Riding safaris are a popular and exciting way of viewing Africa’s incredible scenery and wildlife. There is something special about cantering alongside an elegant giraffe or galloping amongst the great wildebeest migration. Riders can enjoy exhilarating safaris riding alongside plains wildlife and quietly watching elephant and buffalo.
Our team of experienced riders have tried and tested every riding safari we offer. Since 1999, we’ve combined our extensive first-hand knowledge of Africa’s best riding safaris with wider expertise in Southern and Eastern Africa’s camps, coasts and cities. If you’re looking for a riding-focused trip or a broader African adventure, we can tailor-make your holiday from beginning to end, including all flights, transfers, and offer financial protection.
Whether you have been riding since you could walk or are new in the saddle there are plenty of options. For seasoned riders, you can cover significant distances over remote regions on a horse – some beyond the reach of even the strongest four-wheel drive vehicles. Choose from specialist riding safaris lasting several days, fly-camping out under the stars and tacking up at dawn for up to six hours in the saddle. There are fast-paced rides such as Offbeat Riding Safaris and Namibia Horse Safaris over varied terrain that make for some memorable rides. These experiences are designed for riders who feel confident in the open country, so it is a requirement that you’re fit and balanced enough to get out of trouble quickly.
For less experienced riders or those with children who are looking for shorter gentler rides, we recommend safaris in areas that have vast amounts of plains wildlife, but no lions or elephants. These experiences twin short rides with other traditional safari activities, including wildlife drives and nature walks and are designed with the less confident or more relaxed riders in mind. Lodges like Ant’s Nest or Horizon Horseback Safaris in the Waterberg region of South Africa or Borana Lodge, Sosian Lodge and Ol Malo in Kenya are perfect for this riding experience.
We Recommend…
Talking to our team of riding experts and being honest about your riding ability to ensure you get the most out of your trip.
Immerse yourself in incredible wildlife with splashy canters in the Okavango Delta with African Horseback Safaris
Be honest about your riding ability, then we will match you to the most suitable riding safari and your hosts can pick the best horse for you.
Take a wide brimmed hat / hard hat, cotton tops covering your shoulders and plenty of sun screen – you are more exposed to the elements on a horse.
Children are welcome on many riding safaris but don’t overestimate their stamina and ability.
Trip Ideas
There are a number of great opportunities to ride alongside the wildlife in Kenya’s iconic Masai Mara. Offbeat Safaris ‘Masai Mara Ride‘ itinerary is great for experienced riders, Safaris Unlimited ‘Masai Mara Ride’ is an excellent nine day trip amid stunning scenery and prolific wildlife. Laikipia is a unique wildlife area and contains enormous diversity with several rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx and Grevy’s zebra. Try Offbeat Safaris ‘Laikipia Ride‘ itinerary to get you right in the thick of it.
There are many opportunities to ride in South Africa and Wait a Little’s ‘Big Five Safari’ offers exhilarating wildlife viewing just on the edge of the Kruger National Park.
Botswana is a superb choice for a riding safari with wonderful options in the Limpopo and Okavango Delta regions. Horizon Horseback Safaris Tuli Ride is a seven night mobile safari through this wild region full of plains wildlife and elephant. Okavango Horse Safaris and African Horseback Safaris both offer superb riding safaris in the Okavango Delta.
Please contact us for further ideas and information. Lucinda, Jo, Francis and Alice are all avid riders of varying levels and have been on a number of riding safaris in Africa and would be delighted to help plan your perfect trip.
Some of our Riding Safaris Highlights Click on an image to find out more
Aadvark (theough the very patient Robyn) co-ordinated a complicated 2 week family tour through Uganda and into Rwanda during the Ebola outbreak - not only was the tour a huge and memorable success (trip of a lifetime) but we felt confident in the assurances / checks / research conducted by Aadvark regarding our safety. The lodges we stayed in and our guide for the 2 weeks (Milton) cannot be faulted and if we go again, I would request Milton as our guide. He has contacts everywhere and we felt safe in his care. We have used Aadvark a few times now (including incredible Kilimanjaro trek) and would not hesitate to do so again - they have real local experience and knowledge and I trust their judgement and recommendations.
