A horse safari near Victoria Falls, through this beautiful part of Zimbabwe is a unique and breath-taking experience.
You have the chance to follow in the footsteps of the great David Livingstone; riding through game-rich private game reserves, national parks, and along the banks of the iconic Zambezi River.
This tailormade horse safari is the perfect accompaniment to a trip to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and will undoubtedly make for an unforgettable adventure! You have the chance to follow in the footsteps of the great David Livingstone; riding through game-rich private game reserves, national parks, and along the banks of the iconic Zambezi River with the spray of the falls on the horizon.
We have partnered with Alison Baker in Victoria Falls, who not only runs incredible trail rides in this incredible area, but also heads the Impi Horseback Anti-poaching unit. You will also get to explore the wildlife-rich, stunning scenery, that surrounds the Zambezi and Victoria Falls National Parks, with longer rides to get to the banks of the Zambezi River. For those who are interested, you can join the anti-poaching unit out on patrol and get first-hand experience of what it takes to protect these wild places.
We offer packages to suit every budget and can tailor-make them depending on your expectations and availability. Choose between an intimate retreat on a private game reserve, a luxury lodge along the riverbanks or a combination of both. Many of the lodges we use also include activities such as game drives and sunset cruises. There are daily transfers to Victoria Falls Town, where you can not only explore the falls themselves but embark on a myriad of adrenaline-fueled adventures from sunset cruises to bungee jumping
This 3-6-night horse safari is the perfect accompaniment to a trip to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and will undoubtedly make for an unforgettable adventure! (Note, Victoria Falls is a busy tourist hub, so our team will have to check availability)
QUICK FACTS
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) | |
Open All Year | |
2 – 4 Nights | |
Group Size: Max. 6 | |
Intermediate and Above |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Travel in the footsteps of David Livingstone; astride a four-legged friend and explore the African wilderness without the sound of an engine
- The chance to ride alongside game and enjoy long free canters through beautiful scenery
- Tracking rhino and elephant on horseback and learning about their conservation
- The opportunity to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls
- Excellent activities to compliment your riding; such as night game drives, bird-watching, bush meals and activities surrounding the Falls
THE DESTINATION
Victoria Falls, discovered by David Livingstone, is the world’s largest waterfall and is located on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Commonly known as Mosi-oa-Tunya – ‘the smoke that thunders’, the spectacular waterfall boasts the largest sheet of free-falling water with a 108m drop to the gorge floor.
The areas that you will ride include the game-rich Stanely and Livingstone Private Game Reserve, Victoria Falls National Park and Zambezi National Park. The two national parks are not fenced and therefore wildlife roams freely through these areas, making for some excellent sightings. The landscapes vary from thick bush to craggy hills and grassy plains, making excellent riding terrain. Longer rides take you to the reaches of the Zambezi River which so entranced David Livingstone when he first travelled downstream to the Falls.
DATES & RATES
Open all year round. Please enquire for exact dates and availability.
2023 Rates:
4-night Signature Safari
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec
From USD $2964 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $3428 pps
3-night stay – The Wallow
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec 2023
From USD $2109 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $2481 pps
4-night stay – The Wallow
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec 2023
From USD $2776 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $3112 pps
4-night package – Ursulas Homestead
Low season: 01 Nov 2022 – 31 Mar 2023 / 01 Nov 2023 – 03 Jan 2024
From USD $2924 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct 2023
From USD $3004 pps
3-night package – Stanley Livingstone
Green season: 01 Sep – 03 Jan 2023
From USD $3180 pps
Low season: 04 Jan – 31 Mar 2023
From USD $3600 pps
Mid-season: 01 Nov – 03 Jan 2024
From USD $3690 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct 2023
From USD $4020 pps
RATE INCLUDES AND EXCLUDES
Included
- Accommodation
- All Breakfasts, 1 Bush Dinner
- 3 / 4 / 5 days of riding depending on ride and time of year
- Expert guides to accompany you on your trip
- Game drive in the private game reserve
- Concierge at Ursula’s Homestead to arrange additional activities
- Airport transfers and transfers to Victoria Falls Town
Excluded
- Single Supplement – between USD200 – USD620 if no other riders booked
- Meals not mentioned above
- Drinks when not out on the trail
- Conservation Fees – US$40 / US$60
- Victoria Falls Entry Fee – US$30
- Entry visa into Zimbabwe
- International flights
- Comprehensive Travel and Medical Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
YOUR 4-DAY ITINERARY
** Please note this is a sample itinerary; weather conditions and game movement patterns may cause the route and plan to vary. This will always be in your best interest. There is also a concierge at Ursula’s Homestead that can book your activities in and around Victoria Falls.
