodplains. Wake on your second morning to tea or coffee delivered to your tent, then head out on horseback through the lush molapos of the Xudum area – wading from island to island as herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra move through the open spaces around you. This afternoon, glide through the waterways aboard a traditional mokoro dug-out canoe and watch the Delta’s colours deepen as the sun drops behind the horizon.

Deep Into the Delta

Set off for one of this safari’s great highlights: a full-day ride of around 30km, tracking through open floodplains and scattered palm islands towards the Qwaapu river system, where game sightings are exceptional. A picnic lunch is served in the shade of a remote island before a final two-hour afternoon ride brings you to your private fly-camp, a campfire already lit as the sun dips behind the horizon. Here, out in the heart of the wilderness, luxurious tents with ensuite hot showers and a communal mess tent await. Following dinner prepared over an open fire, fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush as you sleep out in the wild.

To give your horse a rest, spend the morning on a game drive incorporating a bush walk and tracking. A drive is the perfect time to go looking for predators, including the endangered African Wild Dog and the numerous leopards in this area. Following an afternoon siesta, set off on an afternoon ride to explore the eastern side of the concession. This ride moves through a variety of game areas fording numerous hippo channels in this truly remote area.

Sightings, Sundowners and Stars

Rise early for a full day’s ride back to your main camp, completing your time out in the wilder part of this area. The route home takes you through mopane forests and acacia woodlands, home to herds of elephant, kudu and giraffe. Breeding herds of elephant enjoy the security of the dense forest and should the pans be holding water, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo can also be found. Depending on the water levels, you may also have the opportunity to swim your horse back on the final stretch of your journey.

Back at camp, you will have the chance to try a different horse from the herd for your morning ride. Choose between the sturdy, homebred Boerperd or an elegant Arab, and set out on a meditative hack before a long, leisurely lunch. As the heat softens, a game drive takes you out in search of predators: leopard, lion and the elusive endangered African wild dog are all found on the concession. The evening culminates in a candlelit bush dinner under the stars, followed by a night drive back to camp alive with nocturnal sightings and the extraordinary night sky above. Rise early for your final early-morning ride, before you bid a reluctant farewell to this beautiful corner of Botswana.

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