Is It Worth Booking a Horse Safari Through a Specialist Instead of Direct?

 

Yes, and it costs you nothing extra. Booking through a specialist like African Horse Safaris is the same price as booking directly with the operator. What you get on top is a team of people who know horse safaris inside out and can help you work out which one is actually right for you.

Our team has been on multiple horse safaris across Africa, and between us, we’ve ridden every safari we currently sell. So even if the person you speak to hasn’t personally ridden the particular trip you’re asking about, someone in the team has. We’ve also built up years of experience comparing different rides, operators, horses, riding styles and destinations.

That’s important because a horse safari is a big trip, and the ride you first enquire about isn’t necessarily the one we’d recommend. We talk to every client about their riding history, confidence, what they want from the trip and what they’re hoping to experience. We can then compare different options and explain the differences honestly, including when there’s another ride that might suit you better.

And because we live and breathe Africa, we can help you build the trip around your riding safari too. Perhaps you’d like a few days exploring Cape Town, a visit to Victoria Falls or some time on the beaches of Zanzibar. We can bring those pieces together into one seamless itinerary, doing the research for you and recommending the places we genuinely love.

The advice is based on first-hand experience and years of working with the operators, rather than simply passing on what’s written in a brochure. And the price is the same as booking direct.

FREQUENLTY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do specialists like African Horse Safaris charge more than booking directly?
No. The price is the same either way. The operators set the rates, and booking through African Horse Safaris doesn’t add a markup to the cost of your safari.

What does a horse safari specialist actually help with?
A specialist can help you compare different rides and work out which one best suits your riding ability, experience and what you want from the trip. We can talk honestly about the differences between operators, routes, horses, wildlife, accommodation and riding, because our team has experienced the safaris first-hand.

Does the person I speak to need to have ridden the exact safari I’m interested in?
Not necessarily. Our team has ridden every safari we currently sell, so if your travel specialist hasn’t personally been on that particular ride, someone else in the team will have. That means we can draw on the wider team’s experience rather than relying on one person’s knowledge.

Can you recommend a different safari from the one I originally asked about?
Yes, in fact, that’s one of the most useful things a specialist can do. If we think another ride is a better match for your riding ability, travel style, budget or what you want to experience, we’ll tell you. The aim is to find the right safari for you, not simply to book the one you initially enquired about.

Can you help me build an African holiday around my horse safari?
Absolutely! A horse safari doesn’t have to be your whole African adventure. Because we know Africa beyond the riding, we can help you add places and experiences that complement your safari, whether that’s a few days in Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Zanzibar or somewhere else we’ve fallen in love with. We do the research, put the itinerary together and only recommend places we’d be happy to send our own friends.