David Foot Safaris
David Foot Safaris/ Ride Botswana offers an excellent selection of horse riding safaris for you. Choose from (or combine) the Okavango Delta and various Kalahari Rides and along the Thamalakane Ride (just outside of Maun).
Uniquely for Botswana Riding Safaris, not only is there a variety of areas to enjoy, but you can also do day rides and also enjoy areas that are more suitable for novice riders.
Uniquely for Botswana Riding Safaris, not only is there a variety of areas to enjoy, but you can also do day rides and also enjoy areas that are more suitable for novice riders.
Enjoy a unique 7 Night Horse Safari in the Okavango Delta. As the waters of the Delta spread down into the Kalahari sands, wildlife follows.
This Delta Ride is unlike any other. Rather than making use of a a permanent riding camp, a lightweight mobile camp is transported by a flotilla of mekoro (traditional dugout canoes) poled by members of the local community, who live on the fringes of the Delta and know it intimately.
When the water levels are too low for the mekoro to navigate, a train of pack donkeys takes over. The emphasis of this Safari is on the experience, the beauty of the Okavango, and top- level guiding. The riding and the horses are unsurpassed, the wildlife is fascinating, and the food (cooked over a log fire) is fabulous.
Your camp is extremely comfortable in lightweight tents with standing room, fully made up stretcher beds, bucket showers and short drop loos. No vehicles (other than the transfer from Maun and back) are involved on this Safari, and this, along with the working in partnership with the local community, guarantees a genuinely environmentally-friendly safari.
From Maun Airport it is only a 30 minute drive to the southern end of the Okavango where the safari begins at the so-called “buffalo fence”. Here, the horses are waiting, and you luggage is loaded onto mekoro and transported to camp. The guests mount up and venture on horseback into the Delta. Exploring this water wilderness on horseback is absolutely exhilarating, in particular a first encounter with elephants – an experience very different from viewing them from a vehicle.
Before the sun sets you ride into a secluded camp on a beautiful, remote island. There is no set itinerary, with the location of the camp dependent on water levels, wildlife movements and the length of the safari (the longer the safari the more likely the camp is to move).
However every location is exquisite, as there is a plentiful choice of shady tree-lined islands. A typical day starts with an early wake-up call and a light breakfast around the camp fire as dawn breaks. The morning is spent on horseback, following ancient elephant trails, searching for a variety of wildlife, and enjoying the prolific birdlife. You get to cante through the recently flooded plains. Herds of buffalo may be in the vicinity, giraffe often saunter by and red lechwe splash through the water along side.
You return to camp for lunch and siesta in the dense shade of the giant jackalberry or leadwood trees. A short early evening ride is spent listening to the sounds of the bush and the snorting and splashing of the horses, before returning to camp for dinner under the stars.
Occasionally guests (and horses) may need to rest, which is the perfect opportunity for a tranquil ride in a mokoro, the traditional way of traversing the lagoons and waterways. It also allows for the chance to venture out on foot to appreciate the smaller creatures that inhabit the bush; or to learn some rudimentary tracking skills.
This Delta Ride is unlike any other. Rather than making use of a a permanent riding camp, a lightweight mobile camp is transported by a flotilla of mekoro (traditional dugout canoes) poled by members of the local community, who live on the fringes of the Delta and know it intimately.
When the water levels are too low for the mekoro to navigate, a train of pack donkeys takes over. The emphasis of this Safari is on the experience, the beauty of the Okavango, and top- level guiding. The riding and the horses are unsurpassed, the wildlife is fascinating, and the food (cooked over a log fire) is fabulous.
Your camp is extremely comfortable in lightweight tents with standing room, fully made up stretcher beds, bucket showers and short drop loos. No vehicles (other than the transfer from Maun and back) are involved on this Safari, and this, along with the working in partnership with the local community, guarantees a genuinely environmentally-friendly safari.
From Maun Airport it is only a 30 minute drive to the southern end of the Okavango where the safari begins at the so-called “buffalo fence”. Here, the horses are waiting, and you luggage is loaded onto mekoro and transported to camp. The guests mount up and venture on horseback into the Delta. Exploring this water wilderness on horseback is absolutely exhilarating, in particular a first encounter with elephants – an experience very different from viewing them from a vehicle.
