Horseback Riding Holidays in Botswana

Ampascachi only offers horseback riding routes in Argentina.

Argentina is a country with a strong equestrian tradition.

Exploring it on horseback is an unforgettable experience.

Download the Ebook: Discover Argentina on Horseback.

Recognized as Africa's most successful, stable, and peaceful country, Botswana is a pristine land of eternal beauty filled with large mammals, immense flora, and incredible bird diversity.

Why Explore Botswana on Horseback

Botswana is a landlocked country located in southern Africa. Its landscape is defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which transforms into a rich animal habitat during seasonal floods.

It has one of the lowest population densities in the world and exclusive tourism policies. Its wild attractions, largely pristine and sparsely populated, guarantee you an unparalleled horseback riding adventure in Africa.

If you are passionate about wildlife, pristine nature, and ancient peoples, visit Botswana and explore it on horseback to better discover its remote areas.

Daily flights to Maun from Johannesburg and Cape Town provide easy access to this country and its entire horseback riding tourism offer.

Some Interesting Facts about Botswana

Botswana is Africa's last wilderness. A land that still hosts the San Bushmen, the first inhabitants of this great continent.

Its capital is Gaborone.

It is the world's leading diamond producer by value and volume, with approximately 80% of exports. Livestock farming remains the main source of income for much of the country.

Geography

The Okavango River, originating in the highlands of Angola to the northwest, flows and then spreads over the sandy spaces of the Kalahari to form a vast and wonderful inland delta.

Full of lagoons and labyrinthine channels, palm-lined islands, and fertile floodplains, it is perfect for an exhilarating gallop alongside the local wildlife.

Okavango Delta

Described as "the river that never finds the sea," the Okavango disappears into a maze of lagoons, channels, and islands covering 15,000 km2 in northeastern Botswana.

It is the world's largest inland delta, a water-flooded plain, a safe haven for wildlife. This rich and diverse habitat can and should be explored on horseback. A safari here allows you to travel and experience this paradise up close.

Birds are the most abundant animals in Botswana. There are also elephants, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, and kudu. In fact, Botswana has the largest elephant population in the world and is home to a migratory population of over 120,000 of these enormous creatures.

Best Horseback Riding Routes in Botswana

Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Southeast of the Okavango Delta, in the area known as the Kalahari Desert, the landscape is not one large salt pan but many salt pans interspersed with sandy islands covered with palms and grasslands.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are among the largest salt pans in the world. They are the remnants of the once enormous Lake Makgadikgadi that dried up thousands of years ago.

The open salt pans are perfect for long gallops!

Here you will find some of the largest baobab trees in the world and a surprising amount of wildlife. The world's second-largest migration of zebras and wildebeest takes place here after the February rains.

You will discover meerkat families, brown hyena dens, and other desert-adapted wildlife.

Tuli Block

The Tuli Block, in the east of the country, borders Zimbabwe and South Africa.

It is known as the "Land of Giants" for its plains dotted with famous baobab trees and large elephant herds. The land remains untouched, uninfluenced by humans, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, African wild dogs, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and over 350 bird species.

This area offers a good chance to see big cats.

Proposals for Your Horseback Riding Holidays in Botswana

Botswana is one of the best tourist destinations on the African continent, and exploring it on horseback is definitely a pleasant, exciting, and very different adventure from any other you have experienced before.

Ampascachi Horse Riding Holidays has selected horseback tourism service providers to consider for discovering the best of Botswana on horseback.

Horizon Horseback

This provider offers horseback safaris in the vast Mashatu Game Reserve in the Tuli Block of southeastern Botswana.

It is an area of great diversity, with magnificent views, ancient civilizations, and spectacular rock formations bordered by the great Limpopo River to the south.

Their Routes

They have different safaris. The most popular is the "African Bush and Lodge" which combines two impressive and different areas of Botswana in a magical safari.

You will enjoy the first 5 days of the popular Tuli Safari before flying by light aircraft to the western side of the Okavango Delta, with 5 more nights of safaris in Macatoo.

Their Horses

They have been individually selected for their temperament and manageability.

Chosen from various South African breeds, known for their hardiness and ability to cope with extreme conditions.

These breeds include Boerperd, Shire Cross Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, and SA Warmblood.

The size of these horses ranges from 150 to 170 cm tall.

Their riding style is classic English. They are well-trained and respond easily and quickly to rider cues. They use comfortable, high-quality English saddles with saddlebags that include water bottles.

On request, some Australian stock saddles are available.

Accommodation

They offer mobile tents or, if you prefer, the Two Mashatus camp, where you can enjoy the pleasure of traveling in Mashatu and the luxury and comfort of a static camp.

The accommodation consists of two dining and lounge areas and a traditional palm rondavel.

There are 5 large tents with wooden frames on teak platforms, with private bathrooms. Each tent is private and shaded by a tree with a small front terrace area to relax in the afternoons.

There is also a large pool with a surrounding terrace for afternoon siestas.

More information on their website: ridinginafrica.com/safaris/tuli-safari/.

