I had not been on a holiday in what felt like years! I decided to make it worthwhile and do something that was a little extreme for me. So a few weeks ago I booked my vacation.

I set out on a true African safari adventure. Seven days in the Botswana Okavango Delta on horseback. My family laughed at the prospect of me on horseback (and I don’t really blame them), but my determination to venture into the African wildlife was strong.

Well ok, I’m really not much of a rider; in fact, I have not been on a horse for a very long time. What convinced me was an excitable, yet lengthy talk by my friend who had experienced it before and told me that I simply had to try it at least once.

Getting started…
Departing from Johannesburg, the flight to Maun was approximately two hours. I was torn between nervous fear and absolute excitement. For our welcoming, we went on a short game-viewing air-adventure. And from high above Botswana you can see why this African country is such a highly sought after venue for safari vacations. This view of nature made me feel ready for an all African holiday, especially for experiencing it on horseback.

No Black Beauty…
After our flight we were met by our driver who took us by 4x4 to our holiday accommodation where we had an overzealous lunch. I met the people who, together with my friend, were going to join us on our seven day horseback adventure.

Later, I was introduced to my new hoofed friend. Everyone got the chance to get to know the horses a little bit better. Horses, like humans, have a personality of their own, and mine sported a stubbornness to match. This brown beauty was strong and she clearly had spirit. After I got to know my horse, Daisy, a bit better by bribing her with ample carrots I felt a wave of excitement and ready to start our journey.

Early morning…
I was so excited that I awoke just before five in the morning. We were scheduled to leave at seven, but I couldn’t wait!

My luggage was already packed and I was ready to get going. We were briefed on emergency procedures during our quick breakfast; thereafter we set off to the stables. Daisy was already saddled and it seemed just as ready as I to start our trip. I poised myself as best I could on the saddle. Luckily it was one of those old well worn-in American saddles – a comfort fit, so it was not too difficult. I gave Daisy a slight nudge with my heels and off we went.

A learning curve…
Getting into the rhythm of riding Daisy felt very natural, it helped that we kept a relaxed pace.

The sunrise shed a golden hue onto the rocky terrain we were crossing. It left a sense of absolute peace and stillness. What bliss. As we walked along I remember thinking to myself, this is what a holiday should be.

We soon after entered an open field where zebras grazed for as far as the eye could see. The zebras didn’t seem to mind us much as we strolled alongside the herd.

What a thrilling feeling to be so up close and personal with nature! After our zebra encounter, it was time to stop for lunch. As I clumsily dismounted Daisy I could feel that riding her was having an effect on my back, a painful one too. And not just my back, but my legs seem to buckle as I tried to walk over to the make-shift lunch table.

Belly filled, getting back into Daisy’s saddle proved a little bit trickier. For some reason, I found that I wasn’t as flexible as before, but as always my determination to prove that I am a true cowgirl and after a few efforts and the help of a nearby tree stump I continued on my safari.

How small we felt…
Our next wildlife encounter was with the giants of the bush, elephants. Now I don’t have to explain how intimidating this meeting was, even if you’re sitting on your high horse.

Daisy was much calmer than I. She had obviously done this trip a few times! It felt like I was close to having a heart attack (whether it was from fear or excitement is uncertain). The elephants were so close that we could hear the gentle rumblings as they spoke with one another, and although they were very much aware of us, they didn’t make any attempts to approach. After what could only be described as a pure adrenalin rush we continued on our merry way back to the lodge as the sun set in the distance without so much as a scratch from a branch.

The lodge…
Back at camp I said goodnight to Daisy and went straight to my luxurious safari tent. My legs were still buckling underneath me. I was in total agony, but I embraced every minute of it.

After a good scrubdown, my friend and I walked to the main lodge to join the festivities in the boma where a huge bonfire awaited. The traditional pot was on the fire and the smell of a true African meal wafted to us accompanied by the sound of the drummers. The meal prepared by the Macatoo “Mamas” was rich, warm and filling as we swallowed it down with huge gulps of the African beer.

After satisfying our hunger and a short introduction to traditional dancing, we set off back to our safari tent where our comfortable beds awaited. It did not take long for us to drift off to a deep sleep after our very full day.

Closing this chapter…
The rest of our week was filled with further adventure. Despite the initial meeting Daisy proved to be a trusty steed. The guide was professional, the group was fun, and even though I had to endure a few days of stiffness from the saddle, I would not have traded her in for the back of a 4x4.

I felt satisfied; I had my true wildlife African safari. A vacation experience that would last me a good couple of months!