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Horse Safaris:
Botswana
Okavango Horse Safaris (OHS), Okavango
Delta – Botswana
This company is owned and operated by Barney and PJ Bestalink
who have been conducting horse safaris in the Okavango for the past
16 years. PJ has guided and lived permanently in the Okavango for
34 continuous years now, longer than any other Botswana guide.
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| PJ on his stallion Lamu |
Barney is one of Africa’s top horse woman, whose herd of over
65 horses live with them in the Okavango Delta. Their safari concession
is a massive 2500 square kilometers in size! Within this huge expanse
of land PJ has constructed three safari camps. Most of the horse trails
begin at their Base Camp on the edge of Kudjwana Lagoon.
After spending a few days exploring the
surrounding area an all day’s ride with a break for lunch, a
swim and siesta will take you to one of the two fly camps Kiri or
Makateers.
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| Tented accommodation at Kudjwana Base Camp |
Their horses are made up of Arabs, Anglo Arabs, American Saddlebreds,
Boerperds and Thoroughbreds, all well schooled and totally relaxed
in the presence of all forms of wildlife.
The day is punctuated with full morning rides, an afternoon game drive
or the opportunity of being poled along in a mokoro (dug out canoe)
enjoying the serenity of the delta’s waterways and its phenomenal
bird life.
Afternoon walks and night drives are the
other safari activities on offer.
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| Poled along in a Mokoro |
Animals
frequently seen on these safaris are lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe,
kudu, lechwe, zebra, impala, warthog and baboons. There are a number
of different itineraries to choose from, ranging from five, seven
and ten days duration.
Fact
Sheet (requisite
riding ability, type of horses, accommodation, clothing etc)
Sample itinerary
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| An elephant bull challenges riders on their
horses |
>5
day Okavango Delta, Botswana
>7
day Okavango Delta, Botswana
>10
day Okavango Delta, Botswana
Without doubt, the ultimate horse safari in Southern Africa is ‘The
Ride Home’. In mid October each year when Barney and PJ
take their herd of safari horses for a well earned rest to their home
on the Pan Handle of the Okavango Delta, some 150 kms north, a maximum
of ten guests accompany them on this ten day safari to experience
this amazing trek from the south western finger of the Okavango, riding
the whole way up the worlds biggest inland Delta, passing many different
habitats, and enjoying all the wildlife and vegetation that live in
this magnificent aquatic paradise. Because it is such an adventure
and only once a year, this safari is normally booked up two years
in advance. See my report on ‘The
Ride Home’ for a detailed description of this Safari.
Horse Safari Reports
>The Ride Home in the Okavango,
Botswana
>Okavango Horse Safaris, Botswana
>Click
to see information on Horse Safaris in Kenya
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Overview