African Horseback

Located near the Okavango Delta, they were pioneers in offering adventurous riders worldwide horseback safaris in Africa.

With their calm and experienced horses, they offer exciting rides along with sightings of giraffes, zebras, and elephants.

Their Horses

They are crosses of thoroughbreds, Namibian, Percheron, and Kalahari-Arabian breeds ranging from 140 to 170 cm tall.

They are valued for their skill and personality, and every effort is made to find one that matches the rider's personality and experience.

All riders rotate between two or three horses during their stay to ensure each animal has time to recover from each riding day.

One of the most popular sights at Macatoo is seeing the horses resting or galloping freely around the camp.

Their Routes

Led by local guides who know the trails better than anyone, you have 185,000 hectares of pristine nature to explore.

• You will spend up to 6 hours daily riding.
• You must be able to ride at any pace: walk, trot, and gallop.
• Minimum age 12 years, fit, and weighing up to 95 kg.
• Groups of up to 8 people.
• English and Western style saddles, each with its own water bottle.
• It is important to bring your riding helmet in your luggage.
• You must be insured to travel with them. Verify that your policy covers the risks of horseback riding including medical evacuation coverage.

Accommodation

They have 8 large airy tents that blend perfectly with their natural surroundings while providing shelter from dense bushes.

Each tent is on its own raised platform and offers panoramic views of a seasonally flooded plain that can be enjoyed from the bed or terrace.

Elephants and giraffes often come close to the deck, and the pool becomes a popular watering hole for baboon families.

More information on their website: www.africanhorseback.com.

Ride Botswana

With over 30 years of experience guiding groups, David is considered one of Africa's most experienced horseback tourism guides.

Born and raised in Africa, David and Robyn Foot share a love for exploring Africa's wildest places on horseback. This guarantees you will be in good hands if you choose them.

Their Horses

They have a herd of 41 horses in very good shape. They are responsive, reliable, and well adapted to the African environment.

The horses vary in breeds, from sporty Thoroughbred X to hardy Appaloosas and African Boerperds, as well as some beautiful Shire X, Friesian X, and Botswana Kalahari ponies trained in temperament.

Their Routes

Their horseback travel offer includes the exclusive Okavango Delta, an Eden for horseback riding tourism lovers.

Discover the Kalahari Desert camping in the Makgadikgadi salt pans and the Thamalakane River, with trails crossing more than once the 80 hectares of riparian trees and acacia forests on the river's edge:

• Groups of up to 8 people.
• For programs longer than 5 nights, you must have intermediate or experienced riding level.
• The weight limit is 95 kg with full gear.
• Each day you will ride between 4 to 7 hours.
• You must know how to ride at all paces: walk, trot, and gallop.
• Only riders over 12 years old and in excellent physical condition are accepted.
• Helmet is mandatory; they have a wide selection available or you can bring your own.

Less experienced or inexperienced riders can opt for horseback routes on the Thamalakane River with 3 nights in the Kalahari Ride or hourly horseback rides from Royal Tree Lodge and Camp Kalahari.

For more information visit their website: www.ridebotswana.com.

Okavango Horse Safari

Specialists in the Okavango Delta, founded in the 1980s by PJ & Barney Bestelink, they offer you an unforgettable safari experience in a unique natural area in the world.

Their guides and logistics staff accompanying you on every leg of your horseback trip are highly qualified and know the area very well.

Galloping alongside the elegant movement of a giraffe is an experience you will never forget!

Their Routes

This safari takes place in a private concession area of more than 2500 km2.

You will travel through the varied landscape of the Okavango Delta and at the end of your trip will have a deep knowledge of the ecosystems, flora, and fauna of this unique region.

The only sounds you will hear, while the wind whispers through the grass and shakes the palms, are the eerie cry of the fish eagle, the splash of a hidden crocodile, and the distant drumming of your horse's gallop.

They will provide you with the best experience of an authentically African safari.

Groups are always small, with a maximum of 8 people, although larger group bookings can also be requested. Non-riders are welcome as companions.

You will spend between 4 and 6 hours in the saddle, while in the afternoons you can enjoy alternative activities such as swimming, games, mokoro (traditional canoe) rides, or walking.

Their Horses

The horses are of the highest level. They have more than 60 horses based in the Delta, mainly thoroughbreds, TB crosses, Arabian crosses, American Saddles, and Boerperds.

They use English leather saddles with leather bridles, South African riding saddles available on request. During your trip, you will be able to ride different horses to ensure you connect with and enjoy the one that best suits your riding experience and temperament.

Accommodation

They have 3 different camps, all in various areas offering a unique experience of wildlife, birds, and the Okavango Delta habitat. You will have access to electricity, showers with bathrooms, and most importantly, exceptional views of the delta at all camps.

You will have the most comfortable accommodation in the bush, and every detail will be taken into account for your safety and enjoyment with a history of completed safaris.

Check out their offer by visiting their website: okavangohorse.com.

There is no other place on Earth comparable to the Okavango Delta, home to wild animals, as well as the vast Kalahari Desert. Enjoy its beauty on horseback, and don't miss the African sunsets.