Before the sun sets you ride into a secluded camp on a beautiful, remote island. There is no set itinerary, with the location of the camp dependent on water levels, wildlife movements and the length of the safari (the longer the safari the more likely the camp is to move).
However every location is exquisite, as there is a plentiful choice of shady tree-lined islands. A typical day starts with an early wake-up call and a light breakfast around the camp fire as dawn breaks. The morning is spent on horseback, following ancient elephant trails, searching for a variety of wildlife, and enjoying the prolific birdlife. You get to cante through the recently flooded plains. Herds of buffalo may be in the vicinity, giraffe often saunter by and red lechwe splash through the water along side.
You return to camp for lunch and siesta in the dense shade of the giant jackalberry or leadwood trees. A short early evening ride is spent listening to the sounds of the bush and the snorting and splashing of the horses, before returning to camp for dinner under the stars.
Occasionally guests (and horses) may need to rest, which is the perfect opportunity for a tranquil ride in a mokoro, the traditional way of traversing the lagoons and waterways. It also allows for the chance to venture out on foot to appreciate the smaller creatures that inhabit the bush; or to learn some rudimentary tracking skills.
This itinerary can be 3 or 5 nights... and can differ depending upon the Green or Dry Season.
The following itinerary is an outline of the activities offered during your stay at Camp Kalahari. The order in which the activities are experienced may vary depending on weather and/or other factors. Please note that guests with an early morning departure will not be able to do the final morning’s activity. David Foot Safaris has teamed up with Uncharted Africa to create a unique horse-riding safari, combining time at Camp Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi.
Day 1: Camp Kalahari
On arrival by air or road, you will be greeted by your host and guide David Foot and settled into Camp Kalahari, set amongst the acacias and Mokolwane palms of Brown Hyaena Island, on the edge of the extensive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, adjacent to the Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans National Park. A thatched central library, living and dining area provide an excellent area in which to relax and enjoy the serenity of this enchanting area. You may wish to cool off in the swimming pool or enjoy a siesta in the thatched pavilion.
Camp Kalahari offers ten spacious Meru tents (six twin tents, three double tents and one family unit which has two adjacent tents, accommodating two guests in each with an inter-leading bathroom). Each tents has en-suite covered bathrooms, hot and cold running water and flush loos along with four poster beds.
After a refreshing afternoon tea, head off for an introductory ride – primarily to match horse and rider but also to allow your first opportunity to experience the beauty of this area. You return to the camp for sundowners followed by dinner and to kraal the horses close by.
Day 2: Land of a Thousand Islands
Up with the dawn, a light breakfast is followed by a long morning ride through the “land of a thousand islands”. These sand dunes are covered in palm trees and are one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas of the Botswana wilderness. The white encrusted pans between the islands provides excellent going for the horses.
At the height of the migration season (generally February to April), the islands and adjoining grasslands are awash with zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest and ostrich – and the attendant predators.
Return to the camp for lunch and rest through the heat of the day in the welcome shade of the camel thorn trees or cool off in the camp swimming pool. After tea, you head off to see some unique desert species such as springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest and the elusive brown hyaena; these consummate desert specialists survive in arid areas where both food and water are scarce.
Enjoy a night game drive back to camp, and with the aid of a spot light, look for nocturnal desert inhabitants such as aardvark, bat eared foxes, aardwolves, porcupine, and honey badgers.
Day 3: Xau Xai
Today is a long ride eastwards to Xau Xai Fly Camp, making for an early start. Be sure to pack a few essentials for the next two days of adventure. The journey takes you away from the edge of the pans and through the mopane and acacia woodlands interspersed with short grasslands, which allow for some lovely long canters.
By lunchtime you reach the famous Green’s Baobab proudly positioned alongside the well- travelled Missionary Road, traversed by David Livingstone on his journeys northwards. The magnificent trunk of this ancient tree is scarred with the initials of early travellers dating back some 150 years thus providing a living testimony to the rich history of this area.
There is a lunch break at the adjacent Gutsa Pan under a stand of palm trees where you may find Stone Age artefacts and the hunting blinds used over millennium by the Bushmen.
