Bucket list Botswana

[pistolpete]

I was asking a few friends what’s on their horse riding bucket list and Botswana trekking was top of the list. Anyone here been? What’s the best about it? Any pitfalls (apart from cost) and would you go again? Thanks. Pic of me on my Spanish riding hols in October

 

[shortstuff99]

The one wild animal I am still yet to see is African wild hunting dog and Botswana is the best place to see them! That and the Okavanga Delta would be amazing.

 

[BBP]

Given my partner and I both had horse falls in South Africa I’d say pitfalls are predators lying in wait!

 

[Bionic Boy]

I haven’t been but have a few friends that have and loved it. They said it was amazing and the photos and videos certainly looked great. They did have a couple of scary moments with wild animals chasing them but the guides were excellent and know exactly what to do.
Have a look at the web site In the saddle, that’s who they went with.

 

[Caol Ila]

Any pitfalls (apart from cost)

Lions? Elephants? Saw a video somewhere of a horse trekking group in either South or Bots running hell bent for election to get away from a charging elephant. My brother lives in Namibia and is trying to convince me to go horse trekking in a sub-Saharan African country. Looks terrifying. Last time I visited him, I was very happy doing game drives from the safety of a truck.

 

[turkana]

I've been to South Africa and Botswana, both fantastic, expensive but worth every penny. Seeing hunting dogs is on my bucket list, didn't see them in Botswana when I was there, maybe I'll have to go back!

 

[SEL]

I've been to Botswana and it's incredible. Did not see wild dog and that's on my bucket list!

The guides are excellent and know their wildlife so do their very best to keep a wide berth from grumpy elephant, hungry lion etc. You do need a good seat and the ability to ride out of trouble though. The only thing stopping a return trip is price. I was single, in a better paying job and without multiple horses back then ?

Riding in the Namib is spectacular and much less chance of meeting anything dangerous @Caol Ila you'd love it.

 

[SEL]

Given my partner and I both had horse falls in South Africa I’d say pitfalls are predators lying in wait!

We lost 2 riders and a guide into the water in the Delta!

 

[w1bbler]

Not Botswana, but I went to wait a little in South Africa.
Only pitfall, unlimited alcohol & 5am alarm call #first world problems ???
Would go again in a heartbeat if I could find the money

 

[HollyWoozle]

I’ve ridden in Botswana (and SA, Kenya and Namibia) as I sell riding holidays and get to ‘test’ them sometimes or escort a group.

Aside from the cost, I’m not sure I can say there are any downsides! You do occasionally have some hairy moments which is why they generally only accept good riders in big game country, but the guides are true professionals and so are the horses. There are often very early morning starts which doesn’t appeal to everyone but it’s well worth it. A lot of people book a riding safari as a trip of a lifetime sort of thing but many people do go back again if and when they can afford/justify it.

I say do it and you won’t regret it!

 

[criso]

Some years ago I added some extra days to a work trip to South Africa.

Because I wasn't flexible with dates I did a lodge stay where they had a small reserve onsite but the same organisation also run trips out to the bush in South Africa and Botswana. Some people there did a couple of days at the lodge either side of a safari trip which run on fixed times.

Lovely horses, very luxurious accommodation and good food and a magic basket where you put your dirty riding clothes and they appeared washed and ironed the next day and yes lots of drinks every evening. There weren't many dangerous animals in the reserve at the lodge, just Hippo which you had to be aware of around the lake when not riding and I did add a ln evening safari to a local reserve to see elephants and lions.

I went on my own and definitely a good one for single people.

I went with Horizon and booked direct. Follow them on Instagram and you'll be left wanting to book tomorrow.

https://www.ridinginafrica.com/

 

[BBP]

Some years ago I added some extra days to a work trip to South Africa.

Because I wasn't flexible with dates I did a lodge stay where they had a small reserve onsite but the same organisation also run trips out to the bush in South Africa and Botswana. Some people there did a couple of days at the lodge either side of a safari trip which run on fixed times.

Lovely horses, very luxurious accommodation and good food and a magic basket where you put your dirty riding clothes and they appeared washed and ironed the next day and yes lots of drinks every evening. There weren't many dangerous animals in the reserve at the lodge, just Hippo which you had to be aware of around the lake when not riding and I did add a ln evening safari to a local reserve to see elephants and lions.

I went on my own and definitely a good one for single people.

I went with Horizon and booked direct. Follow them on Instagram and you'll be left wanting to book tomorrow.

https://www.ridinginafrica.com/

I did horizon too. Other than our two horses decking it at high speed within 15mins of each other, it was fantastic.

Highly recommend Namibia too. I went to okapuka and the Arabs are brilliant rides, a lot of fast work at both places.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Went to Limpopo in Botswana and had the most amazing week - loved how remote it was and adored the basic trail camping - def was a frontiers woman in a previous life ? would go again in a heartbeat if I won the lottery!

 

[First Frost]

I to went to Limpopo in the Tuli block of Botswana. Had an absolutely fantastic time. saw many elephants, lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra etc. Horses and guides were fabulous. Definitely only for experienced riders who are happy to gallop over rough going. I've also ridden in Namibia, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, cost Rica and Georgia in eastern Europe.

Out of them all Botswana was my favourite closely followed by Georgia.

 

[Sealine]

I’ve also so been to Limpopo in the Tuli block and loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.

 

[Baffster]

Me too, can't wait to get back!

 

[Prancerpoos]

I did a riding holiday in the Okavango delta about 10 years ago and it was great. Bit scary swimming the horses across the deeper bits of water, with armed guides standing up in boats ready to shoot the crocs ?, but no attacks. We did get charged by an elephant and a few other adventures, but wouldn’t have been half the fun without!

We took a few days afterwards and went into the Kalahari with a private guide and were lucky enough to see a pair of wild dogs tracking game. I have been on a few trips to Africa and that was the only time I saw them. It was a highlight for me as I also have a thing about wild dogs and was very pleased to actually see them.

One thing to bear in mind is that you get what you pay for, and getting away from mass tourism where dozens of land rovers and coaches are gathered around every lion costs a lot of money. I was fortunate enough to have been able to get into some more remote areas, but you then have to take more of a chance on what you might see whereas you can pretty much guarantee seeing the ‘big five’ if you go to the big national park / touristy places, but they are a bit too much like a zoo for my liking.

Go for it!