THE SPECIALISTS IN WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

To ride with herds of giraffe and zebra across the plains of Africa has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences imaginable and down in the Okavango Delta, no-one does it better than African Horseback Safaris.
Here is a firsthand account by war correspondent Tim Butcher.

"Lion spoor at dawn outside the stout timber stockade stabling the 40 or so horses belonging to African Horseback Safaris showed just how wild the area was. John slid a rifle into a long holster attached to his saddle,as he completed a series of instructions for my small group of three.
"And one final thing," John said over his shoulder as he kicked on his mount. "If you are wearing sunglasses make sure they are tied on – it can get a bit bumpy."

The Okavango Delta in Botswana remains as one of the most beautiful and unspoilt wilderness areas left in the world. It is an extraordinary place that is transformed every year as rains in the Angola Highlands slowly fill the dry river beds and flood the arid grasslands, turning the delta into a criss-cross of glittering waterways. The landscape becomes a myriad of canals and lily covered lagoons and, with the life giving water, comes an amazing abundance of wildlife.

African Horseback Safaris was established in 1995 by Sarah Jane Gullick and is run by top horseman John Sobey. Their camp, Macatoo is situated in a 500,000 acre private concession on the western side of the Delta and features seven large, comfortable twin bedded tents, each with their own en-suite shower and loo, and sleeps a maximum of fourteen guests. Centrally there is a large furnished mess tent and, tucked away, a private pool to ease those aching muscles after a long day in the saddle.

Riding safari is the perfect way to get close to animals in the wild as they do not see the horses as a threat and remain relaxed and calm. John and his team are extremely experienced and constantly assess the animal's mood and the potential for other animals unexpectedly emerging from the thicket. The horses themselves are beautifully mannered and also keep ears pricked and alert, scanning the distance for danger.

The Macatoo guides will skilfully match horses and out-rides to your level of riding experience and so the pace of safari can be slow and steady or a full on adrenalin rush. Here is another exert from Tim Butchers account which captures that rush of excitement as they pick up the pace.

"What happened next was one of the most stimulating, inhibition-stripping experiences of my life. I am no expert at riding but what I lack in competence I seek to make up for in confidence. So when John set off at a canter I was more than willing to follow. The unique and, frankly, unexpected thing was that he kept to the water, the horses perfectly happy to pick up the speed as they waded. The faster we rocketed, the wetter we got, soaked by water thrown up by their hooves cleaving huge wakes that speedboat drivers would have been proud of.
The sense of release was remarkable, of opening up new horizons. It took all of my brainpower to hold on, to keep my feet in the right position in the stirrups, my weight balanced over the saddle. But this was not an exercise of the brain, it was about the spirit.I yahooed with glee, my voice lost amid the thunder of the hooves and when we finally eased to a halt my face was nothing but smile."

The game in the Delta is exceptional and guests should hope to see lion, elephant, hyenas, wild dog, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles and a variety of antelope and smaller animals - warthog, mongoose, genets, monkeys and bush babies to name a few. Whether you are in or out of the saddle we can promise that this will be a safari experience you will never forget.