EXPLORE MOZAMBIQUE’S TROPICAL PARADISE ON HORSEBACK
A horse safari in Mozambique is an unparalleled experience for those who love all things exotic and are looking for that post-card-perfect paradise.
Experience thrilling beach canters, horse swims and exploring this wonderful country as it should be done – from the back of a horse. Perfectly intertwine a retreat into beach-holiday paradise with the adventure of an African horse safari. Stay in a beautiful coastal lodge, which boasts stunning views across the Bazaruto Archipelago, and indulge in the wonderful cuisine, restaurants – and, of course, those all-important cocktails – the area offers. You will have the exclusive and unique opportunity to ride on the enchanting Benguerra Island. This riding holiday promises an unforgettable experience: fantastic horses and riding, unique boat trips, spectacular coastlines, delicious meals, local culture and stunning sunsets. Immerse yourself in the idyllic lifestyle, culture and energy of Mozambique!
This is the ideal destination for families, honeymooners and couples. You can also easily combine it with a wildlife safari in South Africa, as daily flights connect the two destinations – Spoil yourself with a bush and beach escape!
CURRENCY CONVERTER
At the current exchange rate. Please note final quote might vary slightly
DATES AND RATES
Available throughout the year – we recommend 3-7 nights and this can easily be added to any of our horse safaris for the ideal bush and beach vacation.
2024 RATES
3 NIGHTS
From: USD $2399GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing
4 NIGHTS
From: USD $2999GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing
5 NIGHTS
From: USD $3499GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing
6 NIGHTS
From: USD $3999GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing
7 NIGHTS
From: USD $4499GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $ per person sharing
INCLUDES & EXCLUDES
Includes
- Horse riding
- Expert guides
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Motorized dhow trip (except coastal paradise ride)
- Transfers
- Airport pick up and drop off
- National park fees and Mozambique Government VAT. (except coastal paradise ride)
- In the lodge, you will be given a fruit bowl, a gift pack and the fridge will be stocked with water and cool drinks
Excludes
- Flights to Vilanculus
- Visas
- Comprehensive Travel & Medical Insurance
- Alcoholic drinks or drinks bought at a restaurant or bar
- Any personal spending money and any extra excursions or activities not included in the itinerary
- Gratuities for staff and guides
QUICK FACTS
SUITABLE RIDING LEVELS
- Beginner
- Novice
- Intermediate
- Intermediate Plus
- Advanced
CURRENCY CONVERTER
At the current exchange rate. Please note final quote might vary slightly
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- The exclusive and unique opportunity of riding on the stunning Benguerra Island
- The chance to tick cantering along a pristine white beach, beside a turquoise sea, off your bucket list
- Wonderfully indulgent cuisine and accommodation – a beach paradise
- Explore the local culture, nearby islands and crystal clear rivers inland
- Taking your horses for refreshing dips in the sea and getting to swim alongside them
TOUR REVIEWS
READ MORE REVIEWS”I have just returned from spending the most magical week with Pat, Mandy, Charlotte and their incredible team at Mozambique horse safari. As a solo traveller I was a little apprehensive but from the get go this holiday was truly special.I read 104 Horses before I visited… written by Mandy and tells of their amazing journey. Some of the horses mentioned in the book are at the stables and it’s lovely to meet them. I loved the variety of the holiday. My personal favourite was swimming on horseback in the sea…I’d have done that all day, every day! As well as the amazing rides, we were taken to the market, tried local foods, spent one day snorkelling on the reef, a canoe safari (magical fireflies), made natural face creams, paddle boards, sailed in a traditional dhow.
SarahSurf & Turf, Mozambique
SAMPLE ITINERARY
** Please note that the itinerary is a rough guide, and the daily schedule is determined by the guide with the best interests of the group and horses in mind. Weather conditions, especially the changing tides in Vilankulo, control the timing of rides and in which order they will be made during the week. Other activities such as massages, market tours, kayaking and games are available. If you’re keen to keep active, there is the option to enjoy a day of scuba diving, kiteboarding or deep-sea fishing at an additional cost.
INTRODUCTORY RIDE. 2 HOURS RIDING
After being met at Vilankulo Airport by either Pat or Mandy, your hosts for the week, you will be transferred to the lodge where you will have a chance to settle in. In the afternoon meet the horses and the staff at the stables. Head out for your first relaxing ride across those brilliant white sand beaches, to get to know your steed. The ride will take you through a variety of vibrant eco-systems; wide open beaches, incredible cliff top views, pristine dune bush and mangrove shoreline.
