The horses are a mixture of pure and part bred Thoroughbreds, Boerperds and Fresian crosses. They range in size from 14hh - 17hh and are well schooled and cared for. Most are ridden in English Wintec GP saddles but there are one or two trail saddles available if you prefer.

MINIMUM RIDING ABILITY

You need to be a competent rider, capable of riding at all paces across rough terrain. You should feel confident about keeping up with the group and riding in an area of dangerous game - you may be required to gallop out of danger.

Riders are accompanied by a lead guide and back-up guide at all times, one of whom will carry a rifle.

PACE

The riding is mainly at a walk when viewing game but there are opportunities for long trots and canters each day where the terrain allows. There may be occasional opportunities to jump branches dislodged by elephants but these are optional. Dependent on the season and water levels it may also be possible to swim your horse in the spillway.

Morning rides are c. 3-4 hours duration and will be pacey, whereas the shorter afternoon rides (c. 2 hours duration) are slower.

TACKING ABILITY AND PARTICIPATION

The horses are tacked and un-tacked for you.

TRIP CONDITIONS AND REQUESTED EXPERIENCE

You need to be fit enough to cope with long canters in the African sun. You also need to be prepared to get wet during splashy canters and sometimes deep wades.
Guests who do not ride regularly are requested to get fit prior to the ride. It is of particular importance to ensure you are comfortable and balanced when riding at speed across rough terrain and open spaces. If the guides feel that you are unsafe on horseback, then you will be offered non-riding activities instead.
If you are feeling tired then you can opt to join a non-riding activity instead of riding at any point during the week.

EQUESTRIAN EQUIPMENT

English tack, a few trail saddles.
Water bottles are provided on all of the saddles. Saddle bags are available on some horses or small items can be carried by the guides if you do not have a bumbag.

COMFORT

The main camp consists of spacious safari tents built on raised wooden platforms with en-suite shower and toilet. There is a specially designed family unit with two adjoining tents and a honeymoon tent with additional outside shower. There is a large mess area and a pool. Each room can offer twin or double beds.

The fly camp consists of smaller safari tents with adjoining bucket shower and long-drop toilet.There are stretcher beds with proper linen and duvets.

CLIMATE

The Okavango Delta is a seasonal flood plain and so different times of the year offer different experiences - each magical in its own way. The seasons in southern Africa are the reserve of the UK and so December/January is mid-summer with high temperatures and the chance of dramatic thunderstorms, whereas July/August is mid-winter when temperatures are lower and there is little chance of rain. The water level in the Delta depend on the rainfall in Angola and the floods usually arrive around April/May and recede around September/October, but this varies every year and is difficult to predict. The following guide may prove useful when planning the best time for your holiday.

March/April : Daytime temperatures are warm/hot (25-35c) and will drop to 10-20c at night. There is a small chance of rain and the bush is green and lush. There will be waterholes left over from the rainy season but the flood may not have arrived yet. Because of the rain, lush grazing and plentiful waterholes the game is dispersed and not gathered in big herd but will look fat and healthy.

May : Daytime temperatures are falling (20-30c) and it is starting to feel cooler at night (5-10c). The floods normally arrive in May which brings high levels of bird life. The large herds of lechwe antelope and buffalo will start to move into the area, but game is still dispersed as there is plenty to eat and drink.

June-August : Daytime temperatures are still pleasant (20-25c) but night are cold (3-5c) and so the early morning and late evenings are chilly. The floods are at their highest and so there is plenty of wading from island to island and boat activities. Hippo and crocodile may move into the area as well as large buffalo and antelope herds.

September/October : Spring arrives and temperatures start to climb with daytime temperatures of 30-45c, dropping to 15-25c at night. The floods are starting to recede, the islands are dry as there has not been rain for months and so the game starts to concentrate around the water holes.

November - February : The rain can arrive anytime in November. Daytime temperatures are high before the rains (30-40c) but drop after each shower. It is unlikely to rain persistently, but usually for a few hours. Nights are still warm (15-20c). The bush turns green after the rains and the grass starts to grow again. Once the waterholes start to fill again the game will disperse. The antelope will give birth during this time of plenty.

To enter Botswana, a passport valid for at least six months is required by British, Australian, Canadian, USA and all other EU nationals. Outgoing travel documents and sufficient funds are also required. We recommend having two blank facing visa pages in your passport for the official stamps.

Visas are not required by British, Australian, Canadian, USA or other EU nationals for stays in Botswana of up to 90 days.
Visas are also not required by transit passengers, provided they are continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, and do not leave the airport.
Nationals of countries not listed above are advised to contact the high commission/embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa note:
Those nationals who do require a visa for Botswana must include a copy of their travel itinerary with their application, along with a letter of support from their intended host and return visa or residence permit from his/her country of residence.



IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
From 1st June 2015, South Africa have introduced tough rulings for anyone travelling with children, including passengers transitting South Africa to another destination.
- Two parents travelling with children will need to show the childs Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBC)
- One parent travelling with a child will need to show the UBC plus either: a Parental Consent Affidavit (PAC) from the parent not travelling OR a letter of special circumstance.
- Widowed parents will need to show the UBC and a death certificate for the deceased parent
- Children travelling with family friends will need a UBC, PCA, copies of the parents passports and contact details for the parents.
For more information click this link: http://www.africa-adventure.net/downloads/SummaryImmigrationMinors.pdf

Contact South African Immigration for what is required for other circumstances.

Addresses of consulates

• Botswana High Commission
  6 Stratford Place
  London W1C 1AY
  Tél. : (020) 7499 0031
  Fax : (020) 7647 1000
  
• Ambassade du Botswana
  88 Avenue de Iéna
  75116 Paris
  Tél. : 01.47.20.08.23
  Fax :
  bostwana@brutele.be
  

There are no vaccinations legally required to travel to Botswana from the UK, however, you need a yellow fever vaccination if you have travelled to a country (7 days or less before entering Botswana) where that disease is widely prevalent, such as Zambia/Victoria Falls.
You should check with your doctor who has access to the most up-to-date information but the following vaccinations are usually recommended - Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) together with Hepatitis A and typhoid.
If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against Tuberculosis as well as Hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months.
Malaria is prevalent in the country, but mainly during the warm and wet season and particularly in the northern half of the country. The south is generally considered lower risk. Don't underestimate this tropical disease and take precautions. Buy repellent (preferably with 50% DEET) and sleep under a net and speak to your doctor about anti-malarial medication.

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

There are very few public phone boxes. The country calling code to Botswana is 267. To make an international call from Botswana, the code is 00.
Mobile phone roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is average in the major towns but you are unlikely to get any signal at all when in remote camps.
Time zone: GMT + 2hr

Pula (BWP; symbol P) = 100 thebe.
Notes in denominations of P100, 50, 20 and 10.
Coins in denominations of P5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 thebe.
It is not necessary to change money into local currency for any of our Botswana rides - they accept GB Pounds, Euro, US Dollars and South African Rand.

220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. 15- and 13-amp plug sockets are in use. Plugs used are British-style with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade, or South African style with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin.