Drumbeat Autumn 19

Q: How did you become a riding safari guide? A: I had a passion for wildlife from my earliest memories and was an active member of the school wildlife club. I learned to ride on a donkey and progressed onto horses working cattle with them. I spent a few years at a livery stables where I realised that although I loved the horses, I really wanted to spend more time learning about Botswana’s wildlife. Becoming a safari guide seemed like the obvious route, and being able to guide from horseback was the clincher. I’ve been at African Horseback since 1999, becoming head guide in 2004. Q: What makes the perfect lead safari horse? A: The perfect lead horse has to be brave, independent, clever with his feet, spirited, and kind to his guide. Q: Which is your favourite safari horse A: Damara, a handsome liver chestnut with the most comfortable spook. He would leap sideways but always keep going forwards. Quick with his feet he would get us out of trouble even over the roughest of ground. I learned to always listen to him; when he put his nose on the ground and snorted there were invariably lions close by. Q: What makes riding in the Okavango Delta unique? A: It’s so diverse. The environment and wildlife habits change as the flood arrives and recedes. With free animal movement you never know whether you will be seeing a huge herd of buffalo or leopard in a tree. The sandy going allows for long canters and depending on the flood you may be splashing through water at fetlock height or swimming with your horse from island to island. Q: Your most memorable safari moment? A: Not every piece of animal behaviour is written in a book. I was fascinated to see a bull elephant chase a pride of lion off a buffalo kill. The elephant returned to the dead buffalo and tried to get it onto its feet by putting its tusks under the body and levering it up. It was heart breaking to watch. With his unrivalled knowledge of the Okavango Delta and keen sense of humour, guests sharing a riding safari with Wabongwa ‘Bongwe’ Makate, head guide at African Horseback Safaris, are in for a real treat. He took a few minutes out of the day job to chat to Alice about his life on horseback in Botswana. Straight from the horse’s mouth Q: What do you do on your day off? A: Days off don’t really happen. When I’m on leave, I like to spend time with my family and at my farm. There’s always a long list of things to do, but if I can, I like to sneak a few hours’ fishing. Q: Your favourite wildlife to see on horseback? A: Picking a favourite is hard but in terms of predators it would have to be wild dogs. Their skill as coordinated hunters and their pack mentality is a joy to watch. Q: Essential piece of kit? A: My rifle, it’s my last resort but it could save my life. Q: Your strangest wildlife interaction? A: I am known for my ability to mimic animal calls. One evening after all the guests had gone to bed I heard a lion calling a short distance from camp. I decided to answer him. Little did I realise that I must sound just like a very attractive female… shortly afterwards he was patrolling around my tent looking for the lioness who had obviously suggested that she might be interested in him! I am now super careful about when and where I decide to roar. Q: Can you multitask? A: Everyone knows that men can’t multitask. But I am pretty good at plumbing and electrics and no one can knock my beans on toast. Beach update As well as amazing safaris, we also arrange equally fabulous beach holidays. The exotic islands and beaches along the African coast and scattered through the Indian Ocean are among the best in the world, offering everything from five star luxury to desert island escapism. Direct flights to Mauritius, Maldives and (most recently) to the Seychelles make these easy options for a week’s fly and flop. Madagascar and Mozambique’s remote sandy beaches require slightly longer journeys but, in our view, are well worth the effort. Ask for a copy of our Beach Retreats brochure for all the information. www . aardvarksafaris.com l P14