CHA CHA METSI EXPLORER – OKAVANGO DELTA HORSE SAFARI

7 Nights: From USD $6300GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ pp sharing

EMBARK ON AN UNFORGETABLE HORSE SAFARI IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Combining the barefoot luxury of Cha Cha Metsi with a lightweight mobile camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta offers a phenomenal adventure!

This is a brilliant opportunity to experience riding out of a fixed camp with some time sleeping under the stars in a traditional lightweight mobile camp. This ride combines the adventure of sleeping out in the, with the comforts of a fixed lodge – Plus you get to do game drives, guided walks and mokoro trips. What’s not to love? Starting with 2 nights in the barefoot luxury of Cha Cha Metsi the safari then moves to a lightweight mobile camp for 3 nights before returning to Cha Cha Metsi for the last 2 nights of the safari.

The unique Okavango Delta is a horse rider’s Eden! Cha Cha Metsi is owned and run by Clyde and Marieke Niven, and their philosophy of “Touch the Earth Lightly” fitting in perfectly with our safari beliefs – a small, intimate, personal camp and a green footprint which includes a commitment to involve and benefit the local communities. Personally decorated by Marieke with a collection of their family’s antique furniture it feels like you are being welcomed warmly into their own home. Cha Cha Metsi sleeps only 12 guests and overlooks the permanent waters of the stunning Gama Tau Lagoon – the gathering place of the lions – and part of the Santantadibe River. The permanent waters are unique amongst the riding camps of the Delta allowing for year round mokoro rides (traditional dug out canoe) and year round splashing through the waters on horseback.

The 3 nights of fly camping offer a unique experience in the bush. The camp is extremely comfortable in lightweight tents with standing room, fully made up stretcher beds, bucket showers and short drop loos. The emphasis is on the experience. The pure adventure of the Okavango, and the incredible stars out in the remote wilderness. And who knows what wildlife you might see in camp!

This ride is only suitable for experienced riders, and offers a brilliant combination of lodge and mobile camping. Run by David Foot and his team of expert guides, this is an incredible adventure!

CURRENCY CONVERTER

At the current exchange rate. Please note final quote might vary slightly

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DATES AND RATES

There is one 7 night set date departure every month from April-November. Only experienced riders are accepted. A minimum of two riders are required to confirm the ride, and there are a maximum of 8 riders.

2025 RATES

20 – 27 July 2025

09 – 16 September 2025

7 nights: USD $7535GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing + Transfers

EXTRAS – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

TRANSFERS (subject to change)

20-minute Helicopter Flight: USD $300GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person each way

2 hour Road Transfers: USD $100GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person each way

We recommend at least one helicopter transfer as it offers a unique game-viewing perspective!

There is a minimum of 2 people per transfer, if you are travelling solo and there is no one else to share the transfers, you will be charged for 2 people.


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT (subject to change)

Standard Season: USD $1470GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $

High Season: USD $1840GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

Price Includes:

  • All accommodation on a sharing basis
  • All meals & local drinks
  • Personal and expert guidance throughout your trip
  • Riding on well-trained and responsive horses
  • Game drives
  • Walking Safaris
  • Mokoro Safaris

Price Excludes:

  • International flights to Maun International Airport
  • Visas
  • Comprehensive Travel and Medical Insurance
  • Transfers
  • Premium Drinks
  • Gratuities for camp staff and guides
  • Items of a personal nature
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QUICK FACTS

Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Airport: Maun International Airport
Month: April to Novmember
Duration: 7 Nights
Group Size: Min 2, Max 8
Skill Level: Intermediate Plus & Advanced
Weight Limit: 90kg / 200lbs
Accommodation: Tented Camp & Mobile Safari
Solo Traveller Friendly: Yes, but single supplement applies
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SUITABLE RIDING LEVELS

  • Beginner
  • Novice
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate Plus
  • Advanced
WHAT RIDING LEVEL AM I?
7 Nights: From USD $6300GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ pp sharing

