Botswana - Kujwana
Kujwana Camp has been at the heart of horseback safaris in the Okavango Delta since the 1980s, when it was founded by PJ and Barney Bestelink. As the first operator to offer this unique experience, Kujwana quickly became synonymous with adventure, wilderness, and exceptional horsemanship. Now, more than 40 years on, the reins have been passed to long-time team members Alex Smith and Gareth Peake. With deep roots in the camp’s history and ethos, they bring fresh energy while staying true to its spirit — keeping horses central to the experience and continuing the tradition of unforgettable safaris in one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.
This riding safari explores the remote western region of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. An area characterised by papyrus-lined waterways and woodland, rich in game and teeming with bird-life.
By day you could ride alongside herds of buffalo, watch wildebeest frolic out on the plains or gaze at a pod of hippo in the water. Each evening gather around the fire to recount the day’s adventures before supper is served by candlelight. Go to sleep at night as the sounds of Africa drift all around you.
The seasonality of the Delta is fascinating. Flood waters generally arrive in May or June and turn the area into a watery wonderland. Where the water is high the horses wade from island to island, but along the margins the going is firm allowing the pace to increase. When the water is lower there are wide open spaces perfect for longer trots and canters.
You are riding in an area of potentially dangerous game and therefore need to be experienced in the saddle. Rides are brisk and usually between four to six hours per day. The minimum riding ability required is mastery of the basic aids, ability to rise to the trot for long stretches, to be comfortable and balanced at all paces and to be able to gallop out of trouble.
The horses are all well-schooled and responsive, with an even temperament. They are between 14hh and 17hh and are a range of pure Arab, Anglo Arab, Part and Full Thoroughbred.
Saddles can be either English style or trail saddles but not all horses can be ridden in the trail saddles. Most horses are ridden in snaffle bridles.
The following times are approximate but the daily pattern is normally a wake-up call to your tent at sun rise (c. 05:00 in summer and c. 06:00 in winter). In the hotter summer days you would ride from about 06:00 through to 10:30, and in winter from about 07:00 through to 11:30. Lunch is back at camp and the afternoons are for resting and relaxing in your tent or by the pool. Afternoon tea will usually be about 15:30 before the afternoon activity from 16:00 to 18:00.
Non riders are welcome and can join game drives, boat trips, fishing, mokoro rides or walking safaris, depending on the water levels.
The rider weight limit is strictly 90kg in riding kit. Guests may be required to step on the scales.
Kujwana Camp has six safari tents each with solar lighting, shower and flush loo en-suite. The tents feature attractive furnishings, bed side tables, hanging cupboard, luggage rack, floor rug and chairs. Of these tents, two are Riverside Suites, which are larger and have additional lounge areas. These suites are available at a supplement.
Between March and November guests booked onto five or more night safaris will be able to stay two nights at fly camp. During fly camp, the tents are set up in a remote location. Tents are comfortable with en-suite bucket showers and long drop toilets.
For guests on a ten night safari, there may also be an opportunity to sleep out under the stars on raised platforms in the bush. This option is subject to weather conditions.
The preferred arrival day for the seven night safaris (between March and November) is Saturday. It is also possible to do just the first five nights if you are short of time or ten nights if you prefer to stay longer.
Sample Itinerary for Kujwana
Select your preferred arrival date:
RIDE PRICE (7 nights)
(Shorter and longer stays are possible, please ask for a price)
| 7 nights | |
| 1 Jan - 27 Mar 2026 | £5,390.00 |
| 28 Mar - 29 May 2026 | £6,475.00 |
| 30 May - 2 Oct 2026 | £7,945.00 |
| 3 Oct - 27 Nov 2026 | £6,475.00 |
| 28 Nov - 31 Dec 2026 | £5,390.00 |
INCLUDES Accommodation; full board; drinks; riding; other safari activities.
Upgrades are £105.00 per suite per night (Riverside Suites).
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT There are two tents available at no single supplement, otherwise a 30% supplement applies to anyone in a single tent.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Tips.
NEAREST AIRPORT Maun.
TRANSFERS There are two transfer options. By helicopter is £340.00 per person each way (min 2) and by light aircraft and vehicle is £280.00 per person each way. For helicopter transfers, prices are based on a minimum of two persons transferring. Please note that the light aircraft option is dependent on water levels.
We will arrange return transfers from Maun to camp. There are two options - either a 25 minute flight by helicopter arriving directly in front of camp or a flight by light aircraft to Xaranna Airstrip. NB: Xaranna Airstrip is one hour's drive from camp and so riding on arrival and departure days cannot be guaranteed if you arrive/depart by light aircraft. The helicopter transfer requires a minimum of 2 people.
Transfers to camp depart Maun in the early afternoon after the arrival of the flight from Johannesburg. The return transfer from camp arrives into Maun in time for you to check in for the afternoon flight to Johannesburg.
International flights to Maun are via Johannesburg. We recommend you arrive into Johannesburg by 08:00 to allow time to check in for the flight to Maun, which departs Johannesburg at 11:00/12.00. To minimise the risk of flight delays spoiling the start of your safari you may wish to consider arriving into Johannesburg or Maun the day before your safari is due to start.
We strongly advise that you do not use Air Botswana for any part of your journey since their flights are often delayed or cancelled.
We can also arrange transfers from or to other camps in Botswana.
In the Okavango Delta on the northern edges of the Kalahari desert in Botswana.
The Summer months in Botswana are September to April. The hottest months are October, November and February, when temperatures can get up to the mid-30's°C.
The rains can start in October with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm and the wettest months are December to February. Winter is May to the end of August, when there is virtually no rainfall but evenings and early mornings can feel cold. Temperatures at this time can vary from 7°C to 28°C.
The floods usually arrive in April or May and have receded by early November.
For more information on the weather patterns in the Delta, do have a read of this blog post, which talks about the different seasons and why the area floods.
Cantering with zebra and giraffe through the water has got to be the best experience ever.
Laurel, West Sussex
Overall rating: 6/5