Siesta through the midday heat and after tea, continue the journey on to Xau Xai Fly Camp. The camp will be made up of comfortable dome tents, a central mess tent, loos and bucket showers. Enjoy a long cool drink as you watch the sunset followed by dinner out under the magnificent Kalahari sky.
Day 4: Pans and Fascinating Meerkats
Wake up to a steaming hot cup of coffee (or tea) and a light breakfast, before heading off in search of some of the Kalahari’s most fascinating inhabitants - the meerkats.
With the horses tethered, you proceed on foot in to the midst of the group. Due to an ongoing habituation programme by Uncharted Africa Safaris, it is possible to get up close and personal with these captivating creatures.
On chilly mornings, you might well find a meerkat snuggling up to you for warmth. Or, in the absence of a termite mound or tree, using your head as a sentry lookout post… You also get the chance to see the desert through the eyes of a meerkat – which, despite the fact that it’s only a foot or so off the ground, is a pretty spectacular vantage point, and definitely one of the most memorable game experiences you will encounter in Botswana.
As the day warms up, you leave the meerkats to continue foraging. Mount up and follow the well-worn trails that lead to the resident herds of zebra and large congregations of ostriches attracted to the area by permanent freshwater in hidden waterholes. Return to Xau Xai for lunch and a refreshing shower.
In the late afternoon, you enjoy a unique ride straight out into the middle of the ancient lakebed. Watch the sun set and the stars rise. This is one of the only places in the world where the silence is so complete you can hear the blood circulating through your ears. There is not one visual landmark to be seen and one swiftly loses one’s sense of perspective – 16,000 square kilometres of baking soda void, are inhabited only by you and innumerable invisible brine shrimp!
And it is here that you’ll make camp. Sleeping on bedrolls under the silence of a star studded sky
Day 5: Ride Across the Moon
As the dawn greets this extraordinary landscape and the last of the stars disappear, head homewards directly across the pans to Camp Kalahari. Out here the horses love the space and despite the distance travelled already they will be raring to go. Arrive at Camp Kalahari in time for a refreshing shower and lunch.
Day 6: Kalahari Bushmen
Uncharted Africa has pioneered and passionately supported cultural tourism in Botswana since the company’s inception in 1993. It has long been the belief that it is a vitally important tool in terms of preserving this unique, but sadly fast-vanishing, culture.
Offering a window into the past, they teach us how they have survived in this harshest of environments, using their vast and ancient knowledge of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. The Zu/’hoasi lead a semi-traditional lifestyle, and share their traditional hunting and food-gathering skills as well as how they make jewellery and hunting equipment, it is a glimpse into their traditional way of life, but by no means an attempt to keep them frozen in time.
The community is able to work together and share their knowledge with each other and guests, allowing the older generation to pass the knowledge on to the next generation.
After breakfast, drive through the bush to the traditionally built Bushmen village; where the community gathers during the day. The huts provide shelter from the harsh Kalahari environment, but are not the community’s permanent accommodation.
On arrival, the elders of the community will meet you in a traditional manner after which you will walk out into the bush with the men, women and children.
The focus of the walk will be to provide a gentle introduction to the Kalahari and Bushmen way of life. The group will point out the distinct ecological characteristics of this area and its animal and bird species. Spontaneous gathering and discussions about the uses of plants and wildlife by your Bushmen guides provide the link between culture and wild environment that we seek to offer our guests.
Time for one more lunch; before you bid farewell to Camp Kalahari in preparation for your onward journey.
The following itinerary is an outline of the activities offered during your stay at Camp Kalahari. The order in which the activities are experienced may vary depending on weather and/or other factors. Please note that guests with an early morning departure will not be able to do the final morning’s activity. David Foot Safaris has teamed up with Uncharted Africa to create a unique horse-riding safari, combining time at Camp Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi.
Day 1: Camp Kalahari
On arrival by air or road, you will be greeted by your host and guide David Foot and settled into Camp Kalahari, set amongst the acacias and Mokolwane palms of Brown Hyaena Island, on the edge of the extensive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, adjacent to the Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans National Park. A thatched central library, living and dining area provide an excellent area in which to relax and enjoy the serenity of this enchanting area. You may wish to cool off in the swimming pool or enjoy a siesta in the thatched pavilion.
