Horse and camel trekking
Horse riding safaris and vacations in Africa
Our favourite way of exploring the bush! A riding vacation in Africa is one of the most exhilarating ways of being at one with nature; one gets so close to the wildlife as the human scent and outline is masked by that of the horse. Horses are well suited to the rider, whether they be novice or experienced and we, as riders ourselves, advise you on which safari to choose based upon capability and season. We can either arrange to include in your overall safari a lodge which offers horse riding as part of its activities or we can organise anything from a three to fourteen day "proper" riding safari. We are, as ever, entirely flexible. The horses are selected for their suitability to the terrain and range from bush bred horses to thoroughbreds and polo ponies. They are all well schooled and one usually rides in traditional European/classical style although there are a few possibilities to ride western style as well. For good riders we offer a ten day to two week riding safari following Africa's greatest spectacle - the wildebeest migration in Kenya. In South Africa, one can herd cattle on horseback or gently explore a ranch at a leisurely pace, mingling amongst game and antelope at the same time. The riding in Botswana is excellent and in the Tuli Block, some of the fastest paced riding is offered for the more experienced rider.
We offer horse riding safaris in the following countries:
Kenya
Riding with the wildebeest migration, mainly "mobile" camps, or on a private mobile riding safari for the more experienced rider. The wildebeest migration takes place from July to October in the Masai Mara. These riding safaris are for ten days. The first seven nights are spent moving from camp to camp, and your accommodation is in a comfortable tent with adjacent short drop loo and steaming hot bucket showers. The last two nights are spent at Tristan and Lucinda's glorious colonial homestead. There is also a Laikipia safari, which is a different region, offering diverse game, not found in the Masai Mara, such as the Grevy's zebra, Gerenuk and Somali ostrich. It is an area which is also rich in game. Here you spend eight nights at a number of private camps throughout the area, with the last two nights spent at a homestead. The horses are thoroughbreds or thoroughbred cross, and these safaris are suited to the more experienced rider who is comfortable at all paces, including galloping should one need to react quickly. One generally spends between 4 and 6 hours in the saddle. We also offer riding staying at traditional, characterful homesteads in Lake Naivasha and at several ranches in the Laikipia area. There is also a magnificent lodge with views over Mount Kilimanjaro, where one can ride each day, staying at the lodge, or even venturing for a night or two flycamping, which we can thoroughly recommend!
Botswana
In the Okavango Delta and the Tuli Block, several choices, all simply stunning! The two places we recommend in the Okavango Delta offer slightly different experiences, yet being in the Delta, they both offer the most extraordinarily beautiful scenery, together with abundant game! There is a minimum stay of 3 nights at the one camp, which caters for both novices, intermediates and experienced riders. This camp caters for both riders and partners who are non riders. The second camp caters for the more experienced rider and one can either ride for 5 or 10 nights and is purely for riders. Whilst the main accommodation in both cases s in permanent luxury tented camps, they both offer flycamping, and depending upon how much fly camping you wanted to do and how experienced you were, would determine which camp we suggested. Then there is riding in the Tuli Block which offers a completely different experience, with totally different vegetation. This area is known as the Land of the Giants, because of the large elephant population as well as excellent wildlife in general. Unlike the rest of Botswana which tends to be more flight, the Tuli area is hilly, and has great archeological importance. The horses have been chosen from various South African breeds, bred for their toughness, such as the boereperd, Shire Cross thoroughbreds, Apaloosa's and South African warmbloods. We offer a 7 night safari here. This ride is unique in southern Africa. Moving every day enables you to cover vast tracts of the Mashatu and surrounding game reserves. This safari has an old style feel to it. Excellent guiding and horsemanship combined with attention to detail and comfort make for an unbeatable experience. The first night is spent in a cottage, with four nights flycamping in different areas, followed by the last two nights spent in either a luxury lodge or tented camp. This ride is for experienced riders only.
