Horseback Safari: Okavango + Victoria Falls

Day 1

You will be met at Maun Airport and, after completing border formalities, take your connecting light aircraft flight to the vast wilderness of the Okavango Delta.

Comprising 6,000 square miles of crystal clear channels, serene lagoons and a myriad of islands, the delta is a natural oasis in the middle of the Kalahari for a vast variety of wildlife and birds of all descriptions. You will be met at the landing strip and transferred to your comfortably furnished tented camp, comprising twin rooms with en-suite facilities and overlooking a seasonal flood plain lagoon.

After lunch under the trees, there is time to relax before your first evening ride into the flood plains, where unforgettable sightings and exhilarating riding is guaranteed. With a herd of responsive Thoroughbreds, Namibian Hanovarians, Arabs and Kalahari-Arab crossbreeds ranging in size from 14 to 16 hands, the lodge is able to closely match horse to rider capability.

Return to drinks around the fire and an outdoor candlelit dinner – combining good company, great food & exceptional horses in this pristine water wilderness!

Days 2 to 4

The seasonal Okavango Delta is flooded annually by the great Okavango River, which flows inland from Angola into the vast Kalahari Desert – never finding the sea but instead forming a great inland delta, whose waters are absorbed by the dry Kalahari Desert, making it one of the great natural wonders of the world and an amazing water wilderness and wetlands ecosystem.

Awake early each morning to ride with herds of giraffe or zebra across the vast open flood plains, track elephant or buffalo from island to island, canter and splash with game through the lagoons of the delta or simply watch the setting sun whilst listening to the calls of lion and hyena.

On rides expect to see most of the Big 5 – especially lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo – as well as zebra, giraffe, hyena, baboons, wildebeest, tsessebe, jackal, crocodiles, red lechwe, reedbuck, impala, kudu, monkeys, warthog, mongoose, steenbok, porcupine and many other species. You will be accompanied by a lead guide and back-up guide on all rides to ensure your safety. As all rides take place during the cooler hours of the day, when the game is most active, there is plenty of time to relax and cool off in the swimming pool between rides.

If you are adventurous, it is also possible to extend your holiday by 2 nights and ride deep into the delta to a remote wilderness fly-camp, overlooking a hippo pool (with domed tents).  Vehicle-based game and night drives are also available, as well as guided walks. In the flood season boat & mekoro canoe game viewing is also available. Each evening, dine unforgettably under the stars!

No single supplement is charged on riding holidays, provided you are willing to share.
Please let us know if you are not, in which case a 50% single supplement will apply.

Non-riders: A variety of activities are available for non-riding partners including game drives, bird walks, night drives, seasonal boating, mekoro canoes and fishing.

Day 5

Transfer to the airstrip for your 45-minute light aircraft flight to Kasane Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the ferry across the border into Zambia. Continue 1-hour overland to your hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River, near the mighty Victoria Falls.

Check in, settle in and relax whilst you catch your first glimpses of the magnificent Smoke That Thunders first discovered by Dr. David Livingstone and still one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. The flow of water over the Victoria Falls is greatest during the wet months (February to June) but the falls are a magnificent sight at any time of year.

Day 6

Today explore on foot the mighty Victoria Falls, offering magnificent views. Then participate in one of the many optional activities such as a helicopter flight over the falls, an elephant-back safari or relax by the swimming pool and enjoy the facilities of your hotel.

In the late afternoon enjoy a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River to see hippos, crocodiles and the abundant bird life.

Please note that Zambia visa charges apply on each entry into the country, so if visiting Botswana or Zimbabwe (even if only as a day visit) but flying out from Livingstone Airport, you will need to pay again to reenter Zambia

Day 7

At leisure to relax on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River near the Victoria Falls.

Adrenalin seekers can participate in many adventure activities such as canoeing in the gentler rapids above the falls, abseiling or white water rafting in the turbulent gorge below the falls (grade 5), or watch bungi jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge!

Take an optional excursion to view the Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side of the river*; enjoy a full day safari to the great Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana*; or simply relax on the banks of the great Zambezi River.

Passports are required for this day excursion and Zambian re-entry visa

Day 8

Transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight home.