Kalahari Horse Safari

Kalahari Horse Safari

Duration: 4 Days | 3 Nights

Days: 1-4 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 

Countries: Botswana                  

Camps: Camp Kalahari

Type of Safari

Explorer: Fully Inclusive Custom Itinerary for group size (2+)

Departure Date: All year round/Daily:

Summary:

Camp Kalahari sits amongst the acacias and Mokolwane palms of Brown Hyaena Island, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Here you’ll get to explore this wild, unspoilt area in the same way many of the earliest explorers, hunters and missionaries did – on horseback! Embark on adventurous outrides around the crusty flats, meeting the habituated meerkats and following the animal highways that bring life to this lunar like landscape.

In-between all your riding explorations, enjoy game drives, a walk with the San Bushmen, and siestas around the swimming pool – a soothing escape from the desert sun. At the height of the zebra migration the adjoining grasslands are awash with zebra, wildebeest and more. Expect incredible scenery, memorable wildlife encounters and above all super horse riding!

Highlights of this safari:

• Experience wild Africa, on an epic horse-riding adventure in the desert.
• Witness the second largest migration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa (from Nov-May/June).
• Experience up-close encounters with the habituated meerkats.
• Join the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on bush walks through the desert.
• Take game drives and night drives to see the unique desert wildlife.
• Camp Kalahari is one of only three camps in a one million-acre private wildlife reserve, bordering the Makgadikgadi National Park.

Safari Itinerary

Days: 1-4

MAKAGADIKGADI SALT PANS 

EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF THE MAKGADIKGADI

On arrival in Maun, Botswana the guests will be met by a representative to assist them with their light air transfer to Camp Kalahari.

This iconic and intriguing landscape, with its salt-baked earth and haunting desert silence offers adventure around every corner. With a wide range of activities to choose from, enjoy all the Makgadikgadi action on a thrilling desert safari like no other.

Camp Kalahari lies on the eastern edge of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Charming and understated, you’ll find 12 Meru style tents filled with campaign furniture, comfy four poster beds, old maps and Persian rugs. Eclectic in style, the main area offers a small library and comfy sofas. Dinners are served at the long dining table, the perfect place to chat about you’re day’s riding activities. This is an ideal base to come back to after a day out discovering all the treasures that lie amongst the crusty salt flats.

Activities

HORSE RIDING: Saddle up to explore this wild, unspoilt area in the same way many of the earliest explorers did – on horseback. You’ll embark on an adventurous outride (for all level riders). This is an exhilarating way to spot wildlife, cantering along the crusty salt flats and following the animal highways that bring life to the Makgadikgadi Pans.

• Children 8 years and older are welcome.
• Children 12 years and older who are experienced riders are welcome on the longer horse riding safaris.
• Duration: 2 hrs.
• All year round

GAME DRIVES: Take game drives and night drives in custom built 4x4s to spot the unique desert wildlife that inhabit the pans, like the elusive brown hyena or Kalahari lion. Your experienced safari guide will help you discover a desert landscape, pulsating with life. Complete with bush picnics, morning coffees and chilled drinks.

• Duration: 2 - 3.5 hrs.
• All year round.

ZEBRA MIGRATION: Witness the second largest migration in Africa. A stonking spectacle of black and white stripes as approximately 30,000 zebra and wildebeest migrate across the Makgadikgadi Pans, followed closely by stalking predators, waiting for the rich pickings of tired hooves. This is a wildlife explosion and an experience not to be missed!

• Duration: varied.
• Seasonal: Nov - Mar (Camp Kalahari)

MEET THE MEERKATS: Get up close and personal with the habituated meerkats, the cool cats of the Kalahari! Hanging out with them at their burrow is a once-in-alifetime experience. As they dig and play around you, your head could become the perfect lookout point and part of the fun and games. This is where you’ll truly feel like one of the gang.

•  Duration: ± 4 hrs.
• All year round.

BUSHMAN: Discover the secrets of the pans with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on a fascinating bush walk. See this ancient desert landscape through their eyes. These skilled hunter gatherers will show you how to survive, using their extraordinary tracking skills to uncover a smorgasbord of culinary delights... from bulbs, to scorpions, to berries. Spending time with them is a very rare privilege.

• Duration: ± 2 hrs.
• All year round.

FLAMINGO MIGRATION: The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are one of the most important breeding sites in southern Africa for the lesser and greater flamingos. These flying flame birds, arrive in their millions during seasons of good rain, when millions of small shrimp and other crustaceans crack through the salty pan crust to spawn. The result, a pink extravaganza in the heat of the desert. You can also heli to Sua Pan to view the flamingos in Mar - Apr (at an additional cost). 

• Duration: varied.
• Seasonal: Nov - Mar

QUAD BIKING: This is pure desert adventure! Take an exhilarating quad bike across the salt-crusted pans (all pan activity is weather permitting). You’ll feel total freedom as you trek across this vast and ancient landscape, discovering so much about the remnants of this once super lake. 

• Duration: approx. 2-3 hrs.
•  Seasonal: Apr- Oct

HELI FLIGHTS: This really is an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a helicopter flight over the Makgadikgadi Pans, doors off (or on), to take in the vastness of this desert landscape. You’ll go in search of the zebra and flamingo migrations (if timed correctly), get dropped on an island of baobabs for lunch, do a bit of sunset sky surfing as you follow the palm tree linings and tell all your friends about it all when you get home.

• Children 12 years and older are welcome. 
• Duration: varied.
• All year round.
• At an additional cost.

Overnight at Camp Kalahari (3 Nights) – Fully inclusive

Day 4: End of Safari

After a final morning activity, guests will depart the camp for Maun Airport where they will continue with onward travel arrangements.

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