South Africa
In the Waterberg mountains, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal and, more limited, in the Cape. What is good fun is wine tasting in the winelands by horseback, which avoids the breathalysers! In the Waterberg mountains, three hours from Johannesburg, one can stay at a ranch, and either spend time rounding up cattle, or riding amongst game on a game farm. This experience caters for novices and experienced riders alike and they have a mixture of Thoroughbreds and Arab-Boerperd crosses. In Mpumalanga, we offer two different rides. The first is a lodge based safari which caters for Novices and experienced riders, and is available throughout the year. The second safari is for strong intermediates and advanced riders only, and is a wilderness safari for 7 nights in the Songimvelo Game Reserve. The first night is spent at the lodge, whilst the next five nights will be spent riding out whilst returning to your comfortable tented camp each night, complete with hot bucket showers and long drop loo. The last night is spent at a traditional Swazi village in a rondavel. The riding is between 4 and 5 hours per day and the horses are made up of Boerperds, SA warmbloods and crosses. In KwaZulu Natal, you can stay on a malaria free, 2500 hectare Arab stud farm where one can view game both on horseback and by vehicle. Accommodation is in a colonial Spanish homestead. In the Cape, we can offer a day's beach riding, to polo in Plettenberg Bay, home to some of the best polo fields, as well as good riding in the general garden route and Cape area.
Zimbabwe
In the Mavuradonha Mountains. The "explorer" safaris here are serious adventure and for good riders as the terrain is very rugged, although there are options for less experienced riders. Highly recommended! These safaris are for both novice through to experienced riders, and one can choose from a variety of different types of accommodation, from a beautiful and tastefully designed African lodge, to a colonial house, whose surroundings offer faster riding, to a rustic but comfortable bush camp, or even flycamping, with just a bedroll. These safaris can be tailored from a night to seven nights, or longer and perhaps combined with some canoeing or game viewing in the Mana Pools region which is renowned for its concentration of game. There is also some excellent riding, returning to a lodge, in the game rich Hwange region, under the supervision of Zimbabwe's best guide, James Varden. This is an opportunity not to be missed! Only experienced riders can partake in the Hwange ride. The horses comprise ex-polo ponies, Arabs, Quarter-horse crosses and Thoroughbreds.
Malawi
The riding on the Nyika plateau is gorgeous, "Scotland in Africa" (and so much more to see)! One can stay either at a homestead or be mobile and tented. To combine a week's riding with the Lake, or other parts of Malawi, is simply super. Big skies, open country and vast panoramas combine to make the Nyika the most perfect riding country. For day after day you can explore the remotest regions of this 3000 sq. km wilderness. Follow Elephant trails down secluded steep sided valleys, trot with the herds of Eland, Roan, and Zebra, canter the edge of 1500 ft high escarpments and gallop across the rolling hills of the plateau. On the Nyika you are riding on top of the world.The Nyika is suitable for riders of all levels of ability. The experienced rider has plenty of opportunities for long trots and exhilarating canters, yet due to the scarcity of dangerous wildlife a beginner can enjoy the freedom of riding in a beautiful wilderness without the worry of having to cope with dangerous situations and so gain confidence day by day. For the novice rider, one can stay at the lovely at Chelinda, and dictate one's pace, or go out on a mobile safari for up to 10 nights, spending a night at the lodge in the beginning, and two nights at the lodge at the end, with the balance of time spent at a couple of traditional tented camps in between. The horses are all cross breeds.
Camel Trekking
Camel Trekking is a wonderful safari: usually guests walk and the camels carry the gear although, in some instances, there can be some riding on your camel. We have the most wonderful camel treks from two days to two weeks, venturing from the magnificent Laikipia plateau in Kenya to the Northern Frontier District. Your guides are astounding and this is a perfect way to explore the country at close quarters for adults and children alike. Also, on the edges of Laikipia and the NFD, there is a lovely lodge, Sabuk, where one can stay and ride out with the camels for a few days before returning to the lodge.
The Laikipia Plateau and Northern Frontier Trek is a walking safari supported only by camels; a safari with no vehicles through a still wild and remote part of Northern Kenya. There are comfortable camping facilities, excellent cuisine and experienced guides will ensure your well being on your safari.
Although primarily a walking safari, riding camels are available when the terrain allows. This age old style of safari can be tailormade to suit guests of all ages and all levels of fitness. You do not need to be superbly fit; a sense of adventure and a little resilience is all you need to enjoy your camel trip. Most travelling is done in the cool of the morning, arriving in camp after a 3 - 4 hour walk. Lunch and a rest in the heat of the day will recharge you for an early evening game walk and sundowner to watch the dusk creeping over the land. A hot shower, an evening around the campfire and a night under the stars with all the exciting and evocative sounds of an African night are a fitting end to a superb day. This is beautiful, genuine and fun.
