Horseback safari in the heart of Hwange

You will be met at the airport for a 2-hour shared road transfer from Victoria Falls Airport to Iganyana Camp. After meeting the rest of the team and settling in, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea overlooking the waterhole and woodlands. After an important safety briefing, walk to the stables to meet your equestrian partner. This introductory ride will get you acquainted with your steed and ensure you are comfortable with the tack used.

Arrive back in camp for your first sundowner drinks before sitting down to a sumptuous dinner cooked by the talented safari chef. At dinner, you’ll discover the sounds of the African wilderness – the distant howl of the Jackal, perhaps the rasping grunt of a Leopard stealthily walking by, the deep roar of the African Lion or the flutter of owl wings overhead. Enjoy your first night in camp, snuggled up in your luxury tent.

Wake up with a soft knock on the door and then a hot drink around the campfire whilst recounting stories of sounds heard during the night. A light breakfast awaits you in the dining tent and you may even see wildlife moving through the acacia woodlands. Head out on horseback for a morning ride down the Dete Vlei and then into the acacia woodlands – who knows what you might encounter. This ride gives you more time to get used to your horse and test out their paces – perhaps even hop over a few fallen logs!

Back in camp for lunch and siesta, or a chill at the pool. Elephants and other wildlife love coming to drink at the pool so this is the perfect spot for an armchair safari!

In the afternoon, head out again on horseback, or jump into a game drive vehicle. Then enjoy an evening around the fire before retiring for the night.

Wake up with a soft knock on the door and then a hot drink around the campfire whilst recounting stories of sounds heard during the night. A light breakfast awaits you in the dining tent and you may even see wildlife moving through the acacia woodlands. After the quick breakfast, pack your bags and then you’ll either hop onto the game drive vehicle or mount your horses to get to the Hwange National Park entrance. Here you’ll pay your entry and conservation fees, have the chance for a toilet stop and then mount up onto the horses again. Set off on horseback, following the animal trails into the National Park.  There are no set routes, so you get to explore an area seldom marked by anything but animal tracks. The ride is dictated by the weather, wildlife movements, and the group’s expectations.

After about 3-4 hours in the saddle, enjoy a picnic lunch and an afternoon siesta in the bush. Treats will be available to revive you after your nap before you head out again. Riding for a couple of hours towards the new camp, your guide will tell you about the intricacies of the bush and unique wildlife.  Cold drinks and hot showers await after a long day in the saddle. Savour your drink as you watch a glorious sunset with the horses contently munching nearby. Enjoy dinner around the campfire talking about the day’s events before settling in for the night.

Each morning in camp follows the same rhythm; a gentle knock on your tent and hot water in your basin to rub the sleep from your eyes. You’ll be drawn to the campfire by the smell of coffee and home-baked muffins or fresh bread. In winter, enjoy a scrumptious breakfast before mounting up for a morning in the saddle. In Summer, head out early to make the most of the cooler mornings, then enjoy a well-deserved brunch after your morning ride.

Distances ridden each day are very much dependent on where wildlife is and the abilities of the whole group, but you may ride up to 40kms a day. Wherever possible there will be canters through the famous teak woodlands following ancient elephant paths that wind from pan to pan. These are sacred places – areas only accessible by horseback and where very few people have ever ventured.

Head back to camp for a refreshing lunch and a siesta, compulsory after your early start! Tea, coffee and a yummy treat will get you ready for your afternoon ride. Riding along the elephant trails and antelope paths, you never know what wildlife you might encounter! As the savanna opens up, enjoy a thrilling canter across the plains.  Plenty of game can be seen from horseback including elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and possibly even lion or leopard.  Return to camp for a cold sundowner drink, or refreshingly hot cup of tea, and another night around the campfire with much telling of tall horse tales.

On one of the days, you’ll have a full day of riding with a picnic lunch en-route to your new campsite. Camp is set up near waterhole zones, the site depending upon time of year and animal sightings. In the dark of night in the African bush we often here the trumpet of elephants coming down to drink. The mobile camps offer you the chance to see more of this extraordinary reserve. Possibly see big herds of elephants and buffalo drawn to the waterholes, towers of giraffe eating from the tall Camelthorn trees or dazzles of zebra and antelope grazing in the long grass.

Depending on wildlife sightings, you might head out for a guided nature walk or game drive into the bush. Walking in Hwange provides unparalleled game viewing and the opportunity to gain a vast knowledge of animal behaviour, tracking and the uses of plants in natural medicine. Game drives provide the opportunity to get closer to any big cats in the area or explore further afield.

Today is your last day of riding in the National Park, enjoy a last exhilarating canter as you make your way back to Iganyana camp. This will require riding several kilometers to a meeting point where the horse truck will be waiting. The horses are unsaddled and rubbed down before being loaded up into the truck. You will continue to Iganyana on a game drive, enjoying some more wildlife viewing on the way. After seeing the horses settled back into their stables and finding your luxury tent, recharge with high tea or a dip in the pool. Perhaps there is time for a short nature walk around the camp, or an evening game drive before a last dinner.

Wake up to another wonderful day in Africa. If time allows, there might be time for an early morning game drive or ride before a scrumptious breakfast. After a leisurely breakfast, it is time to say a sad goodbye to the horses and your new-found friends. You’ll be transferred back to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight home. If you have some extra time in Africa, how about spending a few days exploring Victoria Falls, flying to Mana Pools National Park for canoeing or walking, or take a chartered flight to the magical Okavango Delta? So many amazing opportunities await on safari!