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5.0

#52 of 96 lodges in North-West District

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African Horseback Safaris were early pioneers of horse riding safaris in Africa and, two decades later, we pride ourselves on offering one of the most unique and exciting horseback adventures in the world. Led by talented guides, our guests have 450,000 acres of pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta to explore on calm, experienced horses, offering exhilarating rides alongside big game, such as giraffe, zebra and elephant. Combined with Macatoo, our luxurious tented bush camp accommodation in an exquisite African setting, we offer the riding adventure of a lifetime.

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Property amenities

Pool

Free breakfast

Bar / lounge

Airport transportation

Non-smoking hotel

Laundry service

Room types

Non-smoking rooms

Suites

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HOTEL STYLE

Romantic

Great View

Location

Western Okavango Delta Botswana

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101Reviews5Q+A16Room tips

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Casey C wrote a review Aug 2023

Brookline, Massachusetts66 contributions12 helpful votes

+1

Absolutely incredible

I don't even know where to begin. I've wanted to do this for many years, and I am SO glad we chose Macatoo. It is a magical and special place, for riders and non-riders. I am a rider and although I was a bit nervous to start with, and I did switch horses as my first horse was too strong for me, I had an incredible time. I settled in and was lucky to ride with some lovely people who are very good riders. My husband is not a rider and was there as well doing game drives and had the time of his life. Mod and the guides (who are incredible riders) know their stuff and are great at pairing riders with the right horse, and keeping everyone safe out in the wild. The staff is absolutely lovely, the food is simple and delicious, and the hot water bottles at night and tea delivery in the morning are so nice! The camp is well-appointed but laid back, and not the least bit pretentious. It's horse camp for adults, minus all the annoying chores and with much better accommodation, food and drink :) The wildlife viewing was great and it was amazing to get so close, and the horses do not flinch when they see the animals. Water canters--so special. If you are planning to ride definitely be honest about your ability. If you are a competent rider comfortable at all paces you're going to have a blast. I miss it already and hope to be back one day. Be sure to pack appropriate clothing for the season, read the information they send you, and don't show up in fluorescent colors :) Thank you to everyone there for such a wonderful experience!…

Date of stay: August 2023

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Service

Trip type: Travelled as a couple

Room Tip: Be honest about your riding ability and read the information provided.

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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julio c wrote a review Jun 2023

1 contribution1 helpful vote

Fair

Do not recommend it Service and accommodations not what they advertised. Felt that they only like to cater to certain types of clientele even though they reach out to all types of guests. The country it self (Botswana) is beautiful. I would recommend other camps.

Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled solo

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Nicholas B wrote a review Apr 2022

4 contributions1 helpful vote

On Horseback in Africa

Having been on a number of safaris in various parts of Africa - by vehicle and increasingly on foot- we decided to try a horseback safari. The first thing to note about Macatoo is that whether you ride or not this is a very special place. With only 7 delightful and luxurious tents the camp sits in the middle of the Okavango Delta , enjoying a beautiful and remote location. We were there in the dry season which made for very good riding but I can only imagine the beauty of being there during the floods. With over 50 horses to choose from there is really something for every rider ( not novice) and I was very impressed with the care and condition of the horses. My one suggestion would be to arrive riding fit if you wish to get the best out of the days. Katie who runs the camp is just a delight. She made us feel at home immediately and was always on hand to help with any question we might have. The camp and staff are warm and friendly and make a special effort to ensure the trip is a great success - from the little things like wonderful food and beautifully tidy tents and tea in bed all the way to the surprise lunch venues ( no spoilers here !) The game viewing is fantastic and whether you are mounted or in a vehicle you will just amazed at the richness and diversity of the game. Of course accidents do happen with horses and of particular importance is the relationship the camp has with the Okavango Air Ambulance. We had one fall ( thankfully not too serious) and the medic was at the camp quickly and the injury dealt with with great efficiency.…

Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled with family

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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katiesteibelt wrote a review Mar 2022

Dubai, United Arab Emirates5 contributions1 helpful vote

Trip of a lifetime

Hands down the best holiday I have ever been on. If you’re considering a horse back safari this is the place to go. The team are just fantastic, the riding and game is simply incredible and the camp itself was just the best. I’m already planning my next visit! We went during the dry season (apparently it’s best to go when the delta is flooded) but we had the best time and saw so much wildlife (including an amazing experience with a leopard) and the riding in general was incredible. Our guides Bernie and Chief were so knowledgeable and at no point did we ever feel unsafe despite us getting close to elephants and other large game. The horses at the camp are so well looked after and cared for and we loved the ones we were given to ride during our stay. The camp itself was one of the highlights and being able to completely disconnect from the outside world. The food served was delicious, from breakfast through until our three course dinner - it’s hard to belief such amazing fresh food is cooked up in such a remote location every day. The tent was super comfortable from the bed to the hot shower and I loved having tea every morning in bed while looking out at the bush - something that will stay with me for a long time. Nothing is too much for the team at the camp and I can’t wait to go back with friends and family (even non riders as there’s still plenty for them to do and see)…

Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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AlisonAmeb wrote a review Dec 2020

Staines, United Kingdom35 contributions11 helpful votes

Fantastic trip

We visited in November 2019. This was or first time in Africa and our first safari, let alone s horseback one. What a fantastic experience, from our first ride out to our last. Being able to get so code to elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebra, eland, ekudu, Reed buck, bush buck, hyenas and lions, yes lions. Accommodation was great, food was brilliant. I could go on and on, but I won't. Horses were well cared for, impeccably trained and new all the hand signals from Thabo, our guide. I could go on and on

Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends

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Dan2 wrote a review Sept 2020

4 contributions2 helpful votes

Unable to travel, deposit withheld ??? But we didn’t cancel

Just a quick note to reach out and see if there are others out there having there deposits withheld . With Covid we , the customer didn’t cancel. They the operator didn’t lose any business as no one unfortunately was able to travel. Why take our money ? Admin fee sure, most operators refund 30-60 days out approx 70% refund . Our tour operator tells us Macatoo will with hold 100% . Any ideas , opinions appreciated Regards

Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled on business

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Sian wrote a review Oct 2019

1 contribution

Trip of a lifetime

Simply a magical place. My daughter and I stayed for 7 nights in September and had the most amazing time. We were perfectly matched to our horses. They were a pleasure to ride and gave us daily thrills, whilst also looking after us every inch of the way. Charging through the last remnants of the flood waters and coming face to face with a leopard all in one morning were unforgettable experiences! It is clear that the horses at Macatoo really enjoy their job. They are supremely fit and well cared for - a real credit to Mod and his team. The accommodation was beautifully in keeping with the surroundings and incredibly comfortable. The kitchen produced excellent food every day. Dinner in the evening, hosted by Katie, was a very sociable and enjoyable occasion, tequilas being compulsory for anyone who had fallen off, overtaken the lead horse or otherwise transgressed! There were some lovely touches, eg on certain days, champagne lunches were brought out from the camp to meet the ride. These were always in stunning locations, the most memorable being on a tree platform with views as far as the eye could see. The guides made us feel safe and secure at all times. Thank you to Thabo and Bernie who kept us out of trouble on the horses every day! Their expertise and knowledge were second to none, and nothing was too much trouble for them. We settled on a combination of morning rides and evening game drives which we felt gave us the best of both worlds. Nako was a fantastic guide in the evenings. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the environment and wildlife were infectious. He drove across incredible terrain to put us in the best position to spot game and enjoy our sundowners. A big thank you to Katie and the team for running such a smooth operation and making our week so memorable. It was a very special experience and we would love to return!…

Date of stay: September 2019

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JMG wrote a review Sept 2019

1 contribution

Worst Drought in Decades

Very disappointed with Macatoo`s reservations staff that deliberately omitted to inform us about the worst drought in years, and that virtually they had no floods this year. This was simply wrong. You should had watched our long faces when we arrived and saw that everything was dry. Since we were already there, we managed to make the best of it and we enjoyed as much as we could. If we had known about the drought I am no sure if we have gone horseback riding somewhere else. Still, we were not given the opportunity to make a decision for ourselves. Apart from that, we found that the tents were kind of dirty and old. The service and food was ok. The game rides and drives were very good.

Date of stay: August 2019

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Peter H wrote a review May 2019

Newport, United Kingdom348 contributions188 helpful votes

+1

Truly amazing place

We booked our trip to Macatoo through Far & Ride (we have used them a number of times) , we were delighted with their service, accurate information, excellent customer care and very helpful holiday notes. We stayed here for 8 nights celebrating my 50th Birthday. Whilst we both ride and have our own horses I enjoy sensible calm horses that are easy to stop and take photographs from whilst on Safari. The staff, Katie, Bernard, MD, Mod, Seppo. were absolutely fantastic (as well as all the support staff) The horses that were selected for me were perfect, Mombo, and Brandberg. We woke up the first evening with a bull elephant outside the tent, watching him eat and wander off into the moonlight was quite incredible. One morning our coffee was brought though another entrance as the main one was blocked by a buffalo bull! (We still got the coffee at 630am!) Hearing the lions roar at night is quite something! This is a very special place, the food was excellent. The break from WIFI and mobile telephones was wonderful. The tents have chargers run from solar power which work well for camera batteries and mobile phones (there is currently no reception in camp) The game drives were superb and made a change form the rides occasionally. Seppo is a great game drive guide and very entertaining. Bernie and MD were our guide and back up guide for the time we were there and both were fantastic. On my birthday they arranged a candlelit dinner on our patio for my wife and i as a surprise! Thank you to all at Macatoo for an amazing trip. …

Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Marius wrote a review Mar 2019

2 contributions1 helpful vote

Very nice riding, but poor hosting and game drive

This is my 8th safari experience, the 2nd on horseback, and by far the least enjoyable one. The camp is nice but small, which means you rely on the host contributing in creating a good atmosphere. In our case, the opposite happened. On the game-drive, you may end of being driven by a nice guy from the maintenance department with no guiding experience and limited language skills. I stayed for 5 days with my family of 6. It was a big disappointment. As a "mitigating" circumstance, but with no influence on this review - December and January is not a good period in the Okavango Delta.

Date of stay: December 2018

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Trip type: Travelled with family

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Riana F, Manager at Macatoo Horseback Safari Camp

Responded 11 Mar 2019

Hi Marius, Thank you for taking the time to post your review. This is the first review we have received from anyone who was not absolutely satisfied with the service and experience they received at Macatoo camp and we would really like to understand the exact circumstances that cause you to feel this way. Please contact me directly on reservations@africanhorseback.com so that I can get further information. Kindest regards, Riana Fourie Sales and Marketing Manager

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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