General Info

The Thamalakane River Ride operates from a small, intimate lodge with luxurious accommodation available throughout the year. The lodge is on 400 acres of riverine trees and acacia woodland on the edge of the river. It is only a 20 minute drive from Maun, but feels as if it is deep in the bush. The Thamalakane River Ride is suitable for riders of all abilities and families will find it particularly appealing. Two to three nights is recommended.

Spend between 4-6 hours a day in the saddle each day viewing wildlife, exploring the Thamalakane River on horseback and by boat, visiting local cattle posts and more. Ride up close to giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu and oryx. A large variety of wildlife is on the reserve including giraffe, zebra, kudu, oryx, eland, springbok, impala, blesbok and duiker. The area is rich in birdlife with a large number of ostrich.

Enjoy wonderful riding ground through the endless acacia woodlands passing by many traditional Motswana cattle posts. Canter through the water on the edge of the picturesque Thamalakane River and marvel at its stunning birdlife. Indulge in sumptuous picnic breakfasts under groves of jackal berry trees and experience swimming with your horse through the lily pad covered waters.

The eight en suite safari tents are stylishly appointed and superb meals are served in the main dining area or on the expansive shady deck under the majestic leadwood and bird plum trees. A refreshing swimming pool allows you to cool off in the heat of the day.

Mornings and afternoons are spent riding within the environs of the reserve where the resident wildlife have become relaxed with the horses presence allowing for close encounters and great photographic opportunities.  There opportunities for exciting canters, passing local cattle posts and jumping the odd fallen log for those who wish it. The birdlife along the river is prolific and for the adventurous, a water canter or a swim with the horses is a possibility.

Some mornings, rest during the ride at a beautiful spot on the river’s edge and enjoy a sumptuous picnic breakfast before riding home and in the evening there is no better way to end the day than enjoying a sundowner on the river whilst listening to the chorus of the reed frogs.

Packing

* Laundry can be done at the lodge for an additional cost.

Layers – the best way to dress on safari. This is due to fluctuating temperatures. 

Long sleeves and trousers will protect them from both sun and insects. Colours should be neutral (beige, khaki, tan…).

Sunblock, insect repellent and lip salve.

Fleece / warm sweater – even in summer.

Warm pajamas.

Hat – broad brimmed for protection against the sun.

Shoes – good, sturdy closed shoes or boots and socks for walking.

Flip flops/thongs for use around camp and in outdoor showers.

Flashlight or head torch.

A light scarf has a multitude of uses.

Summer 
Light, compact jacket (windbreaker) for the rainy season.

Winter 
It gets very cold in the evenings and early mornings, and quite hot during the day – so layers are essential.

Hat – woollen beanie for warmth.

Riding Gloves and you may want to bring gloves for nights and mornings – good for cool winter evenings and sun protection.

Scarf.  

About the Horses

The lodge has stables on the reserve grounds with a variety of horses owned by longtime horse safari guide David Foot, who has been operating safaris in Africa for over seventeen years. There are twenty horses - mainly Boerperd, Friesan crosses and Appaloosas.

English or trail saddles are used, but the horses trained in English. The horses are trained for safari work so they are fit, schooled, sure footed and not afraid of the wildlife.

Activities/Events

In addition to horse riding, other activities may be arranged during your stay at the lodge.

Scenic Flights
Experience the thrill of the Okavango Delta from above! Discover the joy of a scenic flight in either a fixed wing or helicopter. The ideal platform for photography and film, capture animals in the most remote of locations. These flights can be booked on a per hour basis.

Game Drive
Revel in a full day of adventure safari in Moremi Game Reserve, a top wildlife destination. Game drives provide wonderful photo opportunities at close range. They are a very popular way to view even large predators in their natural habitat. Search for the big five as you track lion, water buffalo, hippo, elephant, and rhino. Learn about local tribes and Botswana's natural beauty from the lodge's director and personal safari guide who himself, born and raised in Maun. He has over 40 years guiding experience and a lifetime of personal adventure stories.

Game Walk
Slow down and take in the details as you set the pace on one of the lodge's marked trails through the reserve. Smell the grass, stroll past a giraffe grazing, or admire the grace of a kudu bounding through the savannah. Take the well marked network of game paths to a structured or comfortable walking safari of your own making. The trails are perfect for encounters with beautiful African game.

