Escape the Ordinary: A Day On An African Horse Safari

An African horse safari was an exhilarating adventure! I want to share what a typical day on a horse safari is like based on my experience in Botswana. While this could vary by destination, or camp, this is what I experienced.

Mornings on an African horse safari

The day starts early – that’s true of safaris in general though!  Around 6a.m., you get a wake up call with coffee or tea brought to your tent.  Breakfast was ready at 6:30a.m.  We had boiled eggs, cereal, juices, toast, jams, and other spreads. You would come to breakfast dressed in your riding and afterward walk down to the barn.

The Morning Ride

Morning rides started at 7a.m., horses were tacked up and ready when you arrived at the barn.  Riding groups were 5-6 people maximum.  For every ride, there were two guides with you. There was one at the front leading the group (he carried a rifle), and one at the back.  Morning rides are longer 4-5 hours with a faster pace – meaning long canters and gallops.  We would stop to view wildlife and take photos.  The guides were very knowledgeable and shared information about herds or the interactions we witnessed.  Halfway through the ride, we would dismount for a short break and have some snacks. 

Sightings

On one of the morning rides we saw a group of three hyenas resting at a watering hole. A herd of elephants passed by, one of which was a young baby.  The hyenas got up and pursued it. We were all on the edge of our seats, hoping the baby would make it.  The reaction from the mom and other nearby elephants was swift and intense.  The mother charged the hyenas, making lots of noise, waving her trunk and alerting the entire herd and was aided by another adult.  The tiny baby ran so quickly, other adults came to its aid to the safety of the herd by other adults.  Even though the hyenas retreated and gave up, the mother elephant kept pushing them further away and eventually rejoined the herd waiting nearby with the baby.

Throughout all this noise, commotion, movement, the horses did not flinch at all.  That whole encounter was amazing to watch close up! Elephants have a beautiful bond and community with each other.

Afternoons on an African horse safari

When we got back we had time to freshen up and get ready for lunch.  Sometimes lunch would be pasta, a salad, with a variety of sides like garlic bread, and beverages. It was tasty and there was always a lot to eat during each meal, which is good because I was always hungry after the rides.

Break

After lunch we had free time for a few hours.  People would read a book, take a nap, or hang out in their tents.  There was also a pool, a hammock, self-serve beverage with lots of choice for both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. You could also go to the WiFi spot at camp and check your social media, email etc.  This was the hottest period of the day so there were usually no planned activities. 

Then around 4-4:30p.m. we would get together as a group for afternoon tea/coffee.  You come dressed in riding gear. 

Evenings on an African horse safari

Afterward the break and drinks, we would walk to the barn and mount up for the evening ride.

The Evening Ride

Evening rides started around 5p.m., and were shorter at around 2-2.5 hours.  These rides were slower paced, walking/trotting only.   We would stop to watch wildlife and take photos. Having a change of pace between the morning and evening rides was so nice.  The evening rides were relaxing, and we got to see some really nice savanna sunsets. 

Dinner and Drinks

After the evening ride, the group would briefly gather at the main mess tent, have a drink and chat about the rides that day.  There is a break to go back to your tents, shower, change, freshen up for dinner.

We had dinner around 8p.m. The menu always included multiple courses and was delicious!  I was so surprised that they prepared an Indian dinner one night! It included veggie samosas, papadum, chicken tikka, and basmati cumin rice.  I did not expect to get a nice Indian dinner in the middle of Africa. Dinners always included a dessert (which I loved)!  Some of the desserts were panna cotta, goat milk cheesecake, and sticky toffee pudding.  

After dinner, the group would usually hang out for a bit to chat and have drinks.  Camp staff escort you back to your tent at night.  Depending on which tent you were in, it could be a bit of a walk, so it was for safety. 

Additional activities

This is a pretty thorough recap of a typical day on a horse safari, the itinerary did not really change much.  The rides sometimes could be a little bit longer depending on the sightings, and how much time you spend observing the animals.  There was also an option to do a game drive – instead of a ride.   

Another optional activity was to do a campout one night.  That night, everyone came to dinner in pajamas.  After dinner, we drove out to a treehouse.  Comfortable mattresses covered in fly nets were already set up.  There was an outhouse at the treehouse, you would be escorted by a guide to use it after dark.  Down below, we sat around the campfire for a bit and then climbed up to the treehouse to sleep.  It brought me back to my Girl Scouts days.  I mentioned to the group the only thing missing is smores.  Since the group was from all over the world, most didn’t know what smores were so, I had the chance to explain smores techniques!  It was amazing sleeping under the stars, listening to animal sounds.