Botswana : Okavango Horse Safaris
5 Night Itinerary
A 5 night itinerary may take place on the first five nights or the second 5 nights of a 10 night itinerary. Clients would depart on day 6 after an early morning ride & breakfast (aircraft movements permitting).
7 Night Itinerary
The 7 night Itinerary departs twice monthly joining the 10 night safari for the first 7 nights then departing on day 8.
10 Night Itinerary
On a 10 night itinerary we work out of our base camp Kujwana. This is situated on the Xudum river in the Okavango Delta. We then use two other camps in different areas of the concession. All these camps are well situated in big game areas. They are chosen for the variety of terrain & species that favour particular areas.
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This is a sample itinerary which may vary according to water levels and game movements.
Day 1 Kujwana Camp
You are met at Maun Airport by our representative & transferred by light aircraft to Xudum airstrip, a 25 minute flight. You are then transferred into the camp by vehicle which takes approximately 1 hour. (Game viewing). Lunch and an introduction talk with demo on tack advice on game viewing from horseback. This is followed by an orientation ride for approximately 1 - 2 hours.
Day 2 Kujwana Camp.
Morning game ride in the Xudum area. Wake up is 1 hour before dawn to ensure best game viewing. Wade through lush green malapos that lead you from island to -island. Surprise a timid bushbuck out his dense cover on a heavily wooded island, or enjoy the herds of Lechwe and Zebra moving through the open spaces. Return to camp for lunch. Siesta. Afternoon game drive with sunset drinks and evening night drive with a spot light.
Day 3 Kiri/Xwaapu Camp.
Ride east towards Beacon and Lion island. These are two very large islands in the area which are cut off from Kujwana by the Xwaapu river. The area is criss-crossed with game paths leading you through a chain of rain pans. This is a great contrast to the open flood plains. Mapane forests and Acacia woodlands offer a good variety of food for Kudu and Giraffe. Breeding herds of elephant enjoy the security of the dense forest and should the pans be holding water zebra, wilderbeest and buffalo will also be found. Animal tracks abound telling you of what has been and gone - or what you might still find. Afternoon bird walk.
Day 4 Kiri/Xwaapa Camp.
Ride north east towards Moremi game reserve. This area forms seasonal marsh land and hosts a variety of exceptional bird life. Wildlife moves freely to and from the national park. Good Buffalo and Elephant country. Afternoon game drive with sunset drinks and evening night drive with a spot light.
Day 5 Kujwana Camp.
A full days ride moving from Kiri/Xwaapu to Kujwana camp.This area is on the edge of the permanent water with papyrus beds and deep lagoons. Good area for hippo and lechwe. A picnic lunch is set up on a shady island.Return to Kujwana camp in the cool of the late afternoon.
Day 6 Kujwana Camp.
A rest day for the guests riding for 10 days. There is the option to game drive, walk, mokoro or view a water hole from the hide. Afternoon ride. Dawn game ride 2 hours for the guests riding for 5 days. Return to camp for breakfast. Guests joining the safari do an orientation ride in the cool of the afternoon as the wildlife stirs from the heat of the day. 2 hours ride.
Day 7 Kujwana Camp.
A full morning ride exploring the western Baobab area. Small islands linked by numorous hippo channels eventually lead you onto Boabab Island. A good habitate for Cheetah and breeding grounds for Carmine Bee eaters, our Summer visitor. Boabab Island has thick riverine forest and is a good area for elephant and buffalo (and the unexpected). Afternoon game/night drive
Day 8 Moklowane Camp
Move from Kujwana to Moklowane camp. This is approximately 30km ride heading North West. The route moves through open floodplains and scattered islands towards the Matsebe river system. A picnic lunch is served on a shady island 2 hours ride from Moklowane camp. Arrive sunset.
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Day 9 Moklowane Camp
Morning game ride. This camp is on the Matsebe river system and features wide open flood plains interspersed with Moklowane palms - favorite food of Elephant and Baboon. Good area for plains game. Afternoon: 1 - 2 hours mokoro experience (traditional dug out canoe).
Day 10 Kujwana Camp.
A full days ride from Moklowane to Kujwana with a picnic lunch along away. A 40 Km ride with 4 hours ridden in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. This ride moves through a variety of game areas fording the Xudum river at numerous hippo channels. Arrive Kujwana on sunset.
Day 11
Early morning game ride out of Kujwana camp if flight times permit. Guests leave after breakfast. One hour's game drive to the nearest airstrip for transfer by light aircraft into Maun.
NB. Okavango Horse Safaris reserves the right to alter the itinerary according to water levels and game movements. Mokoros (dugout Canoes) are offered as an activity depending on water levels.
10 night itinerary - on day 6 the horses are sometimes rested and other activities are offered, i.e.Mokoro with picnic lunch, game drive or bird walk.
Kujwana Camp
Kujwana camp is situated on the Xudum river south west of Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta. The camp accommodates a maximum of 8 to 10 guests in spacious safari tent each with bathrooms en-suite. Fixed departure dates are published with a 5 and 10 night safari offering the opportunity to explore the three main river systems in this area, the Xudum, Matsebi and the Kiri river. An area of over 2500 sq. km it is rich in wildlife and variety of fauna and flora. The areas between the three rivers contrast greatly and support different species of game and birds.
Moklowane Camp
Moklowane camp is north west of Kujwana on the Matsebi river. This camp is situated in the open flood plains which receive flood water 3 weeks earlier than Kujwana camp. The vegetation consists of smaller palm island and wide open spaces. Mokolwane is also a 10-bedded camp. The tree houses (accommodation) are 10 feet off the ground boasting superb views, each with private bathroom. The Matsibe river is your main feeder for Lake Ngami.
Fly Camp
Kiri/Xwaapu Fly Camp is north east of Kujwana camp in the permanent water line of the delta. This camp is temporary and the site moves according to access with water levels. Deep lagoons and papyrus beds this is a good area for hippo and lechwe, as well as buffalo and other big game. The camp consists of walk in dome tents (see fact sheet).The term Fly camp means temporary camp easily moved (from the days when you moved your fly sheet rather than you whole tent).
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