Safety Precautions:
On arrival an introductory talk will be given on all aspects of the safari. Two guides will take each safari and will be equipped with first aid kit and rifle.

Important Information:
Please supply us with information regarding any special occasions, dietary requirements or medical conditions before departure with your medical insurance details. Anyone with severe allergies, heart or respiratory conditions or any other physical limitations must consult their physician. Please fill in the questionnaire provided by your travel agent and return it as soon as possible. If you do not receive it please request one. You will be required to sign an indemnity form on arrival.

Other Activities:
Game drives (day and night), Bird Walks,  and Seasonal Mokoros  (Canoes).

Recommended Stay:
To explore the Delta and enjoy the true splendor of being out in the wilderness, we recommend that guests stay for 7 nights, which gives you the opportunity of spending a few nights at our seasonal fly camps.

What to Bring:
Khaki, green and brown bush colours; please avoid wearing white. You need a riding helmet or a broad rimmed hat which must stay on firmly and sunglasses with string.
2 pairs of riding trousers (cycling shorts for men) plus riding gloves, jersey, warm jacket (May-August), shorts, long sleeved shirts, T-shirts, sarong, swimsuit, 4 pairs of socks, raincoat (seasonal), sunblock, insect repellent, torch, camera on a shoulder strap with a pouch which can be secured to your belt, plenty of film, binoculars, 2 pairs of lightweight riding boots or trainers.
We have a selection of half chaps as heavy leather boots are not advisable but do bring long rubber riding boots or wellingtons if you come between May and September and waterproof bags for cameras.

NB: We do not supply hard hats or safety helmets ~ please bring your own, wearing one is your responsibility. Wear your riding clothes and boots on the plane and bring your hat and wash bag as hand luggage in case your luggage gets delayed.

When is the best time to come?

We are always being asked "When is the best time to come?". As this is such a complicated issue with many variables such as weather, water levels and game we have listed below some guidelines to help you decide what suits you best!

 

March / April

Weather: Warm / hot during the day – pleasantly warm at night. Small possibility of rain. Bush is green and lush – grass tall and green.

Temperature: Day: 25°-35°C Night: 10°-20°C

Water: Plenty of rain pools left over from the rainy season – but the floodwater is unlikely to be within riding distance of the camp.

 Game: Because of the rain and waterholes, the game is dispersed all over the country – so not concentrated in herds yet. Possible still to see the plains game: zebra, wildebeest, impala etc as well as elephant, maybe buffalo and cats.

 Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a raincoat and swimmers.

 

May

Weather: Cooler at night, but still pleasantly warm during the day. Very unlikely to rain. Bush still green but grass getting shorter.

Temperature: Day: 20°-30°C Night: 5°-10°C

Water: The Okavango annual floodwaters normally arrive in May or June – so are within riding distance for a couple of weeks before they actually reach camp. The floodwaters bring long shallow water canters on the floodplains and deeper channels to cross. As water levels rise, motorboat replaces vehicle game drives and mekoros are also in use into November.

Game: When the water arrives initially the birdlife is great as they feed off the shallow water areas. Game comes to drink from the water, with the buffalo and lechwe moving in as the water levels increase. However, there is a lot of water – so much of the game is still dispersed.

Clothing: A splashproof jacket, a fleece/sweater for evenings and one pair of long rubber riding boots plus one other pair of riding footwear and swimmers.

 

June / July / August

Weather: This is our winter and can be chilly / cold in the early morning and evenings – warm in the middle of the day. Bush getting drier except around the edges of the islands where the green shoots start to come through.

Temperature: Day: 20°-25°C Night: 3°-5°C

Water: The water is at its highest levels, so plenty around to ride through and go boating on either in the motor boat or mokoro (canoe).

Game: Large herds of lechwe forming in the wetlands and perhaps hippo and crocodile in the area. Good potential for buffalo sightings with impala, tsessebe, kudu etc moving inland on islands.

Clothing: Splashproof jacket, a warm fleece/sweater for evenings and 1pr long rubber riding boots plus one other pair of riding footwear.

 

September / October

Weather: Winter is over and it gets progressively hotter building up to the first rains, which clear the hazy days and the skies are big and beautiful. Trees come into flower and then leaves go green and fruits grow. Evenings are warm and the plunge pool gets a lot of use! Bush is dry and grass short.

Temperature: Day: 30-45°C Night: 15°-25°C

Water: The floodwater normally stays around the camp area until October – but this, of course, depends on how big the flood was to start with. As the floodplain water recedes, drinking pools of water remain – hopefully until the next rains come!

Game: The game now tends to concentrate as the water sources lessen – often big herds of buffalo, elephant and with shorter grass more plains game can be seen. More likely to see wild dog as well as the cats who favour dry savannah such as cheetah. Young giraffe and lechwe; hyenas more evident cooling off in the pools.

Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a fleece/sweater and swimmers.

 

November / December / January / February

Weather: The rainy season is any time from November – but impossible to say exactly when and how much. Normally the rain comes for an hour or so every day and then often goes away for a week or more before it rains again. It is warm to sticky hot before the rain and cooler after each rain. Bush turns green with the rains and many of the trees and flowers come into bloom while the sunsets become increasingly dramatic.

Temperature: Day: 30°-40°C Night: 15°-20°C

Water: Depending on the flood level, there will be some water around with the rain topping up the pools.

Game: Very good until the first rain when it disperses again – the young antelope are born at this time and are very entertaining to watch.

Clothing: Lightweight riding gear, a raincoat and swimmers.