Camp Kalahari offers ten spacious Meru tents (six twin tents, three double tents and one family unit which has two adjacent tents, accommodating two guests in each with an inter-leading bathroom). Each tents has en-suite covered bathrooms, hot and cold running water and flush loos along with four poster beds.
After a refreshing afternoon tea, head off for an introductory ride – primarily to match horse and rider but also to allow your first opportunity to experience the beauty of this area. You return to the camp for sundowners followed by dinner and to kraal the horses close by.
Day 2: Land of a Thousand Islands
Up with the dawn, a light breakfast is followed by a long morning ride through the “land of a thousand islands”. These sand dunes are covered in palm trees and are one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas of the Botswana wilderness. The white encrusted pans between the islands provides excellent going for the horses.
At the height of the migration season (generally February to April), the islands and adjoining grasslands are awash with zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest and ostrich – and the attendant predators.
Return to the camp for lunch and rest through the heat of the day in the welcome shade of the camel thorn trees or cool off in the camp swimming pool. After tea, you head off to see some unique desert species such as springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest and the elusive brown hyaena; these consummate desert specialists survive in arid areas where both food and water are scarce.
Enjoy a night game drive back to camp, and with the aid of a spot light, look for nocturnal desert inhabitants such as aardvark, bat eared foxes, aardwolves, porcupine, and honey badgers.
Day 3: Xau Xai
Today is a long ride eastwards to Xau Xai Fly Camp, making for an early start. Be sure to pack a few essentials for the next two days of adventure. The journey takes you away from the edge of the pans and through the mopane and acacia woodlands interspersed with short grasslands, which allow for some lovely long canters.
By lunchtime you reach the famous Green’s Baobab proudly positioned alongside the well- travelled Missionary Road, traversed by David Livingstone on his journeys northwards. The magnificent trunk of this ancient tree is scarred with the initials of early travellers dating back some 150 years thus providing a living testimony to the rich history of this area.
There is a lunch break at the adjacent Gutsa Pan under a stand of palm trees where you may find Stone Age artefacts and the hunting blinds used over millennium by the Bushmen.
Siesta through the midday heat and after tea, continue the journey on to Xau Xai Fly Camp. The camp will be made up of comfortable dome tents, a central mess tent, loos and bucket showers. Enjoy a long cool drink as you watch the sunset followed by dinner out under the magnificent Kalahari sky.
Day 4: Pans and Fascinating Meerkats
Wake up to a steaming hot cup of coffee (or tea) and a light breakfast, before heading off in search of some of the Kalahari’s most fascinating inhabitants - the meerkats.
With the horses tethered, you proceed on foot in to the midst of the group. Due to an ongoing habituation programme by Uncharted Africa Safaris, it is possible to get up close and personal with these captivating creatures.
On chilly mornings, you might well find a meerkat snuggling up to you for warmth. Or, in the absence of a termite mound or tree, using your head as a sentry lookout post… You also get the chance to see the desert through the eyes of a meerkat – which, despite the fact that it’s only a foot or so off the ground, is a pretty spectacular vantage point, and definitely one of the most memorable game experiences you will encounter in Botswana.
As the day warms up, you leave the meerkats to continue foraging. Mount up and follow the well-worn trails that lead to the resident herds of zebra and large congregations of ostriches attracted to the area by permanent freshwater in hidden waterholes. Return to Xau Xai for lunch and a refreshing shower.
In the late afternoon, you enjoy a unique ride straight out into the middle of the ancient lakebed. Watch the sun set and the stars rise. This is one of the only places in the world where the silence is so complete you can hear the blood circulating through your ears. There is not one visual landmark to be seen and one swiftly loses one’s sense of perspective – 16,000 square kilometres of baking soda void, are inhabited only by you and innumerable invisible brine shrimp!
And it is here that you’ll make camp. Sleeping on bedrolls under the silence of a star studded sky
Day 5: Ride Across the Moon
As the dawn greets this extraordinary landscape and the last of the stars disappear, head homewards directly across the pans to Camp Kalahari. Out here the horses love the space and despite the distance travelled already they will be raring to go. Arrive at Camp Kalahari in time for a refreshing shower and lunch.
