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Travel: Into the heart of Africa
TRAVEL
Into the heart of Africa
Does the idea of an African safari entice you? Combine it with a touch of wine tasting, and MATHILDE GREGOIRE has you covered.
The word ‘safari’ comes from the Swahili language. It means ‘long journey’ – add in a horseback element and suddenly you have a fantastic opportunity for experienced and adventurous riders to test their
limits. Nothing will fire your adrenalin like riding alongside Africa’s Big Five – the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and African buffalo – as you venture off the beaten track into the vast landscape and encounter wildlife up close. With many different types of safaris on offer, we have focused on two exceptional options, one in Kenya, East Africa, and the other in South Africa’s Winelands region.
Kenyan safari
As a seasoned traveler and experienced equestrian, Rebecca Turk recently fulfilled a lifelong dream: an eight day safari on horseback in Kenya. Traveling between four campsites along the border of the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, she tells the story of her adventure with Safaris Unlimited. Galloping alongside a herd of zebras was one of the highlights: “Such a thrill to follow our guide Gordie as he wove between different groups of zebras at a full gallop. Another very exciting moment was the crossing of the Mara river, with the knowledge that there are crocs and hippos about!”
The Safari Unlimited experience usually consists of a morning and an evening ride, while some days include longer stretches. For their comfort, guests can at any time choose to travel in a jeep instead of on horseback. A variety of breeds and types of horse are available: from Quarter Horses to Friesian crosses and South African Boerperds, all are well-trained and used to encountering wildlife. “They were all very rideable, able to gallop in a group while still maintaining control, could confidently cross deep rivers, were sure-footed on all types of terrain, and were very polite on the ground,” Rebecca recalls.
But would you feel comfortable riding so close to wildlife and predators? Rebecca did not seem fazed: “I felt one hundred per cent safe. I always felt that our guide was being cautious and conservative with how we approached the wild animals. You could tell he had a strong sense of which animals were dangerous and what their body language was saying. He did not carry a gun, only a bullwhip.”
The atmosphere, Rebecca says, is like no other. “It’s feeling as though you are part of a really caring family while being at a five-star hotel. The food was incredible: full breakfasts, lunches and three course dinners. Being woken up in the morning by two crew members bringing you hot tea and a freshly made shortbread cookie, having your boots polished while taking sundowners at the fire, bucket showers with water at a temperature to suit you, everyone knowing your name and asking how you were – you just felt genuinely cared about.”
For experienced riders, Safaris Unlimited offers horseback safaris during the June to October dry season. And if that particular adventure is now on your list for 2023, be warned, you’ll need a few days to recover from the magic before you settle back into everyday life!
South to the Cape
Cape Winelands Riding is located in South Africa’s beautiful Winelands region, just an hour’s drive east of Cape Town. If breathtaking scenery interspersed with memorable wine tastings grabs your undivided attention, Cape Winelands is for you. Guests are based at the riding centre and enjoy treks winding through the mountains, valleys, vineyards and wine estates of South Africa’s Western Cape.
Cape Winelands Riding welcomes riders of intermediate to advanced levels. Their herd includes a wide variety of horses from Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, to a mixture of local breeds. Comfortable English style trail saddles are the order of the day, while the horses are ridden bitless or in a simple bit.
Louis Geyser, Cape Winelands Riding’s owner, describes the center’s offerings as a relaxing gourmet experience and the perfect complement to a safari. “If clients combine their holiday with a safari ride they normally visit us after the safari as the Cape Winelands experience is like a holiday from your holiday. The pace is relaxed with the opportunity to sleep in rather than being up at the crack of dawn to chase down animal sightings.”
For those wanting to see nature in full bloom, the best time to travel is either in October, or in April as temperatures start to cool and autumn dresses the vineyards in a tapestry of glowing colour. If guests wish to take a day off from riding, a plethora of activities are available, including a visit to Cape Town, or exploring the nearby towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, all of which have a rich history and some truly wonderful food options. Other outdoors activities include hiking, mountain biking, and golf, or a visit to the nearby crocodile, ostrich, eagle, and cheetah farms.
To book your horseback Safari in Kenya, visit Safaris Unlimited and in South Africa contact Cape Winelands Riding.
