Riding across Africa is an experience like no other. With the freedom it offers, the feeling is both exhilarating and extraordinary as you see and experience the landscapes differently from how you would from a vehicle, on foot or in a boat. There are many different options across Africa when it comes to a riding safari and choosing the right one for you needs careful consideration. We have rounded up the key things to consider when planning your riding safari.
Riding Experience Level
This is key. There are numerous options across Africa for riders of all abilities, including children and beginners all the way to advanced level riding. Getting the right safari for you not only ensures your enjoyment of the whole trip but it is also vital from a safety perspective as well.
Many of the faster riding safari options in Africa are in areas with wildlife, including animals such as elephants, lion and buffalo. This adds to the experience and if like me you are fortunate enough to follow a leopard through the trees from the back of a horse, there is no other feeling like it – a bird jumping up was far more frightening to my beautifully schooled horse! For these safaris it is vital, from a safety perspective, that you are a capable rider and at the very least you are comfortable at speed over rough terrain and are riding fit.
If you are not as confident at pace, or you don’t think this style is for you, there are still plenty of options where animals such as elephant or lion are not present, or where the wildlife is naturally less dense and the landscape is open making it safer for more novice riders or children. In addition, many of these will have ponies specifically for children making it an ideal destination for families as well.
Think carefully about your level of riding and what you would be comfortable doing – it is always better to under-egg your ability that feel overwhelmed when on safari.
Mobile Riding Safari or Lodge based?
Not all riding safaris are the same – with different options of accommodation styles and whether you prefer to be based in one camp for the duration of your riding safari, or prefer to be more mobile, staying in different locations on the same safari.
For many the real thrill of a riding safari is being able to take a journey, traversing a landscape and staying in different locations each, or for some of, the nights, or for some of the nights. These rides are generally only suitable for intermediate or experienced riders and can either be in lightweight canvas tents, between lodges, or in a combination of the two. The tents tend to be larger with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms with bucket showers and safari loos, whilst lodges naturally have more facilities and permanent infrastructure as well.
For those who prefer to be able to unpack and stay in one location, riding out each day, the accommodation tends to be more established. With options under canvas – think luxurious hotel rooms with canvas sides – and others which are solid walls, there are styles to suit everyone. This option also tends to offer more flexibility with the number of nights and dates of travel as well. Mobile safaris tend to be operated on specific dates and in small groups whilst a lodge based safari can be tailored more easily.
Mixed Riding Abilities
If you are a family or a group of friends travelling together whose experience levels differ it is always best to choose the riding safari which will suit the least experienced rider of the group. They will then be safe and enjoy the safari whilst those who are more comfortable at speed will likely be taken on a faster ride to ensure they also have a wonderful time. There are a number of camps throughout Africa that can cater for this sort of group and all tend to be the lodge based safaris. See our blog post on ‘How to enjoy a riding safari with your non-riding partner’, for more information on this.
Combining a Riding Safari with Other Experiences
There is so much variety and choice across Africa and the Indian Ocean for different experiences throughout your trip. Your primary focus may be a riding safari and these will work well in combination with other activities – a more traditional safari on land or by boat, time on the beach for some R&R at the end, visits to Victoria Falls or Cape Town – any and all of these would be possible.
Knowing if you would like to combine one or more of these experiences may also help to narrow down a geographical region for your riding safari. This way flights and connections and minimised ensuring you spend more time on the ground enjoying your holiday than you do connecting between destinations, very often via a flight.
Is there a weight limit?
There tends to be a weight limit for all riders which will vary slightly depending on the camp and their horses. Most will set a limit of around 85kgs (approx 13 stone) and in some instances, particularly on mobile safaris, a second horse can be booked at an additional charge, for those who are slightly over the operators limit. Some lodges do have larger horses which are able to take a little more weight – perhaps up to 110kgs (around 17 stone) in one case.
This again is an important factor – the camps are unlikely to allow you to ride if you are above this threshold to ensure the welfare of the horses. Please ask us if this is a factor when deciding which riding safari would be best for you.
How long do I have to spend in the saddle?
This does vary but will usually be between four to six hours in the saddle split between one or two rides. Morning rides will tend to be the longer – and faster – of the two as you are able to be out for longer Afternoon / evening rides are usually shorter, often slower and more relaxed as well. This gives you the chance to get to know a new horse if you are switching horses the following day. If you would like more or less time in the saddle each day please do chat to us as there are camps which are different to the averages stated above and can offer something which would suit you.
It is therefore a very good idea to be riding fit – we all know there are muscles which you only use when riding and if they haven’t been used for a while you will know about it quite quickly when there!
Are there other activities?
Yes, which is one of the reasons a riding safari can easily be enjoyed equally by those who ride and those who don’t. Given that most are in wildlife rich areas the camps are likely to offer other activities such as game drives and walking safaris. Some, due to their location, are also able to offer canoe trips, fishing, mountain biking etc as well. Many of the permanent camps will also have swimming pools as well to relax beside in the heat of the day.
For riders the feeling of freedom when galloping across Africa is like nothing else. Whether you are a novice or an advanced rider there are some amazing options and it really is an incredible way to view wildlife. There are options to suit everyone and please do get in touch with Lucinda to discuss a riding safari, or any other holiday to Africa or the Indian Ocean. She would be delighted to help.