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9/14/2026
Diana Parker
From the first time I contacted Aardvark two years ago they were efficient, organised, polite, knowledgeable and very friendly. We had an amazing family safari and Lucinda was fantastic in everything she organised, I couldn't fault a thing. Drumbeat Safaris were fabulous, Anna-lise is so welcoming and professional and the guide, Option, was very informative, patient and understanding. He took time to ensure our safety, and we all felt privileged to spend time with him in Botswana. We also adored Waterberry Lodge, the food was incredible, especially as we were joined on the last night by a hippo on the lawn! An unforgettable bucket list trip ticked off. Thankyou to all at Aardvark , we WILL tell all our friends and we WILL be back!!
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9/08/2026
Danielle Sinclair
Aardvark Safaris are exceptional at tailoring holidays of a lifetime. We couldn’t and wouldn’t have done this without them, every minute of our trip was incredible and we are so grateful to the staff Robyn and Adelie for the planning and service and dedication to our trip!
Maddy and the Aardvark team are fantastic. We used them to book a safari in Kenya recently and from the first interaction with them, they were informative, helpful, and proactive. Everything from picking different locations and lodging to helping us through pre-departure requirements like vaccines, visas, and packing was done thoughtfully and clearly. The actual logistics of the trip, which included multiple flights, locations, and activities, were experienced flawlessly. I will definitely use them again and highly recommend.
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8/24/2026
Will Jackson-Moore
We have visited virtually all of the Southern African countries either as a couple or with our two boys. Alice and the team at Aardvark are truly exceptional at putting together the perfect bespoke package be it ultra luxury or totally remote and low impact. We travel extensively and for virtually everywhere I put my own tours together but not Africa where you need real local knowledge to get the right blend of wildlife, accommodation and security
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8/21/2026
Nick Moss
A fantastic trip, brilliantly organised by Jo at Aardvark. 4 locations across 2 countries, the itinerary worked really well with lots of variety, and the logisics worked like clockwork. The service from the agents on the ground was great.
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8/19/2026
Katie Garlinghouse
Aardvark Safaris was an absolute dream to work with from start to finish.
Tansy at Aardvark took the time to truly get to know me personally and planned a wonderful trip for our family, taking into account our specific requests for traveling with active and curious teens. I was nervous the kids wouldn't find the trip active enough, but boy, was I wrong. Tansy was thoughtful in her recommendations and helped plan many unique activities for us to experience Kenya beyond the game drives (though the game drives were awesome)!
Everything was exactly as described, and as extensive travelers we felt everything was well-planned and turnkey. We highly recommend your services and will definitely be back for future trips.
Thank you Tansy and Aardvark for a wonderful family safari! Our whole family, but especially our teens LOVED it!
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8/17/2026
David Highton
We had a superb safari holiday with Aardvark Safaris, which was very competently organised, we were well looked after throughout. Both lodges, Kicheche Valley Camp in the Masai Mara Conservancy, and Lewa House in Laikipia, were fantastic stays, with friendly, competent, welcoming Staff, very knowledgeable guides, great food, lovely tents/lodges.
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8/17/2026
Andrew Rowland
My journey through Botswana and Zambia was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life, filled with unforgettable moments, breathtaking scenery, fascinating wildlife, meaningful cultural encounters, and adventures that constantly reminded me how incredible the world truly is. From watching hundreds of wildebeest stretch across the horizon and seeing lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, giraffes, hippos, and the rare brown hyena in their natural habitats to riding safari vehicles through deep water, sleeping beneath the stars on the Ntwetwe Pan, flying over the Okavango Delta in a helicopter, fishing on the Zambezi River, and experiencing the immense power of Victoria Falls, I enjoyed every moment. My favorite experience was meeting the San people because learning about their traditions, history, connection with nature, music, language, and way of life gave me a completely different perspective on happiness and what truly matters in life. Throughout the journey, I found myself slowing down and appreciating things I often overlook, from a beautiful sunrise or sunset to a quiet breeze in a hammock, a conversation with someone from another part of the world, or simply watching animals live freely in their natural environment. I had never experienced nature on such a magnificent scale, and the vast landscapes of Africa taught me that life is not a race and that taking time to pause, recover, explore, and enjoy the world around me is just as important as working toward the future. I returned home with countless memories, a deeper appreciation for nature and different cultures, a greater understanding of the world, and a renewed sense of excitement about life and everything still ahead of me.
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8/11/2026
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