Bird Watching
Over 300 species of birds have been sighted in and around the lodge at peak season.  Summer, from October to March, is the best time with both Palaearctic and Intra-African migrants. Keen birders should be able to see at least 50 – 70 species in a day and have the opportunity to add new species to the lodge's bird sighting list. The record thus far is 130 species in a 24 hour period!

Around Maun
The gateway safari town is a great place to shop for African safari supplies and arts and crafts unique to Botswana.  

Accommodations/Food

Accommodations in a luxurious lodge with 12 ensuite tents with flush toilets and hot showers.

Botswana Lodge Food
Top quality, healthy food is served. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner with set menus. Vegetarian meals available. Drinks are available but not included in the price.

The Ideal Traveler

Families with children, beginning riders or groups with non-riding companions looking for a manageable horseback safari with wildlife viewing in the gateway village to the Okavango Delta, Maun. See wildlife on horseback in a more contained environment and get wet during a river ride. Enjoy good food and additional non-riding activities.

Thamalakane River Lodge Ride

1 – 3 night horseback safari based out of an upscale lodge in Maun, Botswana that's appropriate for novice riders, families with children, single travelers and groups.

Consider pairing this with an excursion into the Okavango Delta or another safari in Botswana. Contact us to make these arrangements or for other trip ideas. 

2012 Dates & Rates

Itineraries are flexible:
$1152 USD* per person for 3 nights
$384 USD* per person per night double occupancy.
Single supplement $88 USD* per person per night.

* Prices are subject to changes based on currency conversions. Airport transfers are available by vehicle and are included in the cost.

Horse Safari Description
The Thamalakane River Ride operates from the Royal Tree Lodge, a small intimate lodge with luxurious tented accommodation. Nestled in 400 acres of riverine trees and acacia woodland on the edge of the Thamalakane River, it is only a short drive from Maun and yet it feels deep in the heart of the bush.

There are eight stylishly appointed en suite safari tents and superb cuisine can be enjoyed either in the main dining room or out on the expansive shady deck under the majestic leadwood and bird plum trees. A swimming pool to cool off in during the heat of the day and surrounding sun deck are discreetly adjacent to the main area.

A surprisingly large variety of wildlife roams the Reserve including giraffe, zebra, kudu, eland, oryx, springbok and other species. The different habitats in the reserve encourage prolific birdlife from water birds to the dry woodland Kalahari species.

Day by Day Riding Vacation Itinerary
Day 1
On arrival in Maun a short road transfer takes you to the lodge. Once settled into your comfortable accommodation and having had lunch or afternoon tea, you will join your guide for a safety briefing before being introduced to the horses. As the day cools down, set off for a fun afternoon ride around the reserve where the wildlife is wonderfully relaxed in the presence of the horses, allowing for close encounters and great photographic opportunities. Arrive back before dark and enjoy a sundowner at the lodge followed by a delicious dinner.

Day 2
Up with the dawn for a long morning ride. After a shorter stint with the wildlife, leave the reserve and head off into the back country for some lovely long canters through the endless acacia woodlands with a choice of fallen logs to jump if you wish. Pass the occasional cattle posts and have the opportunity to learn how the local Motswana live with their vast free roaming cattle herds. As the morning warms up, head for the cool riverine woodlands of the Thamalakane River for a sumptuous breakfast in the shade of the jackalberry trees.

With appetites duly satiated, a leisurely ride takes you along the river whilst enjoying the numerous waterbirds and of course some splashing canters through the shallow waters!

Lunch back at the lodge will be followed by a pleasant siesta and in the afternoon a short walk to the river’s edge where you may enjoy a boat ride for an afternoon on the water with wonderful bird watching, fishing and of course sundowners!

Day 3
Up with the dawn and breakfast before mounting up for an all day ride to explore further afield, hopefully reaching the “junction” where the Thamalakane River splits into two – the Nhabe heading west to Lake Ngami and the Boteti heading east to the Makgadikgadi. These rivers were the lifeline that allowed the early explorers, hunters and traders to penetrate deep into this area with David Livingstone being the first European to see the famous Lake Ngami having spent many thirsty days crossing the Kalahari before reaching the Boteti.

Picnic lunch is in the shade of the evergreen mangosteen trees and for some there may be a temptation to have a swim.