Day 1
Upon arrival, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to Ursula’s Homestead. Over tea or coffee, you will have a safety briefing and horses will be allocated according to abilities and preferences. Once you’re mounted up and orientation is finished, you set off with your guides for the start of your adventure.
The lodge is situated in Stanley and Livingstone Private Game Reserve, situated between the Zambezi and Victoria Falls National Parks. Your ride will normally begin with following last night’s elephant or rhino tracks. Your guides will impress with their abilities to read the tracks, and excitement builds as you head off through the vegetation to see what you can spot – the game is plentiful, however can be hard to spot in the denser woodland areas which adds to the thrill. Wind your way across the African wilderness, following the animal trails and possibly spotting buffalo, elephant, black rhino, impala and bushbuck amongst others.
In the evening, savour a drink around the firepit before enjoying a scrumptious dinner under the stars.
Day 2
Enjoy a delicious breakfast before mounting up for a long morning ride into the Zambezi National Park. Heading for the river you will ride across diverse habitats including grasslands, forests and rivers which are the idyllic environments for scenic game viewing experiences. Depending on the season you may see elephant, buffalo, kudu, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, banded mongoose and warthog. But remember, no game is guaranteed – your ride is more about riding in an amazing wilderness area.
Return to Ursula’s Homestead for lunch and an hour or two of relaxation before heading out on horseback again. Perhaps you spend the afternoon on a rhino search or just enjoying the scenery. When you get back to the lodge, enjoy a cooling swim or chill in the outdoor relaxation area before dinner (option to book dinner at the Stanley Livingstone Boutique Hotel, book a private outdoor dinner, or dine at the lodge – the choice is yours)
Day 3
This morning, you’ll ride through beautiful landscapes with lovely sand tracks and wide grassy areas, which are calling out for long canters and faster riding. Traverse rugged hills with stunning views and open vleis bordered by magnificent trees.
After brunch, transfer to Victoria Falls town and explore the rainforests and the wonders of the Falls themselves. You can also book a variety of exciting activities such as Helicopter flips, canopy tours, bungee jumping or sunset cruises. This evening, take a game drive in this wonderful private game reserve and end the night with a bush dinner– a day to remember!
Day 4
Rising with the sun you will head out to meet the horses for a long morning ride through beautiful scenery, keeping an eye out for game. After returning to the lodge for brunch and a quick shower, you will bid a sad farewell to your faithful steed and guides, before being transferred back to the airport for your flight out.
THE ACCOMMODATION
Your stay is tailor-made to your expectations with 3 and 4 nights stays offered at The Wallow and Ursula’s Homestead, and the 4/ 6night Signature Safari combining Elephant Camp and Old Drift Lodge.
The Wallow
The Wallow Lodge is situated in a private game reserve, peacefully nestled in the heart of the Victoria Falls National Park. The tented camp is set along the banks of the Masuwe River, surrounded by 4,500 acres of wilderness that stretches into the horizon, where a cloud of mist from the ‘Mosi-Au-Tunya’ commands the skyline. Sixteen suites are thoughtfully placed to capture the best views of the bush and you’ll often see wildlife come to the river to drink. Victoria Falls is a short twenty-minute transfer from the lodge, giving guests the freedom to tailor-make their experience and find a balance between the exclusivity of the bush and the excitement of Africa’s Adventure Capital.
Ursula’s Homestead
Situated on The Stanley Livingstone Private Game Reserve, 6 000-acres of private land. It is furnished in the classic ‘Old Africa’ style, with crisp white linens and the feeling of a beautifully finished luxury home. The reserve is adjacent to the Zambezi National Park and therefore is home to a large number of game, including black rhino – the only reserve in Victoria Falls to offer rhino viewing, a very special experience. Staying at Ursula includes a night game drive and bush dinner so you can appreciate these wonderful creatures in their natural habitats. You will stay in 4 classic A-frame thatch chalets with an en-suite bathroom, including a bath and shower, air conditioning, each with views of the waterhole.
