Bontsintsi Horse Safaris takes guests to the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, traversing vast floodplains on well-schooled horses and overnighting in intimate mobile camps. Wildlife encounters from the saddle draw riders fully into the present moment, restoring the senses and awakening a deep connection to the wilderness. Founded by lifelong rider Louise, Bontsintsi is the realisation of her dream to raise and train her own herd in the Delta. This is not a production-line safari, but a personal, owner-run adventure shaped by care, passion and true authenticity.
Bontsintsi Horse Safaris offers a rare and deeply personal way of experiencing Botswana’s Okavango Delta – from the rhythm of the saddle, guided by those who understand the wilderness not as a product, but as a way of life. Founded and owner-run by Louise, a lifelong rider who grew up in the saddle, Bontsintsi is the realisation of her dream to raise, train and live alongside her own herd of horses in the heart of the Delta. Each horse is cared for with an extraordinary level of devotion, forming a partnership between rider and mount that is central to every safari.
Based in the remote NG12 concession with Jumbo Junction as its base, Bontsintsi operates in a landscape shaped by floodplains, islands, channels and big game. Rides move between a comfortable base camp and simple mobile camps that echo the early golden era of safari. Guests traverse the Delta at daybreak, cantering through open plains, threading between palm-fringed islands, and silently observing wildlife at a natural pace – never rushed, never pushed, always present.
This philosophy was beautifully demonstrated during one remarkable moment witnessed by guests: two male hippos engaged in a territorial battle across a shallow channel. Instead of pressing on due to timing or logistics, Herman and Louise simply allowed the group to stop, breathe and observe the unfolding scene – a raw, unpredictable expression of nature in its pure form. It is this freedom to follow the wilderness, rather than force an agenda, that defines Bontsintsi’s approach. Riders are invited to move with nature, not through it.
Afternoons offer new perspectives: mokoro excursions, relaxed boat outings, guided walks and night drives that reveal the nocturnal Delta. Evenings settle into the warmth of campfire conversations and starlit skies, surrounded by the sounds of the wild. With intentionally small groups and a guiding style rooted in safety, ethical horsemanship and deep respect for wildlife, every safari becomes a co-created journey between guest, guide and horse.
Far from a production-line safari, Bontsintsi remains intimate, soulful and entirely owner-led. For travellers seeking the replication of a classic safari experience – where authenticity, humility and adventure meet – Bontsintsi Horse Safaris offers an experience that restores the senses and leaves guests profoundly connected to the Okavango Delta.
