Ask most people to picture a safari, and they’ll probably describe a game drive, with everyone watching the bush from the back of a vehicle. Namibia is using World Tourism Day, Sept. 27, to nudge travelers toward a different view of the wild, from a saddle, from a boat or on foot.
Namibia’s argument is that there’s no single right way to see the wild, and that each approach shows you a different side of the country. OL Leisure, which runs a collection of properties across Namibia, has three that make that case in very different ways. One puts you in the saddle, while the other two turn to the water with boat safaris and guided river walks.
Africa Led Tourism Growth in the First Half of 2026
If an African safari has been on your wish list, you’ve got company.
International arrivals across Africa rose 4% in the first half of 2026 compared with a year earlier, the strongest growth of any region in the world. Worldwide, arrivals grew just 0.4% as conflict and higher costs weighed on travel.
Midgard Puts You in the Saddle
Midgard is where OL Leisure got its start, and it lets you look for wildlife from horseback.
You don’t need riding experience. The program takes everyone from complete beginners to experienced riders, with guided trail rides into the surrounding bush and formal lessons in dressage and show jumping.
If you’d rather stay in a vehicle, traditional game drives head out across Midgard’s nature reserve of 2,000 hectares along the Swakop River. Look for giraffe, oryx, kudu, eland and both blue and black wildebeest, plus smaller antelope such as steenbok.
Chobe Water Villas Moves the Safari Onto the Water
Chobe Water Villas caters to travelers who want privacy. You’ll watch wildlife from a private boat, and guides also lead walks along the river.
Sunsets over the water close out the day, and the property describes its setting as one of the most secluded in the world.
Divava Okavango Sits Right on the Riverbank
Divava Okavango, one of OL Leisure’s newest properties, lies on the banks of the Okavango River.
Boat safaris here go looking for hippos and crocodiles, and there’s a wide variety of birdlife to watch on the same trips.
Mahango Game Reserve is just 10 minutes away, and the property says you have a shot at spotting four of the Big Five there.
Before you settle on the standard game drive, think about how you’d actually like to meet Namibia’s wildlife. It might be on horseback, or it might be from a boat on the Okavango River. Either way, you’ll come home with a safari story that doesn’t start in the back of a vehicle.