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Olwen writes about her visit to Macatoo in March 2025 and how many of the myths about visiting in the green season were dismissed.

“Visiting the Okavango Delta in their low season (between November and March) I was expecting everywhere to be green, but we weren’t expecting to see so much water. This year the heavy summer rains mean that, even though the flood waters haven’t pushed through from Angola, there is already water everywhere so lots of wading across channels and some splashy canters.

Predictions this year are for high floods in the Okavango. Here is a link to a blog we wrote last year explaining the phenomenon of the floods in the Okavango Delta.

We were also expecting it to be hot and it was by mid afternoon when we were able to chill on the veranda of our beautiful tents. But after an early breakfast we were at the stables by 7 am and on horseback before it got too hot. Midway through the morning ride we would dismount and have some snacks before setting off again to be back at the stables by about 11 with plenty of time to have a welcome shower before lunch.  After a lazy relaxing afternoon we met again for tea and rode in the late afternoon from about 4.30 through to sundowners.

The summer grasses are very long but our guide Thabo knew just where the terrain was safe for us to pick up the speed and we had plenty of long canters – including a very exciting canter with some giraffe and zebra (unfortunately no photos – it all just happened so quickly). As Thabo explained he can never guarantee that this might happen – the ground has to be safe and the animals just have to be already moving in the right direction).  Afternoon rides were slower and we tended to cover the distance in a nice trot.

It’s supposed to be harder to see the game in the green season but we had some wonderful sightings. We saw the beautiful Tsessebe and Lechwe, lots of giraffe, hyaena, zebra, wildebeest and other antelope. Did you know that giraffe on the move are called a journey; while a stationary group of giraffe is a tower? One of my favourites was watching the hippo trying to keep cool and becoming ever so slightly annoyed that we were watching them. One evening ride we saw three different groups of elephant on the move.

We were also fortunate enough to have sightings of the rare African wild dog (you can see why they have also been called painted dog). They can travel 20kms a night when hunting.

Each day we rode out in a different direction. The landscape changes from the wide open floodplains, mostly dry underfoot in March, but criss-crossed with channels of deep water; to the mopane areas where the elephant like to hang out. It was all just incredibly beautiful.

At the beginning of 2025 the Macatoo camp was closed for a complete refurbishment and we were some of the first guests to see the beautiful new tents. Those who have visited before will be pleased to know that the format remains similar (although everything has been upgraded!). Tent 1 is still nearest to the stables and Tent 4 close to the mess tent. Tents 5 and 6 are linked by a raised walkway (perfect for friends, but each tent is completely private). Tent 8 is the honeymoon tent – set a little further from the others.

These beautiful tents with their spacious deck reflect the wonderful surroundings of the Okavango Delta.

Six of the tents can be made up as  twin or double and are spacious enough for a third bed for three friends travelling together. Two of the tents (7 & 8) have a fixed king-size double bed. There is always one tent allocated to a single person without single supplement being charged but you do need to book up early to get this. Otherwise there is no single supplement if you are willing to share (and the tents are plenty spacious enough for sharing). All the tents have an indoor shower and also an outdoor shower.

The honeymoon tent offers the ultimate retreat. It has a kingsize double bed, but otherwise is the same inside as the other tents. Outside you have a spacious deck with a bath – and also your own private plunge pool. This is just gorgeous for those hot afternoons between rides.

There is a new mess tent with a bar and lounge beautifully decorated with interesting African artifacts.

Here you come together for drinks at lunch time and before and after dinner.  It’s a really lovely spot.

The Okavango Delta is known as the jewel of Botswana and is properly named as the scenery is stunning. I strongly recommend you put it on your bucket list.

 

I will leave you with a little video clip. It wasn’t all galloping through water, but when we did it was a huge amount of fun.

If you have any questions about a safari at Macatoo or would like to check availability for 2025 or 2026 please do get in touch by email or phone. I would love to talk about our trip.”

Email rides@inthesaddle.com or phone +44 1299 272 997.