A pride of lions lay asleep in the shade of heavy thickets. Grazing sounds wake them, and they stare in disbelief at a Cape buffalo herd a short distance away.
The lions spot an easy kill and use the long grass as cover to stealthily creep forward. They pause when a dominant bull sniffs the wind, flaps his ears, and bellows a warning that danger is suspected but not confirmed. The lions sink to the ground motionless and wait. The big bull settles down as the lions inch forward.
Their target is a young bull who wandered from the herd. Two lionesses charge and swiftly cripple the buffalo. Another materializes from the opposite direction, lunges for him, sinks her claws and fangs into his neck, and brings him down with a crash.
The male lions stride to the kill and settle in to feed while the lionesses wait…
Are you prepared for the circle of life?
Fly into Maun Airport, Botswana (MUB), and be met by one of our owner guides. They’ll handle your luggage and deliver you to Helicopter Horizons for a flight to your mobile camp.
You’ll be greeted by your professional bush guide, David Foot. During the pandemic, David undertook a 1,500 km, 53-day ride through some of the wildest parts of northern Botswana for fun!
Once settled in, your safari begins with waiting horses. Mount up and ride before dinner. Sundowners are by firelight in the gathering dusk when the bush comes alive with the essence of Africa.
Each camp is in a unique location in the Okavango. One is even on a beautiful, remote island…
The feeling of exploring this water wilderness on horseback is indescribable, particularly when you come face to face with your first elephants.
Mount up and spend the morning on horseback following ancient elephant trails in search of the large variety of wildlife and birds while cantering through the recently flooded plains.
We also salute Africa’s first bush pilots, who would appreciate our vision and version of their early air explorations and travel.
We planned a 2-hour helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta.
If you want, your flight can be with sundowners to photograph wildlife from above in the marvelous light of the setting sun.
Between rides, experience the tranquility of the Okavango. The sounds of the bush, the birds, and the snorts and splashes of the horses.
Walking safaris with David, who is armed with a rifle, are available if you want to experience the bush at an intimate level. Search for all creatures that inhabit the Delta and learn his tracking skills.
Enjoy many wonderful excursions into the Okavango on mokoro canoe trips, which offer exceptional wildlife viewing.
And you’ll be given lessons if you want to learn how to pole a mokoro. Or relax as your guide silently poles towards rare birds and wildlife in the traditional way of traversing this wondrous water land.
The wattled crane is the largest crane in Africa, reaching a height of 175cm (5’ 7”), with beautiful grey feathers, a long white neck, black undersides, and a bare, red face with a black cap. The wattled crane is a threatened species and is sighted frequently in the waterways.
Your helicopter pilot added 2 hours to your flight as he has an extraordinary air safari planned on your way out of Botswana.
The pilot will do a low-level flight over the Makgadikgadi to Kubu Island and then back to Maun along the Boteti River for your international flight home.