The river will guide you home and if the water levels are low enough, cross the river and ride back on the north bank looking out for the resident hippos as they become more active with the setting sun.

Day 4
A last early morning ride through the reserve followed by a welcome hearty breakfast before heading on to your next exciting destination.

* This itinerary is subject to changes based on the weather or your trip guide's discretion.

Botswana Saddle & Paddle

Only offered a few times each year, enjoy a Botswana safari combining the Makgadikgadi Pans Safari, Thamalakane River Lodge Ride and the Selinda Canoe Trail (itinerary below). This is an incredible, active, adventurous safari. After riding in the Pans, canoe for four days down the Selinda Spillway passing elephant, buffalo and hippo before setting up camp on the riverbank. The whole camp comes with you by canoe! And if something grabs your attention, you get out and track it on foot!

Dates & Rates 2012
May 28- June 6      $5136 USD* for 9 days 
July 5-15                 $5551 USD* for 10 days
Aug 4-14                 $5551 USD* for 10 days
Sept 21- Oct 2        $5966 USD* for 11 days

Flight rates: $1997

* Prices are subject to changes based on currency conversions. Flight rates include all internal charters starting from Maun on the first day of the safari and ending up back at Maun on the last day of the safari. Rates do not include local gratuities throughout, International Flights. 

An adventurous safari for groups of 4 to 8 people combining:
- 5 nights on the Makgadikgadi Pans Ride with 3 nights on the Selinda Canoe Trail with 1 to 3 nights on the Thamalakane River Ride at Botswana Private Game Reserve (depending on departure dates).

In 2009 and 2010 the high waters flowing through northern Botswana’s Okavango Delta caused the Selinda Spillway to flow in a way that it has not done for nearly 3 decades! This remarkable event provided the unique opportunity for us to canoe this incredible water system thus replicating the safari experiences of old, camping along the banks of the river at the end of the day, wherever we find ourselves. The Selinda Canoe Trail combines 4 thrilling days of adventure, adrenalin and action.

The distance from one end of the Canoe Trail to the other is roughly 45 km. It is a wildlife experience like no other as we witness elephant herds splashing and mudbathing along the banks; buffalo, giraffe and sable antelope amongst some of the many species that come down to drink; wild dog have been known to swim the Spillway in front of the canoes and lion and leopard have also been sighted. The Selinda also hosts some 300 bird species making it a twitcher’s paradise.

In addition to canoeing, there will also be an opportunity to walk. Should we happen upon an unusual wildlife activity at any time, the canoes can be beached along the banks allowing us a chance to investigate and follow the clues through the nearby bush!

Water and light snacks will be provided throughout the day to keep your energy levels up!

Selinda Canoe Trail Itinerary
Day 1:
Your arrival by light aircraft into the Selinda Reserve offers a bird’s eye view of what lies ahead for the next few days. The flight takes you over the Linyanti Marsh where off to the west the Spillway itself can be seen meandering its way through the flood plains and mopane woodlands. Elephant and hippo feeding deep into the marsh are a common sight.

A driver and a 4 x 4 safari vehicle will be at the Selinda airstrip to greet you and take you on a 3 hour drive to the starting point of where the actual canoe trail begins. The drive follows the old tsetse fly control cut line passing through miles of mopane woodland interspersed with pans which attract the elephant and buffalo as they quench their thirst. The vastness and wildness of this country soon becomes apparent!

Without warning the waters of the Spillway suddenly open up before you – indeed a refreshing sight after the hot, dry drive. You are now truly deep in the wilds of the Botswana bush!
A full safety briefing and demonstration on the handling of the canoes follows before setting off with your guide for a gentle late afternoon paddle taking you to your first camp. A dedicated support team who move ahead daily by canoe to set up camp will be on hand to greet us. The comfortable camp consists of small dome tents with made up bed rolls and a bucket shower and long drop toilet.

Day 2:
An early wake up call followed by a hearty breakfast sees us heading out in the canoes for a full day of paddling. As the day warms up, each bend in the river offers a host of surprises including the likelihood of elephants coming down to drink. A game walk on foot is a distinct possibility should we encounter buffalo or sable or hear the alarm calls of animals in the surrounding bush. A delicious lunch will be taken in the heat of the day with a cooling swim for those who wish before paddling on in the late afternoon to our next campsite further along the Spillway. After a delicious home cooked dinner out under a starlit sky we drift into a tired but contented sleep with the nocturnal calls of peeping frogs, roaring lions and the hyena’s whooping punctuating the deep silence. A truly magical African safari experience.

