For those who really love a sense of adventure, there is nothing better than horse trekking safaris! Getting really close to wildlife, the scent of the horse masking that of the human and merging into one is nothing less than thrilling!

There are several horse riding treks one can do, from riding with the wildebeest migration in Kenya, amongst predators (only for the most experienced riders), to riding along the Chyulu Hills with very few predators where one can ride at any level. There is also excellent riding in Botswana and South Africa.

For those who have partners who are accompanying them who dont ride, then Kenya, South Africa and Botswana also offer places where one person can ride whilst the other goes game viewing in a vehicle, joining up at the end of the day. Either way, its my favourite way of going on safari, alongside walking and canoeing!

Luxury Safari South Africa- This is actually an incredibly easy thing to achieve in South Africa, as the market lends itself to luxury tourism.  In fact, trying to stay in an East African style tented camp in the Kruger National Park is near impossible, whilst if asking for a luxurious lodge, the list is endless! From design infused Singita to the more traditional Royal Malewane and a host of other gorgeous lodges in between, one is literally spoilt for choice!

Royal Malewane with AfricanExplorations.com

And that really sums up South Africa. I am biased because it is my home, but practically speaking, it really is God’s Own Country, offering all things to all people. A beautiful climate, warm and friendly people, informality, amazing food and wine, some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in the world, certainly some of the best hotels in the world (two of my favourites being Kurland, where I regularly take my own family holiday each year) and Ellerman House (the old hotel with probably the finest art collection in South Africa and their new wing, being the contemporary, gorgeous villas overlooking the Indian Ocean in Bantry Bay).

Luxury Safari South Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

What I love too, apart from there being a huge interest in artisanal arts and crafts, is the liveliness and the ‘buzz’ of the country, especially in the cities of Cape Town and other smaller towns, for example along the Garden Route, which is simply infectious!

Ants Hill with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa is fantastic for both honeymoons and romantic holidays and family holidays alike- with awe inspiring scenery, the most heavenly boutique hotels and lodges with such great flair, extraordinary staff and service, world class wildlife, amazing cuisine, a relaxed yet fun atmosphere and good value for money, its hard to know why anyone wouldn’t want to come on holiday here.  For the sports enthusiast, we are a nation mad about our sports! In particular, rugby, tennis, squash, swimming, horse riding (including polo), running, flying, parachuting, parasailing, canoeing, white water rafting, fly fishing and sailing to name but a few. In fact, wherever you go, you will see people on the move and playing sports.

Birkenhead House with AfricanExplorations.com

So, whatever your interest, or whether you simply want to chill out on a quality imbued holiday, this country is for you!

Riding Holidays South Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

Luxury Holidays to South Africa are the easiest ones to arrange, simply because the standard of accommodation really lends itself to a certain quality which is incredibly high!

Royal Malewane with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa is described as a ‘world in one country’ and it truly is! It is so diverse and offers so many different experiences! From a myriad of gorgeous hotels and villas in the Cape (catering for both couples and famillies alike), to exquisite lodges situated in game reserves, with amazing quality of guiding, wildlife and scenery to country farmhouses and homesteads dotted around the Cape and Kwa Zulu Natal, where one can get closer to a family, depart as friends, and perhaps learn something about the history and wars of this extraordinary country.

private villas South Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa caters equally for the action motivated traveller to those seeking repose! Whether its fly fishing, parasailing, flying, cooking, wine tasting, game viewing or simply wanting to take tuition in any of these disciplines, all of this can be arranged! Alternately, walking on isolated beaches, dining on lobster at gorgeous al fresco restaurants and reading a book around a swimming pool may be what you prefer!

Wonderful spring flowers, rock art, fantastic inspirational or traditional art, music, architecture, nature – this country offers it all in abundance, together coupled with a  magnificent climate! There is also a choice of exhilarating horse riding, either in the form of a safari or access to first class horses, either to ride for a few hours amongst wildlife, on a beach (my favourite!), or playing polo.

Cape winelands with AfricanExplorations.com

Stay in Relais et Chateaux’s   or bijoux hotels where personal service is assured,   stay in tree houses, either in a forest or on an isolated beach, where they track turtles with scientists at certain times of year,   or luxury safari lodges,  or stay at a gorgeous farmhouse  – either in the battlefields of Natal, or in the game rich region of the Kruger National Park, or in the Cape winelands such as scenically beautiful Franschhoek, where the French Huguenots first settled in South Africa in the 1600′s.  Private villas abound and we have a large selection of the very finest villas in the country.

luxury holidays to South Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

luxury South Africa holidays – South Africa is one of the easiest African countries in which to provide luxury holidays and safaris. Largely determined by a demanding and widely travelled market, South Africa still remains a world in one country. Few other countries in Africa can rival South Africa for its diversity in terms of experience.

luxury safari South Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether it is going on safari in the Kruger National Park or in a non malarial region in the Cape or Waterberg region, or taking a family holiday which includes horse riding, rides on the back of an elephant whilst learning all about them and spending plenty of time on the beach, perhaps at the time when the leatherback and loggerhead turtles come to nest, what you will achieve, is a holiday of a lifetime.

Luxury Cape Town holidays with AfricanExplorations.com

Everyone who ever visits South Africa is astounded by the overall quality. Not only in terms of service, food and wine but also, the accommodation. From a lowly b and b to a Relais et Chateaux, that quality thread never disappears.

Luxury Cape Winelands with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa also represents such good value for money! The country offers some of the most beautiful wine estates, complete with superb wine, fabulous restaurants, an easy, informal atmosphere and friendly, vibrant and positive people wherever you go! Whether one is looking for a romantic, remote retreat, a secluded, quiet beach, a spa, a safari, a thrilling horse riding safari, a vineyard, the garden route or visiting historical battlefields, this countryis for you – all in unabashed and indulgent comfort!

We will be at Badminton Horse Trials, the premier UK FEI Horse Trials (and Rolex Grand Slam Event), which takes place from Friday 30th April to Monday 3rd May inclusive.

Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis on their way out of the Lake, 2009. © Tim Nicholls

The exciting cross-country day is this year on Sunday 2nd May (a change to the normal Saturday), with the final show jumping phase on the Bank Holiday Monday.  We are always delighted to see existing and new clients there to discuss their safaris, riding and holidays in either Africa or India.

As usual our stand will be very near to the central arena and very close to the event scoreboard and main facilities. Our stand number is 85, located on the north/south roadway to the east side of the main arena.

Nicky, Hashim and others from the office here, all of whom have travelled extensively in the last few months to bring you the latest from both Africa and India, will be available to talk about holidays and safaris (whether riding or not!) to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and all the countries we feature in Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa as well as the Indian Ocean Islands and Madagascar. We will also be able to discuss our new Northern Africa/Middle East portfolio, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Libya.

Riding On The Kenyan Plains - Equine Exhilaration!

For a taste of riding in Kenya here is a short video made by our great friends at Riding Wild (part of SCC) based at Borana, a ranch in the northern Laikipia region of Kenya’s great central plateau. We often include this sort of riding, which is adventurous yet very high quality, as part of an overall safari/holiday that is completely tailored to each participant’s personal requirements, something we are renowned for getting “just right”!