CURRENCY CONVERTER

At the current exchange rate. Please note final quote might vary slightly

USDGBPEURZARAUD

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Combine the luxury of a permanent camp, with the adventure of a mobile safari
  • Explore areas of the Delta inaccessible to vehicles and get completely off the beaten track
  • Experience an Authentic African safari with a variety of experiences including horse riding, game drives and guided walks with expert guides
  • Enjoy thrilling riding with unforgettable wildlife viewing from the saddle
  • Ride with expert guides and discover the secrets of the Okavango Delta

TOUR REVIEWS

The Okavango Delta surpassed all of my expectations - a huge thank you to Hope for finding me a spot at Cha Cha Metsi. The camp was stunningly put together with an incredible team on the ground - Clyde, Willi and Kim to name a few. From the first moment of stepping foot on camp you’re made to feel so welcomed and at home - which is important as a solo traveller. I will never forget cantering through the water with a herd of Zebra on one side and Giraffe galloping on the other. I rode Ghost Wind the whole trip and he was the calmest, cutest, most responsive horse you could imagine. Flood and Thebs were knowledgeable guides and importantly put up with 5 very chatty women with strong opinions on the importance of splashy canters!

Jesscia GrovesCha Cha Metsi, Botswana
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SAMPLE ITINERARY

** Please note this is a sample itinerary; weather conditions and game movement patterns may cause the route and plan to vary but this will always be to ensure the best possible horse safari experience.

Combining the magic of a mobile safari camp, with a more luxury tented lodge, it gives you the best of both worlds.  In general, this ride will start with 2 nights at Cha Cha Metsi, followed by 3 nights of fly camping, and ending back at Cha Cha Metsi Lodge.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL & INTRODUCTORY RIDE

A short helicopter ride or a slightly longer road trip from Maun and you will arrive at Cha Cha Metsi Camp. Cha Cha Metsi Camp sleeps only 12 guests in six en suite tents and has been personally decorated by Marijke with a collection of their family’s antique furniture. On arrival you will without doubt feel you are being welcomed warmly into their own home. The camp overlooks the permanent waters of the stunning Gama Tau Lagoon – the gathering place of the lions – and is part of the Santantadibe River. This is a permanently flowing waterway so the camp is surrounded by classic Okavango scenery – lagoons, floodplains and tree lined islands – making for wonderful riding through stunning scenery and an incredible diversity of wildlife. The feeling of exploring this water wilderness on horseback is indescribable. After settling into camp life, head off after tea in the beautiful afternoon light for your first opportunity to experience the beauty of this magical area.

Overnight: Cha Cha Metsi Camp

DAY 2: MORNING & EVENING RIDES

The following day will start with an early wake-up call and a light breakfast around the camp fire as the dawn breaks. Mount up and spend the morning on horseback following ancient elephant trails, searching for the large variety of wildlife, enjoying the prolific birdlife and cantering through the open plains. Herds of buffalo may be in the vicinity, giraffe may saunter by and red lechwe will splash through the water alongside you, whilst kudu peer out from the thickets. Return to camp for lunch and siesta under the shade of the giant leadwood trees. In the afternoon enjoy a gentle evening ride, appreciating the peacefulness of the Okavango, listening to the sounds of the bush and the snorting and splashing of your horses.

Overnight: Cha Cha Metsi Camp

DAY 3 - 5: FLY CAMPING

Today the adventure multiplies as you head deeper into the Okavango for three nights under canvas. There are some real wild areas to explore with plenty of floodplains to traverse (some offering splashing canters) and a plethora of wildlife. Hidden away amongst the palm tree strewn islands are some stunning lagoons filled with hippos and often visited by large herds of zebra and elephant.

The team will go ahead and set up a lightweight camp on a beautiful, remote island so that after a long day in the saddle all the necessary comforts will be awaiting – dome tents with stretcher beds and fully made up bedrolls, bucket showers and bush toilets but most importantly cold drinks with ice! And of course the camp chef will have prepared an absolutely delicious dinner over the fire – quite the art! Dinner will be served under the stars. With lots of riding and exploring under your belt and an incredible list of wildlife seen it may be time on the last afternoon under canvas to venture out on foot to look for the smaller creatures that inhabit the bush and to learn some tracking skills before enjoying another fabulous African sunset.

