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In April 2026, Lois travelled to the Okavango Delta and spent five nights at the gorgeous Macatoo Camp. She was accompanied by a group of lovely clients, and here she tells us about her time at Macatoo. Lois then went on to stay at Kujwana Camp for a further five nights and you can read here about her visit to Kujwana.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of accompanying a wonderful group of In The Saddle clients on a five night stay at Macatoo. I wanted to experience the camp for myself, spending time with guests and learning more about what makes this unique riding safari destination so special. What followed was six days of exceptional riding, incredible wildlife encounters, luxurious comfort in the heart of the Delta, and countless moments that reminded us why the Okavango is unlike anywhere else on earth.

The adventure began with a journey from the UK to Botswana, meeting most of our group at Heathrow before boarding our overnight flight to Johannesburg. Spirits were high as everyone got to know one another ahead of the trip. The international flight itself was less glamorous than the destination deserved, but a few hours of sleep softened the experience before we landed in Johannesburg to check-in for our second flight to Maun.

From Maun, a final flight carried us out over northern Botswana and into the Delta itself. Looking out of the window, anticipation built with everything we spotted, whether that was the first pools and channels of the Delta, or our first sightings of wildebeest and impala. This was the start of something very special.

By mid afternoon, we had arrived at Macatoo. We were transferred by vehicle from Cement airstrip to camp, a journey of around one hour along sandy paths through the thick bush. There was plenty of wildlife to see on the way, including a dazzle of zebra as soon as we set off and an old dagga boy (lone male buffalo) resting under thick bush not 10m off our path.

We were welcomed by the team at Macatoo, singing as we pulled in, their smiles and energy instantly cutting through the tiredness of travel. Cold drinks were pressed into our hands and, just like that, we were officially on safari.

The camp is fantastically designed and built and being there in person far exceeded my expectations from photos I had seen.

My tent was very special indeed. Set further away from main camp and the other tents, the Honeymoon Tent (Tent 8) offers complete serenity amongst the Delta. It has its own private plunge pool, a larger decking with multiple seating arrangements, and an outside bath. Here you can completely relax, switch off from the world, and just be at peace.

All the tents are built on a raised wooden deck, and the semi-permanent canvas structure blends into the surroundings while offering every comfort needed after a day out on safari. All the tents are the same size, each with an outdoor shower (as well as an en-suite indoor shower).

The staff are absolute professionals in providing a relaxed and luxurious stay in the wilderness. Someone is always nearby, ready to help, chat or quietly make sure everything runs smoothly. They pay close attention to the little details. On one night they had baked a cake to celebrate a birthday; and on another evening there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when we learnt that Macatoo had arranged a private dinner, complete with sparkling wine for a big wedding anniversary celebration.

After a brief camp introduction and a quick change into riding clothes, it was time to meet the horses and head out before day light faded. This evening we would ride the same horse planned for the longer ride the next morning. I loved this system and it allowed us to become well-accustomed to our horses.

Our first ride was a gentle introduction to both horses and landscape. Heading out into the Delta, we were immediately surrounded by wildlife – zebra and impala grazing nearby, giraffe moving across the grasslands, and elephants emerging between the trees. We also ticked off Tsessebe, wildebeest, hyena and marabou storks as we settled into the rhythm of safari life.

There were extraordinary wildlife encounters all week. The wildlife is not something you go out searching for – it simply exists all around you. We rode in two groups, and each group had different but equally impressive viewings each day. One group came across lions on a fairly fresh kill, and also a huge python sneaking into the undergrowth.

The landscape itself dictates the pace. Long grass, thick bush and the presence of genuinely wild animals means the riding is a calculated decision to walk where there could be wildlife hiding, and then kicking on along the more open tracks.

When the canters came, they were always good fun – long, flowing and often through water to cool us off. The speed was a good extended canter, just swinging at the horses’ comfortable pace, with no rushing or racing.

The horses themselves were exactly what you would want. Fit, responsive and clearly enjoying their work, they each had distinct personalities but shared a common sense of confidence and contentment thanks to their happy life living in the bush as a herd. Macatoo provide a short write up of each horse in the tents and it was lovely going back after each ride and reading about how your horse came to live on safari.

