There's no better way to explore remote parts of the African wilderness than on a biological game viewer with a leg at each corner... Of course, we're talking about horse safaris and the chance to discover parts of Africa only accessible on horseback. So come with us as we discover the secret sauce that makes riding horses across the African plains, and other gorgeous landscapes, so incredible...



The great thing about being on top of a horse out in the wilds of Africa is that wild animals don't pay any attention to you. They see the horse and ignore the human, accepting it as perfectly normal (after all, it's got four legs which is pretty standard). This allows you to be properly immersed in your environment and a part of it, rather than separate from it. So you can expect close encounters and the thrill of riding along with and through herds of ungulates like antelope and even other odd-looking equines with black and white stripes!

Horse safaris and safari destinations offering horseriding as a safari activity are found across Africa, but we thought we'd share some of our recommendations based on our own experience, in true Zafaris fashion...

Zambia

We just LOVE Zambian Horseback Safaris which is located on the gorgeous Simalaha Wildlife Conservancy in western Zambia, bordering the Kasaya River which flows into the mighty Zambezi. Here you can gallop across vast floodplains and interact with the local Lozi people in around 520,000km² of prime Zambian wilderness filled with life.

Perfect for intermediate to experienced riders, the operation is based in a small, rustic camp overlooking the floodplains with four fabulous Meru-style en-suite tents accommodating groups of between four and eight guests in style. 

Safaris begin at the operational homebase of Chundukwa River Lodge in Livingstone with a short road transfer to a local boat station followed by a two-hour boat ride on the Zambezi and up the Kasaya, where you meet your horses on the riverbank for the ride into camp. 

Botswana

You can "do" both the Okavango and the Kalahari on horseback thanks to two more "fave" brands - Feline Fields Lodge and Macatoo Camp! Feline Fields Lodge is located in a remote north-western section of the Kalahari, far from madding crowds, with its own string of desert-proof horses available for guests to explore this magnificent environment. 

Catering for novices and experienced riders alike, guests can either do short ride-outs for the whole family or explore further afield for half or full days with experienced guides. There's also the option of a sleepout under the desert stars that's not to be missed!

In the Okavango is the fantabulous Macatoo Camp - part of the African Horseback Safaris stable (no pun intended, of course!) Here guests get to discover the magic of this legendary safari destination from the saddle, especially during the annual inundation when vast areas are flooded and completely inaccessible to vehicles, making horses the natural choice for getting around.

Here you need to be riding fit and confident at all paces, able to gallop alongside wildlife with ease and capable of withstanding day-long rides. These fully guided safaris are a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the Okavango and its wild fauna and flora.

Between rides the camp's pool deck is the place to be, with a stunning view of the surrounding floodplains that are frequently visited by huge herds of elephant and buffalo. 

Kenya

Imagine galloping across the Amboseli plains with Mount Kilimanjaro towering on the horizon, elephants all around you and the gently undulating Chyulu Hills providing a stunning backdrop... Welcome to Ol Donyo, one of our best-loved lodges in this drop-dead gorgeous area of Kenya that provides a natural corridor between Tsavo and Amboseli.

Riding at Ol Donyo is the perfect way to explore, either on ride-outs or half-day trails that wind their way through the Chyulus and down onto the plains below "Kili". Longer trails are for intermediate to experienced riders able to cope with a variety of paces and often uneven terrain, as well as the chance of encountering potentially dangerous wildlife, but Ol Donyo also offers shorter, slower trails out on the plains for novice riders, ensuring everyone gets to experience the joy of riding in wild Africa.

South Africa

Out in the "green" Kalahari of the Northern Cape lies Tswalu Kalahari - one of the most remote safari destinations in the Rainbow Nation and one of the best to explore on horseback. Tswalu's stables are home to its own herd of wonderful four-legged friends ready to carry you over the wave-like dunes and vast grasslands out into the foothills of the Korannaberg. 

The well-schooled horses are perfect for intermediate to experienced riders and used to the Kalahari environment and its resident fauna and flora. 

For families wanting to share a horse safari experience for everyone from small kids to grannie and grandpa, then you can't get better than Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill in the stunning Waterberg. With a herd of more than 90 horses, guests get to choose when they want to ride and for how long, with no more than six guests in any one group and rider groups matched for experience levels and paired with horses that are ideally suited to their abilities. 

All levels of riding experience are catered for, from novice to experienced, meaning that small children and older guests can still enjoy the thrill of wild Africa on horseback. There are some wonderful children's ponies that are literally a dream-come-true for horse-mad tweens. 

So, if you have a hankering to swing into the saddle and get out into the wilderness on horseback, you know what to do... We're waiting to talk to you!