The Horseback Safari
Saddle up and set off along the shoreline - beautiful scenery, desert adapted wildlife and comfortable camps on a 6 day horseback safari into the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi.
Kalahari Desert, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Nxai National Park 
6 days/5 nights
Running 1st classsafaris since 1995
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Botswana’s salt pans by horseback
Beautiful scenery, desert adapted wildlife and comfortable camps in the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Join our horseback safari for 3 nights at our fixed based camp and 2 nights at a mobile fly camp.
Just saddle up and set off along the shoreline following in the footsteps of the early explorers.
- Kalahari Desert
- Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Nxai National Park
- 6 days/5 nights
Highlights of the Horseback safari
The remains of an ancient lake now form the Makgadikgadi Pans. Depending on your travel dates, we either go straight into the heart of the pans or ride along the edge of the grass plains…
Camp Kalahari on Brown Hyena Island right on the edge of the salt pans. Traditional, relaxed and family-friendly, an eclectic mix of original African textiles, colonial antiques, Moroccan Kilims and four poster beds.
Saddle up and head to Xau Xai fly camp. Ride through woodlands and grasslands a bird rich area with bustards and korhaans. A basic affair with comfortable dome tents.
- the best places to see the last migrations of zebra and wildebeest in southern Africa
- get up close and personal with a local little gang of friendly meerkats
- walk with Bushmen and learn about their ancient culture
- siestas and pool
Best time to go on a horseback safari
The safari is available on 2 set departure dates, monthly throughout the year with distinct differences between the wet and the dry rides:
- May to October - Dry season rides across the pans, good for quad biking across the expanse of the pans, stargazing - watch the planetarium show with horizon-to-horizon stars
- End of October to April - wet season rides
If you love horse riding you’ll love this safari.
The ride of your life
A 6 day horseback riding safari exploring the salt pans of Botswana.
Beautiful scenery, desert adapted wildlife such as gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest and the elusive brown hyena.
Stay in comfortable camps in the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi - Nxai National Park.
Ride out into the middle of the ancient lake bed!
Spend 3 nights at our fixed based camp and 2 nights at a mobile fly camp. Intermediate and experienced riders should give this horseback safari serious consideration!
Great terrain - exhilarating riding... intermediate and experienced riders should give this horseback safari serious consideration!
ItineraryFrom $3250
Day 1 - Arrive at Camp Kalahari You're met on arrival by David Food, your guide and host for the riding safari. take a dip in the pool. Afternoon tea followed by your first ride aimed at matching rider with horse. Back to camp.
Day 2 - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Breakfast, long morning ride through 'Land of a thousand islands', lake bed, sand dunes and palm trees. return to camp for lunch. Afrternoon/evening game drives to see unique desert species.
Day 3 - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Long ride east to Xau Xai fly camp through mopane and acacia woodlands with long canters, rich in bird life. Lunch under Green's Baobab. Siesta, sundowners and dinner.
Day 4 - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Coffee, breakfast and back in the saddle in search of the meerkats. Spend quality time with these sociable creatures before heading back to camp for lunch. Ride late afternoon to the ancient lakebed.
Day 5 - Camp Kalahari Ride the Pans to Camp Kalahari - look out for ostrich and the Chapman's Baobab with its 25m girth! Shower and lunch at the camp, great scenery, wildlife and riding.
Day 6 - Departure After breakfast drive to the traditional bushman village. Walk into the bush with the bushmen and learn about their Kalahari lifestyle. Camp Kalahari for lunch and to pack for your onward journey.
How to get there
Start at Johannesburg then on to Maun, Botswana for transfer by light aircraft to camp. You’ll be met by your and guide and host David Foot.
Wildlife
Meerkats:
These charismatic creatures are found in the Kalahari and Namib Deserts then further afield into Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They’re very sociable living in “clans”, “mobs” or “gangs” of 20 to 50 individuals. They take turns at sentry and baby sitting duties. Despite their slim and slender size powerful claws make them excellent diggers. They live mostly on insects, spiders and scorpions.
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