Overnight: Fly camp in the Delta

DAY 6: RETURN TO CHA CHA METSI

Riding back to Cha Cha Metsi in time for lunch in camp it will again be time for the horses and riders to have a rest and instead spend the afternoon experiencing the water wonderland from a mokoro (a dug-out canoe), the traditional mode of transport in the Okavango Delta. Gliding quietly through lily filled lagoons is as tranquil and relaxing as it gets.

DAY 7: CHA CHA METSI

On your last full day in the Okavango to ride as much as you like or to partake in some fishing (catch & release) and a game viewing vehicle will be on standby if needed for a change and perhaps an opportunity to get up close and personal to any predators – lion, leopard, cheetah or wild dog – that may have been spotted in the vicinity.

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

You are definitely not going to want to leave your new home in the Okavango today but after a last ride and a fond farewell to the horses and staff it will be time for a helicopter or road transfer back to Maun for your onward journey. Remember it’s easy to add on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or Victoria Falls if you want to explore more of Africa!

THE ACCOMMODATION

CHA CHA METSI MERU TENTS

Cha Cha Metsi boasts 4 Meru tents, accommodating either one or two guests. They can be King, or Twin, depending on who you’re travelling with. The tents are beautifully appointed with everything you will need for a comfortable stay. Decorated in the style of the 1930’s, our rooms take you back in time. The en-suite bathrooms are spacious with a shower only.

MOBILE CAMP

Rather than a permanent riding camp, a lightweight mobile camp is transported by a flotilla of mekoros (traditional dugout canoes) poled by members of the local community, into the Delta. In the dry season, the camp is moved by a group of enthusiastic pack donkeys. The emphasis is on the experience, the beauty of the Okavango and top level guiding.

Enjoy food cooked over an open fire. The camp is extremely comfortable, with guests in lightweight tents with standing room, stretcher beds and full linen made-up bed rolls. There will be one bucket shower and one short drop toilet per 4 guests.

THE DESTINATION

The Okavango Delta

Recently declared the 1000th World Heritage Site – the Okavango Delta is a horse rider’s paradise. The delta unveils a distinctive landscape where the Okavango River gracefully fans out, forming an expansive oasis of water channels, lagoons, and lush islands. Often hailed as one of Africa’s wildlife Meccas, the Delta hosts a breathtaking array of creatures—from majestic elephants to elusive leopards. Cha Cha Metsi is a private Camp located in a community area within the the largest concession of the Okavango Delta called NG 32. Our horse safaris in the Okavango Delta offer an unmatched equestrian adventure, seamlessly blending the exhilaration of horseback riding with the unspoiled beauty of this extraordinary wilderness. As the floodwaters of the Delta spread southwards the wildlife and birdlife follow offering the opportunity to ride alongside the incredible variety of wildlife found in Africa. 

HOW WE CARE FOR OUR HORSES

Our horseback adventures are hand-picked for their quality and care of their horses. Here’s how the horses at Ride Botswana  are kept in tip-top shape for your safaris. Our horses are on top of the hierarchy and receive very special care:

Horse riding at Cha Cha Metsi in the Okanvango Delta
Horse riding in the Okavango Delta with David Foot and Ride Botswana
  • The horses get 2 to 3 meals a day, plus plenty of grass to eat as they wish
  • The grooms check temperatures daily when they groom the horses to make sure they are all healthy and to pick up any injuries they may have sustained out on trail or in the bush.
  • Saddles are checked regularly and tack cleaned daily
  • The farrier sees the horses every five weeks
  • Horses have dedicated rest days each week and are on holiday 2 months per year
  • Our horses live out in a herd environment, allowing them to live as naturally as possible once they have carried you home safely.
  • There is a large stable area with a boma around it where the horses spend the night, and there is a night watchman to ensure their safety.
  • Guides and grooms have taken part in natural horsemanship clinics to gain a better understanding on horse behaviour and how to work with them in a respectful way.
  • Retired safari horses still get the same care as all the other horses and live a life of freedom

Please let us know if you have any more questions about this.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A HORSE SAFARI

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Confirm your ride and dates by paying your deposit

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