Riding safari- anyone been on one?

[1928sky]

Any recommendations of places to go/ time of year? Ideally was looking to go in May with a budget for the whole holiday including flights being £3000-£4000- might be going alone but am working on a friend to come too! Ideally looking for fast and exciting riding with people of a similar ability, excellent wildlife viewing, and am happy to camp/rough it! Not expecting much really! Be really grateful to hear of any experiences! Photos always welcome too!

 

[huntley]

Email my daughter - rosehipwood@hotmail.com. She is an expert on East Africa and is currently working for someone called Gordie Church (www.safarisunlimited.com) who specialises in riding safaris. She also has wide experience of others too. Best to reference it "riding safaris". You will have a brilliant time.

 

[BBP]

YES! I just got back 2 weeks ago from Okapuka horse safaris in Namibia. Fabulous riding on beautiful, spirited, feisty arab horses, most of whom do endurance races over there. Riding was in different areas, from game viewing on the plains to an incredible mountain ride (flat out galloping up steep mountainsides was exhilarating!), and each day there were lots of fast trots and canters that went on forever...although my horse definitely felt ready to go on for another 60km at that pace!

Game in the park at that time of year is abundant, fat and healthy at the end of the rainy season, so we saw antelope of all varieties from Springbok to Orxy, plus zebra, rhino, giraffe (a definite highlight, riding amongst the herd as they grazed) and a couple of crocs. If you want elephant, hippo and lions this isn't the place for you, but I loved the variety, plus it made for a 'safer' ride (you could go for a wee behind a bush without fear of a lion biting you bottom!). We did meet a very unhappy rhino and her baby one day though!

Definitely not a ride for the novice rider, but one who wants the full package; game, amazing horses who are clearly loved to pieces, all very well mannered (you tack up and wash off etc yourself) and content looking. We were lucky in that it was just my sister and I, plus the guide, so it was like our own private trip! I couldn't recommend it highly enough, and a riding safari has been a dream of mine since I was small.

if you want more photos I posted mine on the in the saddle website, under Okapuka, Namibia (Katherine Wynn in the photo gallery), but here are the two gorgeous crazy redheads I was privileged to ride, the lovely Sunlight and Nabilah.

 

[sally87]

2008 I went on a horseback safari in St Lucia on the eastern cape of South Africa. It was absolutely amazing & i loved it. The horses were extremely well cared for & well schooled. I was matched to a horse who was perfect for my ability & there was a wide range available for people with different capabilities.

We would go on a morning ride for about 4 hours & in the afternoon for about 2 hours. There was plenty of oppourtunities for decent canters but the guide was very much against the idea of galloping into the game & disturbing the herd as it is dangerous for the game & the horses which according to the other guests happens on some safaris. however it wasnt uncommon for zebra etc. to start cantering alongside us anyway. We also got to go riding on the beach one day which was amazing: cantering along the waters edge whilst whales breeched in the distance!

The accomodation is in tents, but ones that you can actually stand up in & were really nice. the food was also excellent as the guide's wife is a professional chef! The staff are friendly & as far as I could tell, well treated (not a forgone conclusion in south africa still unfortunately).

I booked with the company "in the saddle" who were very helpful & well organised. they have a website if you google it. the actual safari's website is http://www.horsesafari.co.za/vital_info.htm

I had an amazing time & would really recommend it, here are some photos:

and this is the URL for the album if you want more! http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/mzyasjh/St Lucia/

 

[JenHunt]

Nearly... We had it all booked as our honeymoon, but I damaged a nerve in my elbow and was told not to ride a week before we got married! Que hurried re-arranging of honeymoon.

We still went on a safari, but a 'normal' one. It was awesome. we're just saving up now to go on the horseback version!

 

[1928sky]

Thanks! Those pictures make me even more desperate to go, it looks truly amazing! Will look into those options, must say the horses do look extremely well cared for which is always a worry when you go to any riding establishment!