Day3:
Another early start is necessary with another full day of paddling ahead. It is on this day that we truly notice the diversity of this magnificent water course. Gliding ever closer to the Selinda itself, the Spillway takes on a new identity with the water levels slowly dropping before suddenly rising again as we reach the confluence of the Kwando River backing up westwards. A rich abundance of wildlife and birdlife becomes apparent with pods of hippos wallowing in the deep pools and flocks of jacanas, herons and plovers littering the river banks. After another sumptuous lunch we arrive at the last campsite which has been exquisitely sited on a small palm tree island. Yet another delicious dinner prepared in front of us on the coals of the fire.

Day 4:
A slightly more leisurely start with either a long morning walk or a shorter paddle before returning to camp for a final brunch and transfer by vehicle to the Selinda airstrip. A treasure trove of souvenirs to take away with us - exquisite unsurpassed memories of Africa!

See Makgadikgadi Pans Ride & Thamalakane River Ride for additional day itineraries that are combined with this trip. 

* This itinerary is subject to changes based on the weather or your trip guide's discretion. For fly camping, smaller overnight bags are recommended.

Related Travel Articles

Traveler Reviews

The Equitrekking crew recently traveled to Botswana to try every horse safari featured on EquitrekkingTravel.com and film them for new episodes of Equitrekking. Stay tuned for these episodes and ask us which safari is the best fit for you and your group. We know!

Reviews:
The tents, set well apart from each other along sandy forest paths, are truly magnificent, with stunning siligna wood floors, polished to a golden glow, that reflect the sunlight streaming in through the many windows. Cushions trimmed with animal designs set off the creamy cotton bed linen, and arriving on a blustery rainy-season night, I spent a blissful hour or so soaking in the enormous claw-footed tub that dominates the bathroom. For hotter days, a shower is set outside on a deck among the whisperings and rustlings of the forest.

The Tree Lodge’s two new ‘honeymoon suites’ are elegantly romantic, with a sunken bath looking onto the bush from behind a plate glass window, decadent ostrich feather decorations, an outdoor shower and a private patio with sliding doors out into the bush. The suites can also be turned into triple rooms with the addition of an extra bed.

As one might expect, the food that accompanies such high-class accommodation is excellent and plentiful, with substantial cooked breakfasts to send guests on their way in the mornings. It’s no surprise that many returning visitors now demand two nights, rather than one, in this unique haven before their reluctant departure for the airport and the real world.

-- Gemma Pitcher, The Tourist Magazine

Staying at Tree Lodge made all the difference to my onward journey into the bush, which always involves dawn awakenings and so many new experiences which can be quite exhausting. Unlike some fellow travellers, I arrived in the Delta cool, calm and collected and ready for whatever wild Africa was going to throw at me.

-- Carrie Hampton, Safari Tart

Reading List

Botswana: The Bradt Safari Guide, 3rd: Okavango Delta, Chobe, Northern Kalahari  (Paperback) by Chris McIntyre

A personal, detailed guide to Botswana, its history, culture, attractions and natural history. With color photographs, maps and excellent travel information. This British series of guidebooks is noteworthy for its focus on culture, nature and responsible travel. It covers the Okavango Delta, Chobe, Northern Kalahari and other popular destinations in detail.

Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia (Paperback)

An informative practical guide to Botswana and its attractions, including nearby Victoria Falls.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide (Paperback) by Peter Allison (Author)

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run is a hilarious collection of true tales from top ­safari guide Peter Allison. In a place where the wrong behavior could get you eaten, Allison has survived face-to-face encounters with big cats, angry ­elephants, and the world’s most unpredictable animals—herds of untamed tourists and foolhardy guides whose outrageous antics sometimes make them even more dangerous than a pride of hungry lions!
 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

A delightful introduction to Botswana's formidable female detective, evoking the cultures, customs and texture of Africa. 

The Safari Companion by Richard Estes

An invaluable encyclopedic guide to Africa's mammals by a noted scientist. Written with the typical safari-goer in mind, this perennial bestseller includes black-and-white drawings, an overview of each group and in-depth information.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.