For your first evening in paradise, enjoy a fresh seafood dinner served under the stars and overlooking the sea.
THE GREAT LAKE RIDE - 3 HOURS RIDING
After waking up to your first African morning and delicious breakfast, mount up and head inland – following natural trails past African villages and large natural freshwater lakes. The area boasts spectacular birdlife with a good chance of seeing eagles, herons, harriers, rollers, pelicans and kingfishers. As you ride through the bush, past African farmland and rural schools, the old farm roads invite some faster riding, calling out to be cantered along as you head for the Govuro River.
Upon the river’s grassy banks, a delicious picnic lunch will have been laid out for both riders and horses, and you will be welcomed with an ice-cold beverage. After a leisurely lunch, mount up again for a long ride home, with plenty of open trails for lovely long canters.
As the sun sinks this evening, enjoy a relaxing sundowner sitting around the campfire and waiting for the spectacular stars of the vast African sky to appear. For dinner, indulge in a sumptuous Mozambican BBQ.
BENGUERRA ISLAND RIDE - 3 HOURS
This morning, an early start is imperative; you will be picked up from town by a dhow, which will take you through the picturesque Bazaruto National Park to Benguerra Island. En-route, a packed breakfast will be served as you keep your eyes open for dolphins, turtles, and rays and take in the stunning sea views. Riding on the island is an exceptional and breathtaking experience: large sand dunes, freshwater lakes, endless white sandy beaches and excellent birdlife – often featuring large flocks of flamingos.
You are soon saddled up, the horses are eager with ears pushed forward. Your guide will talk to you about the flora and fauna found on the island. The trails head inland where you will pass through local villages, towards high golden sand dunes and fresh water lakes with flocks of flamingos. The ride continues at a relaxed pace along sandy tracks onto a long beach past waving fisherman. Just before reaching the stables, you slip off the saddle and wallow into the sea bareback.
Enjoy fresh seafood lunch whilst you sit back, relax and island hop to Margaruque. After lunch, if the tide allows, grab some snorkelling equipment and experience some of the best snorkelling in the world along a vertical rock drop-off. However, if snorkelling isn’t your thing, take some time to wander along the beach or work on your tan. As the sun sinks lower over the ocean, you will return to Vilankulo and enjoy a sumptuous meal with breathtaking views – another night to remember.
FISHING VILLAGE RIDE - 2 HOURS RIDING, 1.5 HOURS LUNCH/VILLAGE
Today’s riding will begin at 11.30 am, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning swim before mounting up and heading out. Past the rocks the beach opens up and you can canter towards mangrove trees in the distance and up a red bank to the “Finger Print of God”. The panoramic views look out over the Bazaruto Archipelag. From here you will see colourful dhows and fisherwoman hunting crab in shallow sands. You continue through winding coconut plantations along a beach path to the Managlise Fishing Village.
Riding through the beautiful coconut plantations, you will reach Enrique’s Fishing Village, where the local chief is waiting to welcome you. You’ll hear the distinct chatter of laughing children and are soon greeted by a horde of smiles. Once sat in simple thatch shelter, newly harvested coconuts are cracked open, the refreshing juice is rich reward after a long ride. Then a traditional lunch is served, fresh crab from the beach, grilled fish from the mornings catch and Matapa; a Mozambican dish made from cassava leaves, nuts and coconut milk. After your meal the children come out to sing local songs and dance, their smiles and energy make the occasion feel very special. Once goodbyes are completed the horses are saddled up and you start the return home.
The Fishing Village Ride is completely authentic, rich in cultural experience and brings much appreciated business to a locality well off the beaten track. It also means that locals who once feared the horses, have a better understanding and involvement with them in their community.
BEACH & BUSH RIDE - 3 HOURS RIDING
Today’s ride is a favorite with many of our guests. The route will take you along the old coastal main road running parallel to the beach before meandering up and wading across a small river estuary. Riding through small rural villages where young children will come to wave at the horses. After several hours in the saddle, you will follow a bush track through dense woodlands that leads down on to the beach with amazing views over the bay. The long, deserted, safe, sandy beaches offer a chance to experience dream-like canters on your way back to the stables.