Elephant Camp
Set on a private concession with spectacular views of the mists rising over the majestic Victoria Falls and the steeply carved gorges of the Zambezi River, The Elephant Camp is an intimate luxury lodge under canvas. Twelve luxury tented suites boast magnificent views of the rocky gorges, and spacious four-poster beds beckon you to a peaceful night’s rest. Private viewing decks feature plunge pools just big enough for two, and bathrooms feature luxury Victoria + Albert bathtubs looking onto breathtaking bush panoramas. Outdoor showers feature stone flooring blending indoors and out. Shared guest areas include spacious decks as well as a cosy lounge, bar and dining area. Here you can have an elephant walk with the habituated rescue elephants that call this sanctuary home.
Old Drift Lodge
Sprawling on the banks of the Zambezi River, in the Zambezi National Park, the Old Drift Lodge is a magnificent sanctuary offering 10 double suits and four family suites. Fusing elegance and the beauty of the environment, each stunning suite features contemporary décor and boasts an indoor and outdoor shower, private plunge pool and a viewing deck, ideal to observe the passing wildlife in their natural habitat. Explore the magnificence of your surroundings and relax beside the tranquillity of the river. Activities include fascinating morning and afternoon game drives, and river safaris.
QUICK FACTS
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) | |
Open All Year | |
2 – 4 Nights | |
Group Size: Max. 6 | |
Intermediate and Above |
SUITABLE RIDING LEVELS
Beginner | |
Novice | |
Intermediate | |
Intermediate Plus | |
Advanced |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Travel in the footsteps of David Livingstone; astride a four-legged friend and explore the African wilderness without the sound of an engine
- The chance to ride alongside game and enjoy long free canters through beautiful scenery
- Tracking rhino and elephant on horseback and learning about their conservation
- The opportunity to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls
- Excellent activities to compliment your riding; such as night game drives, bird-watching, bush meals and activities surrounding the Falls
DATES & RATES
Open all year round. Please enquire for exact dates and availability.
2023 Rates:
4-night Signature Safari
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec
From USD $2964 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $3428 pps
3-night stay – The Wallow
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec 2023
From USD $2109 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $2481 pps
4-night stay – The Wallow
Low season: 11 Jan – 31 Mar / 01 Nov – 20 Dec 2023
From USD $2776 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct / 21 Dec – 11 Jan 2024
From USD $3112 pps
4-night package – Ursulas Homestead
Low season: 01 Nov 2022 – 31 Mar 2023 / 01 Nov 2023 – 03 Jan 2024
From USD $2924 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct 2023
From USD $3004 pps
3-night package – Stanley Livingstone
Green season: 01 Sep – 03 Jan 2023
From USD $3180 pps
Low season: 04 Jan – 31 Mar 2023
From USD $3600 pps
Mid-season: 01 Nov – 03 Jan 2024
From USD $3690 pps
High season: 01 Apr – 31 Oct 2023
From USD $4020 pps
RATE INCLUDES AND EXCLUDES
Included
- Accommodation
- All Breakfasts, 1 Bush Dinner
- 3 / 4 / 5 days of riding depending on ride and time of year
- Expert guides to accompany you on your trip
- Game drive in the private game reserve
- Concierge at Ursula’s Homestead to arrange additional activities
- Airport transfers and transfers to Victoria Falls Town
Excluded
- Single Supplement – between USD200 – USD620 if no other riders booked
- Meals not mentioned above
- Drinks when not out on the trail
- Conservation Fees – US$40 / US$60
- Victoria Falls Entry Fee – US$30
- Entry visa into Zimbabwe
- International flights
- Comprehensive Travel and Medical Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
”When I first started looking for a horse riding trip in Africa I was somewhat overwhelmed at all the choice. I settled on using African Horse Safaris as they offered a variety of trips and prices and looked to have reputable companies to work with. Isabel was extremely helpful as I wanted to do 2 separate trips and her assistance at organising flights made it very easy. I ended up doing the popular Okavango Delta trip which I enjoyed and thought the food, camping and my horse was of a very high standard . I then went to Victoria Falls and did the Zambezi ride . I really enjoyed my horse and Alison ( the owner of the business) company as well as the riding. It was good to see some village life and be in bush. Victoria Falls was incredible and a great way to end my trip!
Donna FieldOkavango Delta Mobile Safari and Zambezi Horse Safari in Victoria Falls
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 are kept in tip-top shape for your safaris. Our horses are on top of the hierarchy and receive very special care:
- Saddles are checked regularly and tack cleaned daily
- Horses have dedicated rest days each week are rotated to ensure they are fit and ready all year round.
- Our horses spend days outside in a herd environment, allowing them to live as naturally as possible and sleep in stables at night.
Please let us know if you have any more questions around this.