Macatoo is very much a destination for experienced riders. This is a genuinely wild environment, where encounters with elephants, and occasionally lions, are part of the reality of riding here. Riders need to be confident, balanced and independent in the saddle. Non-riders are also very welcome, with boat trips and game drives available whilst the riders are out.

The diversity of all living things in the Delta was impressive. From grasses, frogs, birds to bugs, there was such a wide variety of every type of living thing. On one day alone we spotted three types of kingfishers. Around my tent and on my deck each day there were tiny skinks, tree squirrels, and monkeys. Then there were also the bigger wildlife such as reed buck and elephant who would also wander through the water just in front of my tent.

One morning was particularly exciting. Breakfast was drawing to a close when one of the grooms came cantering across the front of  camp with urgent news: African wild dogs had been spotted near the stables. There were a few tense seconds as we watched Thabo and Bernie discuss with the groom what was happening. Then, without hesitation, breakfast was clearly suddenly over, and within minutes we were in the saddle and heading out.

Less than two minutes after leaving camp, we came across the pack, moving calmly through the soft early morning light. They were smaller and more delicate than I first expected, but utterly captivating. They were perfectly adapted, perfectly at ease, but yet perfectly still wild.

Not every highlight involved adrenaline pumping or rare sightings. Some were quieter, like watching Harry the hyena appear in main camp one evening looking for scraps from the BBQ, or drifting along the channels in a boat, surrounded by the Delta and the countless creatures as the sun dropped low over the water.

Another quiet but completely unforgettable experience followed a wonderful evening game drive where we’d spotted many more birds than ever before (taking a birding book with you in the vehicle is a game changer!).

Set deep in the wilderness, under lantern light, we came across a beautifully laid dinner table. Greeted with a glass of cold sparkling wine, sitting in the Delta reminded us all of how big this landscape is – the endless sky that goes on forever with the dramatic cloud formations creating another perfect sunset. Our homemade pizzas for the main course had actually been cooked in a termite-mound-turned-pizza-oven. Very impressive natural structure and very tasty homemade pizza.

The journey back to camp was an exciting night time game drive, spotting all the wildlife that comes out after nightfall. We were incredibly lucky to see not one, but two leopards less than five minutes apart. The first was a fleeting sight of a male jumping from a tree knowing he’d been spotted, the second was a female less than five minutes later. She was spotted at the end of the bridge, peering into the water and holding a front paw in suspense – she was fishing!

There were lighter but more personal moments too – that walk back to your tent after yet another exhilarating ride (covered in dirt and sweat, but grinning from ear to ear), the morning wake up call in bed with a hot coffee, and the moment when you first really look out and take in that view of the Delta from camp.

One of the most memorable rides of the week brought everything together at once: perfect footing, the excellent horses, and an endless stretch of shallow floodwater beneath the wide Botswanan sky. As we cantered through the water, spray flying and sunlight shimmering, we all exchanged glances and smiles and felt like there was no better place to be on earth in that moment.

All too soon, it was time to leave.

The final morning felt quieter. A last ride, a final breakfast, and the familiar sense of trying to hold onto every detail just a little longer. Heavy rain had moved in by the time it was time for me to leave, reminding us that although luxurious, you really are in the wild whilst at Macatoo.

At the landing spot, my pilot introduced himself simply as Nigel. As we prepared for take-off, he reassured me that despite the rain storm we would fly into, everything would be fine once we were airborne.

Within moments, we broke through the rain and into open sky. Below us, the Delta stretched endlessly in every direction, shifting from storm to sunlight in a matter of minutes. It was a final gift from a place that had already given so much.

The flight to Kujwana was short, but so impactful. Looking down at the waterways, islands and wildlife far below, I was both sad to be leaving Macatoo, but so excited to continue the adventure.

Some places you visit, you enjoy and you leave. Macatoo and the Okavango Delta is one of those rare places that really feels like it keeps a piece of you when you leave.

If you would like to learn more about riding at the wonderful Macatoo Camp (African Horseback Safaris) please do call us on +44 1299 272 997 or email rides@inthesaddle.com. Any one of our team would be pleased to help you.