A Botswana horse safari is a great way to experience the scenery and wildlife. You’ll be able to tour the south African country on horseback, getting up close with the animals and connecting with nature.
Visit this destination to camp under the stars, explore the desert, discover the wetlands, and see animals, such as lions, giraffes, elephants, and meerkats. You’ll find a wonderful African horse safari with Horse Tours Club.
Equestrian History of Botswana
Horses have been in Africa since the Bronze Age; however, they weren’t introduced to southern Africa until 1653. They were brought from South Africa to Botswana in the 19th century.
Since then, their population has increased, especially when the country gained independence in 1966. Today, horses are mostly used for hunting, endurance competitions, and safaris.
Breeds in Botswana
There are only a couple of breeds native to Botswana. The Tswana is a breed from the area around Maun, a town in northern Botswana. The animals are well-accustomed to the country’s climate, and they’re bred for outbreeding, working equitation, meat, racing, and sport riding.
The Kalahari pony is also locally adapted. These ponies are well-tempered and good with children. They’re responsive, fit, and reliable.
You can find many other breeds in Botswana that are not native to the area, including the Arabian, Appaloosa, South African Boer, Nooitgedachter, Hanoverian, Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, Warmblood and Welsh pony.
Your Horse-Riding Safari in Botswana
There are a number of tours to choose from on a trip to Botswana. On each one, an expert guide will show you the land and take you on an adventure you’ll never forget.
On your horse safari, you can visit the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert all in one tour. You’ll see the incredible contrast between these two places in a matter of days. The Okavango Delta is an inland river delta that floods annually, turning it into a flourishing animal habitat. It’s known for its extensive grassy plains. While you’re on your riding holiday here, you’ll have the opportunity experience to see animals such as hippos, elephants, crocodiles, lions, leopards, giraffes, and rhinos.
You can also go on an adventure near the Thamalakane River, a river on the southern side of the Okavango Delta with no clear beginning or end. On this tour, you’ll stay in luxurious tented accommodations located on the banks of the river. The lodgings feature a refreshing pool and beautiful sun deck.
But let’s not forget what you’re there to see. On this adventure, you’ll explore the reserve which is home to giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, and various birds. Ride through the expansive acacia woodlands and along the gorgeous Thamalakane River. You can fly over the Okavango Delta on a thrilling helicopter ride and spot these animals. Take a river cruise in a mokoro—a wooden canoe with a flat bottom perfect for navigating shallow floodplains and channels. You’ll spend the day peering into the clear waters of the river with a canoe guide poling you along.
The Kalahari Desert covers much of Botswana and some of Namibia and South Africa. It’s about 359,000 square miles (900,000 sq km), the eighth largest desert in the world. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve—the second-largest protected area in the world—makes its home there.
You’ll have a charming camp here with a restoring pool surrounded by acacias and mokolwane palm trees. Ride through regions like the “Land of a Thousand Islands.” Once a lake bed, this area is now all sand dunes and palm trees. In this desert, you’ll go on game drives to try to spot animals like mysterious brown hyenas, aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, porcupines, honey badgers, and the imposing black-maned Kalahari lion.
Visit the Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the largest salt flats in the world. Our providers offer horse riding holidays in both the green season and the dry season. In the green season, the area turns into a wetland filled with shallow water and nutrient-filled grass that attracts animals of all kinds. On this wildlife-focused tour, you’ll ride among thousands of zebras and see other animals like lions, ostriches, meerkats, and flamingos. You can even camp in the pans among the animals and under the stars.
During the dry season, the Makgadikgadi salt pans are bright white, and the wildlife retreats to the grass islands that have watering holes. If you love galloping, this might be the tour for you. You can race across the salt pans and even take night rides. But don’t worry about missing out on the animals—you can still spot them on the grass islands.
Year-round you can see the infamous baobabs, deciduous trees with disproportionately broad trunks and compact crowns that grow from 20 to 100 feet tall (5-30 m). These trees are known as the “tree of life” because they provide so much life. Locals eat their leaves and make drinks from their seeds and the pulp of their fruits. As you can imagine, they are extremely culturally significant.
You can also meet the local bushmen. The Zu/’hoasi people, also known as the San, live at Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi, and they offer insights about surviving in such a harsh environment. They share knowledge about plants, animals, and survival skills. Their community preserves traditions through hunting, gathering, and crafting, but they have also adapted to modern changes. On your trip, you can visit their traditional village and take a guided walk through the bush with their elders, where they’ll share knowledge about the region.
There are so many fantastic options in Botswana to choose from. No matter what you choose, Horse Tours Club will ensure you have the best vacation possible. We offer global horse riding tours, guaranteeing safety and quality for our customers. Book your Botswanan horseback riding tour through Horse Tours Club today!