Day 6: Kalahari Bushmen
Uncharted Africa has pioneered and passionately supported cultural tourism in Botswana since the company’s inception in 1993. It has long been the belief that it is a vitally important tool in terms of preserving this unique, but sadly fast-vanishing, culture.
Offering a window into the past, they teach us how they have survived in this harshest of environments, using their vast and ancient knowledge of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. The Zu/’hoasi lead a semi-traditional lifestyle, and share their traditional hunting and food-gathering skills as well as how they make jewellery and hunting equipment, it is a glimpse into their traditional way of life, but by no means an attempt to keep them frozen in time.
The community is able to work together and share their knowledge with each other and guests, allowing the older generation to pass the knowledge on to the next generation.
After breakfast, drive through the bush to the traditionally built Bushmen village; where the community gathers during the day. The huts provide shelter from the harsh Kalahari environment, but are not the community’s permanent accommodation.
On arrival, the elders of the community will meet you in a traditional manner after which you will walk out into the bush with the men, women and children.
The focus of the walk will be to provide a gentle introduction to the Kalahari and Bushmen way of life. The group will point out the distinct ecological characteristics of this area and its animal and bird species. Spontaneous gathering and discussions about the uses of plants and wildlife by your Bushmen guides provide the link between culture and wild environment that we seek to offer our guests.
Time for one more lunch; before you bid farewell to Camp Kalahari in preparation for your onward journey.
The Thamalakane River Ride operates from the Royal Tree Lodge, a small intimate lodge with luxurious tented accommodation, set in 400 acres of riverine trees and acacia woodland on the edge of the Thamalakane River. The lodge is a short drive from Maun and yet it feels deep in the heart of the bush. There are ten stylishly appointed en suite safari tents and two honeymoon chalets. A swimming pool to cool off in during the heat of the day and surrounding sun deck are set discreetly adjacent to the main area.
A surprisingly good variety of wildlife roams the reserve including giraffe, zebra, kudu, eland, oryx, and springbok. The different habitats in the reserve encourage prolific birdlife from water birds to the dry woodland Kalahari species.
Day 1: Royal Tree Lodge and First Ride
On arrival in Maun a short road transfer takes you to the Royal Tree Lodge. Once settled into your comfortable accommodation; and enjoyed lunch and/ or afternoon tea you will join your guide for a safety briefing before being introduced to the horses.
As the day cools down set off for a fun afternoon ride around the environs of the reserve where the wildlife is wonderfully relaxed in the presence of the horses allowing for close encounters and some great photographic opportunities. You return to the lodge before dark and enjoy a sundowner at the lodge followed by a delicious dinner.
Day 2: Morning Ride and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Up with the dawn for a long morning ride. After a shorter stint with the wildlife you leave the reserve and head off into the back country for some lovely long canters through the endless acacia woodlands with a choice of fallen logs to jump if you wish.
You pass the occasional cattle posts and have the opportunity to learn how the local Motswana live with their vast free roaming cattle herds.
As the morning warms up we head for the cool riverine woodlands of the Thamalakane River where a sumptuous breakfast set up in the shade of the jackalberry trees awaits.
A leisurely ride takes you along the river whilst enjoying the numerous waterbirds. Lunch back at the lodge is followed by a pleasant siesta and in the afternoon a short walk to the river’s edge where you climb aboard a boat for an afternoon on the water with wonderful bird watching, fishing and a favourite sundowners.
Day 3: All Day Ride
Up with the dawn today, and after breakfast you set-off for a full day’s to explore further afield, hopefully reaching the “junction” where the Thamalakane River splits into two – the Nhabe heading west to Lake Ngami and the Boteti heading east to the Makgadikgadi.
Picnic lunch is enjoyed in the shade of the evergreen mangosteen trees and for some there may be a temptation to have a swim. The river guides you home and if the water levels are low enough you may cross the river and ride back on the north bank looking out for the resident hippos as they become more active with the setting sun.
Day 4: Early Morning Ride
Enjoy a last early morning ride through the reserve followed by a welcome hearty breakfast before heading on to your next exciting destination.
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Ride Botswana - on safari....
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