Horseback Riding in Namibia
BUSHMANLAND TRAIL |
This lovely and remote area of northeastern Namibia is home to the San people, commonly known as the Bushmen. For thousands of years the San pursued their traditional hunting and gathering lifestyle in the harsh Kalahari Desert, with little outside influence. The past century has brought an end to this isolated culture, yet with such developments as dryland farming, cattle and tourism, the San are encouraged to return to their traditional homeland.
Eastern Bushmanland is a landscape characterized by camelthorn and acacia which supports a rich natural ecosystem. During the dry season (when this ride takes place) herds of antelope and other wildlife congregate around the Panveld south of Tsumkwe. Also notable features of the landscape are a number of enormous baobab trees.
This is an easy trail for less experienced riders through land characterized by savannah, desert pans, and baobab trees with a few canters over the Kalahari dunes. Although it is not a challenging pace, more experienced riders will enjoy the chance to see this seldom-visited area of Namibia. Adventurous riders will have a chance to follow elephant spoor with the famous bushmen trackers.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Depart Windhoek no later than 10.00am and drive via Okahandja, Otjiwango, Otavi and Grootfontein to Dornhügel, arriving there early enough to meet the crew and horses, go for a swim, and enjoy a sun-downer while watching the beautiful sunset in this typically African landscape. |
| Day 2: | Tack up and go. There is no trial ride, and we head directly across farms named Sachsenwald en Oopval, vast commercial farming area with palm trees, small coal processing and open vleis. Overnight at Blystroom camp. |
| Day 3: | Enter the private game park Eden which has an amazing amount of game and a variety of bird species. Ride towards the big pan (a dry seasonal lakebed) and onward to the Omuramba Omatako, a dry riverbed flowing towards the Okavango Swamps in the Kalahari. Lunch at Omatako, overnight camp at Morestêr. |
| Day 4: | Ride a short distance to the nearby loading ramp where the horses and saddles are loaded onto trucks for a drive to Tsumkwe, and thereby avoiding a very uninteresting part of Bushmanland. Riders travel from a modern commercial farming area across the Red Line at Rooidaghek into third world communal Bushmanland. We visit a Bushman settlement and learn about their day-to-day life. Drive on to Tsumkwe, visit the souvenir shop and meet the crew and horses near Tsumkwe Lodge. Tonight you have the option of camping with the horses as usual, or you can happily spoil yourself by renting a luxurious bungalow at the lodge. (This would be an out-of-pocket expense) |
| Day 5: | Meet the truck at the Nyae-Nyae Pan for lunch and continue to the incredible baobab tree where we camp for 2 nights. Usually some Dxo.hwe-bushmen show up and we make an appointment for the next day for them to take us into the bush for a demonstration of their famous hunting and tracking skills. |
| Day 6: | Spend the day with the Bushmen and follow the tracks of the elephants. |
| Day 7: | Following the elephant via Maheri either to Baraka or into the vicinity of Grenspos and Aha-Mountains - depending on the location of the elephant. |
| Day 8: | We definitely want to find elephants and if they are there, the famed Bushmen will help us track them down. Where ever we shall camp at night cannot be determined in advance, probably close to the Aha-Mountains. |
| Day 9: | We will ride to the main road, on the Botswana border, load the horses onto the trucks, and drive back to Dornhügel. We shall enjoy our last dinner together, share endless stories, and who knows, maybe plan our next riding safari in Namibia. |
| Day 10: | After breakfast transfer back to Windhoek. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Windhoek |
| Length of Ride | 10 days, 9 nights and 7 and 1/2 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Novice |
| Group Size | Minimum-6 Maximum-10 |
| Riding Per Day | 5-6 hours |
| Pace | leisurely, to enjoy scenery |
| Tack | Western and English |
| Horses | Arab cross, Trakehner and local ranch bred |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2008 Dates | July 15-24 |
| 2008 Price | $3425 |
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