What is a horse safari? Simple, it’s a trip through the wilderness on horseback, and it’s one of the best ways to explore Africa because you get up close and personal with the wildlife and beautiful landscape. This kind of safari will immerse you in nature like no other.
This article will go over the best places in Africa for horseback riding holidays, along with what you can expect to see on these horseback tours and tips for novice and experienced riders alike.
Best Destinations
Horse Tours Club offers trips to the best locations in many different African countries, including Egypt, Botswana, Morocco, Tanzania, Tunisia, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe.
These tours explore everything from the desert to the Nile River to the mountains to the savanna. When you explore Africa on a horse safari, you see a range of animals, such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, wild horses, antelopes, camels, and more. You’ll also have the chance for cultural immersion when you visit local communities, see cultural performances, and socialize with the friendly people who live in the area.
Let’s discuss why these locations are the best for your safari.
Egypt
In Egypt, you can visit Cairo, Faiyum, and Luxor on the Tombs, Dunes, and Kingdoms Tour, where you’ll see the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, and the tomb of Tutankhamen—not to mention, you can go on a stunning hot air balloon ride.
Or on the Desert, History, and the Red Sea: Holiday in Luxor and Hurghada Tour, you can explore the world’s biggest open-air museum in Luxor, ride along the banks of the Nile and through the never-ending dunes of the desert, and cool off in the waters of the Red Sea.
Botswana
Visit the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert in Botswana on the Okavango Delta and Desert Tour. These two regions are vastly different, with the river delta comprised of sprawling grassy plains, creating a beautiful animal habitat, and the desert being a semi-arid sandy savanna. On these safari trails, you’ll be able to spot meerkats and meet some Bushmen.
Have a Thamalakane adventure on the Thamalakane River. On this tour, you’ll stay in luxurious tents at a comfortable lodge. On the back of your horse, you’ll be able to ride along the banks of the river in this lush 400-acre area. You’ll be able to see wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and birds. When it’s time to unwind, you can go for a swim in the pool or sunbathe on the sun deck.
Morocco
Travel to Morocco for the Argan Trek. Argan trees are native to Morocco and Algeria, and on this trek, you’ll be able to see the largest argan tree in the region in the largest argan and cedar forest. You can see camels and other grazing animals and visit an argan oil cooperative to see the handmade processing and taste the healthy oil. Meet locals at the market and enjoy their friendly hospitality.
On the Berber Village Ride, you’ll gallop on gorgeous beaches and wind through stunning mountains as you go from village to village. In these villages, you’ll be able to interact with locals who live a simple life. See how they fetch water with donkeys, plow fields, or walk to school. Spend the evenings swapping stories around a bonfire.
Tanzania
If you travel to Tanzania, you can go on the Kilimanjaro Elephant Ride. In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, you will get up close to animals such as elephants—the biggest land mammal—and wildebeest as they migrate. You can also meet the Maasai Tribe, which occupies the Maasai Steppe.
Or you can participate in the Serengeti Migration Ride, which will take you on an adventure through the Serengeti, the home of one of the highest concentrations of large mammals in Africa. You may even witness the Great Migration, in which more than 2 million wildebeest, zebras, and other animals migrate clockwise across the land; the experience of seeing this migration is a prospect that only comes once in a lifetime.
Tunisia
If you’re looking for a vacation where you can chill out, Tunisia is the place to go. On the Riding and Luxurious Relaxation Tour, enjoy a stay at the hotel with the nearby equestrian center. The hotel sits on the beach and offers a pool, bars, tennis courts, and a spa where you can get massages or treatments. What about the horses, you ask? You can choose between beach rides, inland trails, dressage, jumping, or flat work for 12 or 18 hours a week.
But that’s not all you can do in Tunisia. You can also opt for the Magic of the Desert Tour, where you’ll spend a week in the desert, visiting villages, ancient ruins, hot springs, oases, and the Grand Erg Oriental, a field of sand dunes in the Sahara Desert. Truly get away from it all as you camp underneath the stars.
South Africa
Looking for a longer trip? Our Equestrian Connection Tour in South Africa has you covered. It’s 14 days long and allows you to ride along breathtaking beaches, participate in the daily care of the horses, live like a local, visit seaside villages, and reconnect with yourself through nature. It’s the perfect trip to help you get away and reset.
Zambia
There’s also the Zambezi Holiday in Zambia. In the African wilderness there, you’ll see exquisite views and wonderful wildlife on a river safari. You don’t even have to leave your luxurious tent’s front deck to see the stunning landscape. Go to a traditional village to experience the local culture. End your trip on a high note when you spot wildlife as you canter across the plains.
If you’re hoping to experience a variety of things on one trip, you might consider the Zambezi Safari, a flexible tour with an itinerary you can customize to your liking. Choose from horse riding, sightseeing, and relaxing. When you ride, you’ll be in the Simalaha Community Conservancy, a place where people and the natural world coexist.
Ethiopia
The Riding Adventures in Ethiopia Tour offers mountains, grasslands, wildflowers that grow as high as your waist, juniper trees, and alpine lakes and streams. You may get to see the Ethiopian wolf, an endangered canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands, or the rock hyrax, a medium-sized mammal that looks like a rodent but actually shares a common ancestor with elephants.
On the Abyssinia Ride, you can ride through brilliant mountain landscapes in Bale Mountains National Park, one of the best-kept secrets of Ethiopia. With stunning views and encounters with wildlife such as the mountain nyala, Ethiopian wolf, thick-billed raven, blue-winged goose, Rouget’s rail, and Ethiopian siskin, you can’t go wrong.
Zimbabwe
If you have someone in your party who’d prefer not to ride, you should check out the Hwange Park (riders and non-riders) Tour in Zimbabwe. As the name suggests, on this tour, you can enjoy the safari from the back of the horse or on a game drive. Travel through vast savannas and wander through vibrant woodlands, all while searching for the fascinating animals in the area.
Tips for Riders
1. Think About What You Want
As you can see, there are a variety of tours, all offering different things. So you want to decide what’s important for you to see and do. Do you want to see the Nile? Or would you rather spend some time in the mountains or plains? Prioritize what you want when choosing your tour.
2. Plan Ahead
These tours often fill up fast. You don’t want to miss your opportunity, so plan your holiday well in advance. This will also give you lots of time to prepare and pack.
3. What to Pack
You’ll want neutral-colored clothes so you can blend into the environment and not scare the animals. It’s best to pack long sleeves and light pants for the evenings to help you avoid mosquito bites. You’ll also want boots, a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars, insect repellant, and don’t forget your camera!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this guide to the best places for horse safaris helpful. Horse safaris are one of the best ways to experience Africa. You get the best of all worlds with wildlife encounters, scenic landscapes, and cultural experiences. With all the tours available in different African countries, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you.
We’d be happy to help you arrange your safari. Horse Tours Club provides global horse riding tours and ensures safety and quality for our customers. You can reserve your African horseback safari through Horse Tours Club today!
