East Africa is where safaris originated and there is no better way to discover this perfect wilderness than on horseback. Jo, the owner of Kaskazi Horse Safaris in Tanzania, tells us why a horse safari is the best way to explore these incredible landscapes.
The horse has the immeasurable strength to carry you, he is your legs and lifeguard while on safari, you will guide him with your intelligence and together you can accomplish a richness that neither can alone. On a horse safari in Tanzania, the journey will bring joy of being in contact with what today are rare, beauty, grace, spirit and freedom, the horse and its nature.
A horse is something different to anything close to comparable, it is alive, it is wild and it is a prey animal, yet the horse remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back. All the way back to the Stone Age, cave paintings in France leaves no doubt that horses was a prime food source at the time. The first proof of mounted horses was found in the Himalaya Mountains of North West India, 3000-year-old rock carvings from a Tibetan Culture. The people were used to herd cattle but to tame a horse, must have been a much greater challenge. The horse was fast and undoubtedly far more cautious then he is today, yet humans persisted and succeeded.
The horse senses, their smell, hearing and vision are far more superior then those of a human. This equine specimen is lateral-eyed and has larger eyes than any other land-living mammal, giving the horse a range of more than 350° eye vision. They used to be prey animals and are still well equipped, enabling them up until today to safely carry humans on safaris, constantly alert and aware of their surroundings.
All mentioned above is a guideline to bear in mind when on a horse safari in Tanzania. The horse will detect more creatures than no one can ever imagine. If his ears are peeled in one direction, listen to the horse and it is very likely he has seen something. This way the horse safari will be more exciting and everyone stands a much greater chance to take in what the African bush has to offer, not only the big things but the smaller things that us humans struggle to see, a tiny mouse running across the horse hooves that we humans won’t notice but yet obvious to the eye of a horse. The horse has the immeasurable strength to carry you, he is your legs and lifeguard while on safari, you will guide him with your intelligence and together you can accomplish a richness that neither can alone. On a horse safari in Tanzania, the journey will bring joy of being in contact with what today are rare, beauty, grace, spirit and freedom, the horse and its nature.
Tanzania is in comparison to many of its neighboring countries still very remote and few areas have never been explored, neither by vehicle nor from the back of a horse. To cross open savannahs with curios giraffes and more suspicious elephants constantly keeping an alert eye on the horse and the rider. With the wind in one’s favor, the animals won’t be scared of the strange-looking zebra and its rider. One can see, hear and smell their surroundings without the noise and smell of a diesel engine. Everyone slowly increases the pace and all of a sudden one is galloping alongside a herd of wildebeest. The horse is excited and you’re left full of amazement! This is what makes the horse and the rider a perfect team out in the elements where we both used to roam wild. The days go by and suddenly the sad day comes when the companionship comes to an end and the riding safari in Africa is over.
By Jo Westermark – Kaskazi Horse Safaris
Jo and her partner offers fantastic horse riding safaris using mobile tents in the wilderness in game-rich Northern Tanzania. These rides are adventurous with lots of fast-paced riding and suited for the young at heart! Some of the most outstanding game experiences as well as beautiful and varied scenery, plus authentic and intimate interactions with the local Masaai.
Check them out here
Happiness on horseback