If you’re keen to keep active, there is the option to enjoy a day of scuba diving, kiteboarding or deep-sea fishing at an additional cost.
After a long day of adventures, there is a chance for sundowners and a fine dinner at a local restaurant.
RED DUNE RIDE, NORTH BEACH- 3/4 HOURS RIDING
Following breakfast, drive to the stables and set off for a ride through the outskirts of town before reaching the deserted sand beaches that lead to the Red Dunes on North Beach. This is an exhilarating ride with ample opportunities for canters on the wide-open beaches. You will climb the red coastal dunes and experience panoramic views of the iconic white sandbars and bright turquoise seas. A splendid seafood bonanza is served at the lovely beachside restaurant, where you will stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, stop at a local arts and crafts centre supporting the local community before returning to relax by the pool or take a stroll along the beach.
SWIMMING & CANOE TOUR
The ocean walk is a favourite! Mount up bareback on the beach before riding through the turquoise blue seas until you reach a safe swimming spot. Then head into deeper water where you’ll feel the extraordinary feeling of weightlessness as the horses surge beneath you! It’s a phenomenal feeling and the horses seem to enjoy it as much as the riders! Then slip off and give the horses the chance to splash and roll as they wish. You really see their personalities shine as they play in the warm water.
In the late afternoon we will travel out to the Govuro River by vehicle where you will paddle/be paddled along a picture-perfect waterway. Soak up the lush river riverine, look out for native fish and listen to the magical calls of birdlife. As evening falls ducks will return inland to roost and there is a good chance that you will see fireflies lighting up the evening sky.
Spend your last night in a beautiful setting, reminiscing about what will have undoubtedly been an unforgettable week and enjoying a delicious meal in paradise.
DAY 8 - FAREWELL RIDE & SWIM
After a relaxing breakfast, you will climb aboard for a last morning ride, bidding farewell to the spectacular coastline of unspoiled beaches and turquoise seas – an image that will stay with you forever. Once you’ve finished capturing all those last moments in the saddle, there will be time for one more lunch before you bid a sad farewell to Vilankulo paradise and continue your journey.
THE ACCOMMODATION
SEA HORSE BEACH HOUSE
Sea Horse Beach House is a charming seaside home set in a large garden on the beach with exquisite views overlooking the Bazaruto Archipelago. The house has recently been rebuilt in 2022 with swimming pool, cobbled fire-pit, patio, driveway, WIFI and all the latest amenities added.
The luxury beach house is fully serviced, sleeping up to 6 people with 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It has a fully equipped kitchen with large dining island and a comfortable lounge with all the modern conveniences of a beach home. It is tastefully decorated with handcrafted furniture, kilim rugs and local art & photography. The terraced lawns run towards the beach with swimming pool, al fresco dining area and fire pit. At the bottom of the garden is an ancient Baobab tree and private access to the incredible beach below.
If Sea Horse Beach House is full, we will look to accommodate guests in similar private homes and resorts in the area.
THE DESTINATION
Vilankulo
Vilankulo is a small town on the stunning coast of Mozambique, part of the Vilanculos District of Inhambane Province. The town acts as the gateway for visiting the nearby Bazaruto Archipelago, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel of turquoise sea. The area boasts spectacular beaches, crystal clear seas and excellent local cuisine, such as fresh seafood. Rich with traditional culture, staying in Vilankulo really allows you to immerse yourself in true Mozambique life.
TOUR GALLERY
HOW WE CARE FOR OUR HORSES
Our horseback adventures are hand-picked for their quality and care of their horses. Here’s how the horses at Mozambique Horse Safaris are kept in tip-top shape for your safaris. Our horses are on top of the hierarchy and receive very special care:
- The horses care and well-being take precedence ensuring that they are responsive, alert, tough and fit
- Our riding horses are schooled and looked after by Pat, they have lovely calm temperaments and react easily and lightly to the aids
- Horses have a varied routine, with schooling, beach rides and rest days in large paddocks
- Bridles are uncomplicated with single jointed & french link snaffle bits which are cleaned daily
Please let us know if you have any more questions about this.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A HORSE SAFARI
Fill in the form on our website/social media describing your dream African Horse Safari
A Horse Safari Specialists will get in touch to help you plan the perfect escape
Confirm your ride and dates by paying your deposit
We’ll send you a reminder for your balance payment + travel advice
Pack your bags for your adventure!
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