In a Nutshell guide to Africa
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BOTSWANA
| December - January | Wet season. Hot with strong chance of heavy rains. |
| February - April | Rains stop, gradually cooling. Seasonal rain brings zebra migration to the Kalahari. Good time to see baby animals in the Okavango |
| May - September | Floodwater arrives in the Okavango Delta, waterbirds, blue skies & almost no chance of rain, cool at night especially in June / July. Great time for boating, fishing & mokoro canoes. Dry season in the Kalahari |
| October - November | Getting hot again and water evaporating. Can be humid. Usually good game viewing. |
AREAS & CAMPS / RIDES
The Okavango Delta Vast & pristine / amazing variety of animals (including the “Big 5”) and bird life. It’s flat and can be heavily grassed / wooded, so spotting game can be tricky at times
African Horseback Safaris
It’s for you if… you want lots of fast, splashy canters followed by a sundowner or three
It’s not for you if… you would prefer a progressive ride as you stay at Macatoo camp only
Okavango Horse Safaris
It’s for you if... you’d like to ride between two beautiful camps in a small group
It’s not for you if… you want to gallop everywhere - OHS is more about spotting game
Ride Botswana Okavango
It’s for you if… you want to have a real adventure - it’s the only fully mobile ride in the Delta
It’s not for you if… you need WiFi - it's a back-to-basics lightweight camp (albeit with excellent service!)
The Selinda Spillway Just north-east of the Okavango and less visited, similar terrain with thicker scrub and forests
RAW (“Ride and Walk”) Botswana
It’s for you if… you’re not all riders - there are excellent walking and mokoro guides always available
It’s not for you if… you want vast open plains as Motswiri is woody and watery
The Kalahari Another vast and pristine area to explore. Desert landscape transformed with water holes and fresh grazing January to May; game viewing can be excellent at this time
Ride Botswana, Kalahari
It’s for you if… you love endless space with the option to fly camp under the stars
It’s not for you if… you’re expecting masses of game – limited species and it’s not there year round
The Tuli Block Mashatu Game Reserve, SE Botswana; a very different landscape to the Delta with river valleys, sandy plains and rocky outcrops; usually good game especially elephant
Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris - The Tuli Safari
It’s for you if… you’d like a fun, affordable, progressive safari on super horses
It’s not for you if… camps are quite rustic compared to some in the Delta
KENYA
| June - October | Dry season, cool and pleasant, unlikely to rain, little humidity. Wildebeest migration varies but normally from July onwards |
| November - December | The ‘short rains’ - often just localised showers in the afternoons |
| January - February | Often a dry spell in between the rains |
| March - May | The ‘long rains’, cloudy and can be a downpour on a daily basis - though it seldom lasts all day, and varies from year to year. |
AREAS & CAMPS / RIDES
The Masai Mara Famous for excellent game viewing, especially the wildebeest migration. Rolling grasslands, endless views, the Mara River and rocky outcrops. Riding lets you go where others can’t
Offbeat Safaris
It’s for you if… you want an exciting mobile safari with lots of game and possible migration
It’s not for you if… you’re a nervous rider or want some down time - it’s action packed
The Laikipia Plateau Game is in smaller groups than the Mara but still plentiful; varied terrain with wooded areas, river valleys and rocky outcrops; mostly private land
Sosian Lodge
It’s for you if… you want a friendly colonial villa, like a house party, lovely horses, pool & other activities on offer
It’s not for you if… you want vast sweeping plains - it’s quite thick scrub and woods
Borana Lodge
It’s for you if… you want to stay somewhere a bit “special” with great riding & lots more
It’s not for you if… you want to walk to the stables or join a small group – guests come and go and horses are kept a short drive away
Offbeat Laikipia Lodge to Lodge Safari
It’s for you if… you want a mobile safari but prefer a relaxed schedule and lodges to camping
It’s not for you if… you’re travelling alone, at a fixed time or are on a tight budget!
NAMIBIA
| December - March | HOT. Some days will be humid and it may rain - often localised afternoon thunderstorms |
| April – May | Pleasant with good grazing and less dust after the rains |
| June - August | Clear skies, unlikely to rain, can be freezing in the desert at night |
| September – November | Warming up, can be dusty. Chance of rain in November |
AREAS / SAFARIS
Damaraland Elephant Ride Open desert plains; mountain backdrop; possible to see desert elephant; ends on the Skeleton Coast
Namib Desert Ride An ancient desert landscape, harsh at times but providing endless space to ride - long days, but rewarding as you finally reach the coast
Fish River Canyon From the Fish River Canyon to the Orange River; some days slightly slower with spectacular scenery and semi-permanent camps
Wolwedans One of the most scenic parts of Namibia, from the Namib “dune sea” to rolling grassy plains dotted with “island mountains”. Options for a lodge to lodge ride using luxury semi-permanent camps or Wolwedans to Wild Horses camping ride
Namibia Horse Safari Company
It’s for you if… you like a fast, progressive ride, amazing desert landscapes with top horses and team
It’s not for you if… you like lots of greenery or are not riding fit – on long rides, the daily schedule is full on
SOUTH AFRICA
| December - March | Summer months; can be hot during the day with afternoon showers / thunderstorms possible Bush vegetation getting thick |
| April - May | Autumn, clear warm and dry, pleasant temperatures. Bush is green and quite thick after rains |
| June - September | Winter, bright sunny days & clear skies, lovely for riding, can be cold at night. Bush dries out and leaves start to drop |
| October - November | Spring, temperatures rising and can be humid in build up to rain. Showers possible. Bright green leaves and buds on trees. |
AREAS / SAFARIS
The Waterberg Beautiful rolling hills with wonderful views, immense variety of vegetation, areas of open grassland, rivers, rocky outcrops and woodland.
Ants Nest & Ants Hill
It’s for you if… you want a comfortable, family friendly safari, lots of activities & safe riding
It’s not for you if… you want real wilderness
Horizon Adventures
It’s for you if… you want a great value, friendly & relaxing base with plenty of lovely horses
It’s not for you if… you want to see big game
The Karongwe Private Game Reserve Close to the Kruger National Park, this fenced reserve has rolling terrain with rocky outcrops, river gullies & plenty of game - there’s a lot of vegetation but also sandy tracks for canters
Wait a Little
It’s for you if… you’d like to ride excellent horses and get up close and personal with wildlife
It’s not for you if… you’re nervous - “Big 5” present & riding can be fast, weaving through the bush
TANZANIA
| June - October | Dry season, pleasant temperatures getting a bit hotter towards October. Can be dry and dusty, with some humidity in the build up to short rains. |
| November - December | The ‘short rains’ - often just localised showers in the afternoons |
| January - February | Often a dry spell in between the rains. Wildebeest migration may arrive in Serengeti any time from late February through to March |
| March - May | The ‘long rains’ arrive some time in March; cloudy and can be a downpour on a daily basis - though usually localised and seldom lasts all day |
AREAS / SAFARIS
Kilimanjaro & Amboseli Varied terrain of open plains, scrub, desert flats & Maasai grazing land; Mt Meru, Longido & Kilimanjaro backdrop; good game but can be scattered
Natron Ride High & dry, little visited, remote and a harsh environment, the unique habitat of Lake Natron
Serengeti Safari Safaris on the never-ending grass plains of the Serengeti are timed to try and catch the wildebeest migration - it can’t be guaranteed, but has a good chance of being utterly spectacular!
Kaskazi Horse Safaris
It’s for you if… you’d like to get off the beaten track and explore new areas
It’s not for you if… you want loads of game - it can’t always be found in big, open country
