Wildlife Focused Horse Safari

There is a variety of horses used for safaris, from trusted Fresians, resilient Arab crosses, fast and agile Thoroughbreds, fun Apoloosas, speedy Boerperds as well as a few reliable children’s ponies. More important than breed is personality, and all horses and ponies are brilliantly suited to being in the bush. Living at close quarters with wild animals, all the horses are familiar with being amongst big game, have great endurance and are evenly tempered.

Whether you have been horse riding since you could walk, or are new to the sport, there are many brilliant options for all levels and even some perfect family horse riding holidays. For less experienced riders we recommend safaris in areas giving a more laidback introduction to horse safari, riding with giraffe, zebra and many antelope species. For the more advanced riders, there are some fast-paced rides over varied terrain that makes for some thrilling time in the saddle. When riding in areas where you may encounter big game such as lion, elephant and buffaloes, you will need to be well balanced in the saddle and able to react to all eventualities, even galloping out of trouble if required.

Safety is a top priority, and experienced guides and well-trained horses ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.  The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and can read the body language of the wildlife, knowing when they can approach, and when to move away. The horses used for these safaris are typically selected and trained for their calm and steady temperament. They are accustomed to the presence of wildlife and are less likely to become spooked or agitated.

Yes! Most lodge-based horseback vacations can easily cater for families, couples, or groups of friends. Even on some of our trail rides, non-riding guests can head off on safari in an open vehicle while riders saddle up. Sometimes even riding guests like to have a break from the saddle and join the non-riders for other exciting safari activities.

For younger children, we recommend riding in areas that only have plains game such as giraffe, zebra and antelope. Many children fall even more in love with horse riding when they experience the thrill of seeing wildlife from the back of their favourite safari horse. For experienced child riders above 12 years old, they may be allowed to ride in areas with big game, but we will need to be sure of their riding ability beforehand.

The family-friendly Ants Reserve and our Big 5 Horse Safari in South Africa offer great opportunities to see rhinos from horseback. The animals have a unique relationship as most of the horses have seen the rhinos since they were foals. They are often very curious about each other and riders can get fairly close for incredible encounters. In Kenya, the Laikipia area is well-known for its amazing rhino conservation story, and riding at Borana and Lewa Wilderness offer incredible rhino sightings from horseback.  You can also head out on foot with the anti-poaching unit.

Seeing giraffes from horseback can be a truly unique and memorable experience. They are often very curious of the horses, which means that horse riders can approach them quite closely. Riders of all ages and riding levels can experience the magic of seeing these gentle giants from the saddle at Horizon Lodge and the Ants Reserve in South Africa. In the Okavango Delta, you might have a few joining in on an morning canter. In Kenya, seeing a journey of giraffe from horseback is an unforgettable sight. And around Arusha in Tanzania, you’ll often have larger herds that welcome riders into their midst.

Seeing elephants from horseback for the first time is sure to get your heart racing! In Botswana, you’ll be able to see these gentle giants on our horse safaris in the Tuli, Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. In Zimbabwe, you’ll find huge herds in both Hwange and around Victoria Falls. In Tanzania, ride alongside the tuskers with Mt Meru as your backdrop. And in Kenya, you’ll have incredible riding alongside elephants in both Laikipia and the Masai Mara.

Horse riding with zebra is an unforgettable safari experience.  As the horses and wildlife live so closely together, the horses are often accepted as part of the herd, allowing riders a glimpse of life in the wild. Often, when cantering out on trail, the herds of curious zebra will join in the fun, offering some thrilling riding!

Riders can come across predators while out riding but they very rarely pose a threat to the horses. Horses are large and fairly unnatural prey for big cats, plus they have odd-smelling humans on them. When big cats are spotted, riders come together as a group. The cats usually get intimidated or get bored and wander off to find a nearby tree to snooze under. Guides also carry a bullwhip, this makes a sound like a gunshot when it is cracked and scares off anything too inquisitive.

Responsible operators minimize their impact on the environment and wildlife, following sustainable and ethical practices. Our philosophy is to take only photos and memories, and leave only hoofprints behind. All camps are run on solar power and generators, are built from sustainable products and try to blend in with nature.

The horses live out in the wild, or in large camps where they can live in a herd environment. Trails are usually 3-8 days of riding, covering vast distances at a varied pace. After returning from a safari, the horses are given a few days off before going back into light work – lunging, schooling, hacking out or popping over our cross country course, to keep them fine-tuned and ready for the next safari.

Each morning the horses are brought in for an early morning feed before grooming and tacking up. The morning ride usually leaves camp at about 6:30AM in the winter and 6AM in the summer – this is the coolest time of day and best time to see animals as they wake up with the world.  After the ride, horses are checked over, hosed down and turned out in paddocks or into the veld with full hay nets or to graze on natural forage. Many horses get lunch at the same time as our guests. On the days that they do an afternoon ride, horses are again groomed and tacked up at 3:30 PM for their afternoon ride.  These usually last about two hours before returning to the camp for a good rub down during dinner and a full hay net to chomp through for the night.

New horses are given a few days to acclimatize to their new environment. Once they seem settled, they are schooled then hacked out with other horses that have been here for years and are habituated to the wildlife. Riding with confident horses gives the new arrivals a good experience for the first few hacks.  If there are elephants in the area, it is a good opportunity to take the newbies out to meet them in a controlled ride with other brave horses that aren’t phased by the these gentle giants.  Good first experiences are very important!

The stable manager allocates each new horse to a team member, matching them with personalities and riding ability. They do all the groundwork with the horses to develop a relationship before they even get to ride them.  That team member will then work with the horse exclusively to further build confidence in the partnership.  They will then go out on their first few safaris together until the horse seems settles on safari – always in a small group with calm and experienced horses.  With a few safaris under their belts, they will eventually to out to experienced guests. In general, it takes less time than you might think as the horses learn from the rest of the herd, and when they realize the other horses are grazing contently with giraffe and elephants nearby, they follow suit.