South African riding holidays

pistolpete

pistolpete

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Realistic budget including flights. Doesn’t have to include big game or fancy hotels. Just good riding and all inclusive. What am I looking at cost wise?
 
Should also say that the five day safari I was/still am looking at - private (and ethical!) game reserve, lodge accommodation, all inclusive but no riding, business flights and charter flight needed to get to the reserve in South Africa was/is coming in about £10-£12k.

So a lot of the In The Saddle ones seem like a bargain to me 😂
 
Daughter went on one last year. She says flights were about £1100 and holiday is now £1500 from Unicorn. Was mostly beach ride but saw wild animals

Frustratingly I can’t seem to add photos (bar above is greyed out and Attach files button doesn’t do anything 😡)
 
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I was already in SA for work so only paid a daily rate but went here

Dates and rates – Horizon Horseback

www.ridinginafrica.com www.ridinginafrica.com

Looks like it starts from just under £2k for a week to nearly £4k peak for one of the safaris


If you do the signature safari at the ranch you can do any number of days which means you can choose cheaper days to fly.

One couple had booked a 7 day safari but added a day or two each side at the lodge which gave them more flexibility and at the start gives you time to recover from the flight. There's no jetlag as only 2 hours difference but a long flight especially in economy
 
I know she saw the giraffes up close and some zebras in the distance while riding. Then was taken on a safari and saw elephants.
 

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suebou said:
I’m going with in the saddle in two weeks, flights and all inclusive riding holiday wer under £3.5 k. This is a huge amount for me and I’m hoping it’s as wonderful as reviews say….. highly recommended by a lady who does riding holidays about 5 times a year so fingers crossed.
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Ooh. How exciting. That’s more my budget! Look forward to hearing your review.
 
You should be able to do Horizon for about 3k all in if you make sensible choices on timings and flights (cheapest to fly through Addis via Ethiopian the couple of times I’ve been)
It is amazing there, I really recommend it! You don’t ride with the big 5, but you do get a pretty fun time in a beautiful place riding with cool stuff.
And the rooms and food are amazing
 
TheMule said:
You should be able to do Horizon for about 3k all in if you make sensible choices on timings and flights (cheapest to fly through Addis via Ethiopian the couple of times I’ve been)
It is amazing there, I really recommend it! You don’t ride with the big 5, but you do get a pretty fun time in a beautiful place riding with cool stuff.
And the rooms and food are amazing
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We added on a nighttime jeep safari in the local reserve to see lions etc. it wasn't expensive.
 
I did.

I went through In The Saddle. I did Wait A Little, it was FAB. The only reservation I would have was that, the week I went, the horses, although all fab, were rather fresh. There were a few incidents.

I was on 2 lovely horses, but had said that I just wanted steady, safe ones. I was heckish glad I'd said that!

We saw all of the big 5 within 2 1/2 days, plus a stack more.

It was on a reserve with a lot of thorns too. I wouldn't take new breeches as they will get pulled. We all got cuts, even with gloves.

The horses were beautifully cared for, the tack was comfy and safe, the guide very knowledgeable. The accommodation was great, we also had a sleepout and stayed in a posh mansion for a couple of nights.

I can't say the horse shennanigans were minor though.

That said, if you insist on a quiet one, they do have them.
 
Domirati said:
In the Saddle, or Equss Journeys, Ant’s Nest. Amazing place, horses very well looked after. Price depends on when you go, especially for flights, also cheaper if you book a long time ahead or fly via another country. Thoroughly recommend.
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Pleased about this, it’s where I’m going, we’ll the slightly cheaper new bit Bushwillow
 
Going back a decade now but I did a few. Worth speaking to one of the In the Saddle crew and giving them your budget and riding experience. Be brutally honest because some of the rides aren't for the faint hearted! I've met riders on paper better than me who got the wobbles galloping over rough country on strange horses.

Wait A Little was one of the places where I religiously wore my crash hat. Fabulous horses but pretty spicy 😄
 
I’ve been to Ant’s Nest three times (most recently 2019) - as others have said it’s an amazing place. Great horses, really good food and incredible wildlife. I’m hoping to go back again soon - I’d love to do game census week.

I went to Macatoo in Botswana in April this year which is very different to Ant’s, it was the proper wild and absolutely incredible. It is more expensive than Ant’s (I literally lucked out and won my trip in a competition at badminton) - I’d definitely go back though!

It’s worth speaking to one of the equestrian travel agents, I find they’re all very knowledgeable and able to suggest places based on what you like or want to get from a trip.
 
Would love to go to Macatoo.

We did Horizon a couple of years and were disappointed with it after all the hype. They invite a lot of high profile professional riders and influencers for free holidays who rave about it and then it’s not quite the same for us mere mortals
 
My daughter and I have just done Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill in July - = 3 days at each. Was the most amazing experience. We flew from Australia and was AUD $9,500 each, including flights and 6 nights we did upgrade to premium economy for the long haul from Singapore to J'Berg. I can honestly say it was worth every cent, best holiday I have ever had. Everything included, 3 course meals, all drinks, the service was impeccable. I preferred Ant's Nest to the Hill as there was more wildlife on the flat and it is smaller and quite intimate, Ant's Hill caters for families more I feel. I am still raving about it to anyone who will listen !
 
myheartinahoofbeat said:
Would love to go to Macatoo.

We did Horizon a couple of years and were disappointed with it after all the hype. They invite a lot of high profile professional riders and influencers for free holidays who rave about it and then it’s not quite the same for us mere mortals
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I'm really surprised to hear that- I have been twice and it was absolutely brilliant. I haven’t been since 2019 so perhaps things have changed, but I would totally recommend it off the my experiences there
 
A very long time ago I did the student work at Wait a Little - not budget in any way (they flew salmon in from Scotland on ice so it was fresh one week) but they really care for the horses and spend lots of time schooling them to help them be fit and supple.

Several horses were 'gifted' to them as too spicy for a normal ridden life, amazing how much claimer they got after 6-8 hours a day a riding every day!

It is long hours in the saddle with very fit horses (to do 8 hours at pace over rough ground they have to be fit) so certainly be v v v honest about riding experience.

I met many people who clearly lied on their forms about how much riding they did - which makes it tricky for everyone. There was one person they sent away to a non-riding lodge - but in fairness she honestly had no clue how to use a mounting block / hold the reins and would have got herself killed !

Lots of honeymooners which was a disaster for the non-riding husbands who'd have 10 lessons before arriving then find a riding school horse just outside London isn't quite the same as 6 hours bushwacking !!

I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could get fit enough to ride at that level
 
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