Ride World Wide "In a Nutshell" Guides
Africa
BOTSWANA
~ The Climate ~
| December - January | Wet season. Hot with strong chance of heavy rains. |
| February - April | Rains stop, gradually cooling. Seasonal rain brings zebra migration to the Kalahari. Good time to see baby animals in the Okavango |
| May - September | Floodwater arrives in the Okavango Delta, waterbirds, blue skies & almost no chance of rain, cool at night especially in June / July. Great time for boating, fishing & mokoro canoes. Dry season in the Kalahari |
| October - November | Getting hot again and water evaporating. Can be humid. Usually good game viewing. |
~ Areas & Camps / Safaris ~
The Okavango Delta Vast & pristine / amazing variety of animals (including the “Big 5”) and bird life. It’s flat and can be heavily grassed / wooded, so spotting game can be tricky at times
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It’s for you if… you want lots of fast, splashy canters followed by a sundowner or three |
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It’s for you if... you’d like to ride between two beautiful camps in a small group |
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It’s for you if… you want to have a real adventure - it’s the only fully mobile ride in the Delta |
The Kalahari Another vast and pristine area to explore. Desert landscape transformed with water holes and fresh grazing January to May; game viewing can be excellent at this time
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It’s for you if… you love endless space with the option to fly camp under the stars |
The Tuli Block Mashatu Game Reserve, SE Botswana; a very different landscape to the Delta with river valleys, sandy plains and rocky outcrops; usually good game especially elephant
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Limpopo Valley, Horizon Horseback Mashatu - The Tuli Safari It’s for you if… you’d like a fun, affordable, progressive safari on super horses |
KENYA
~ The Climate ~
| June - October | Dry season, cool and pleasant, unlikely to rain, little humidity. Wildebeest migration varies but normally from July onwards |
| November - December | The ‘short rains’ - often just localised showers in the afternoons |
| January - February | Often a dry spell in between the rains |
| March - May | The ‘long rains’, cloudy and can be a downpour on a daily basis - though it seldom lasts all day, and varies from year to year. |
~ Areas & Camps / Safaris ~
The Masai Mara Famous for excellent game viewing, especially the wildebeest migration. Rolling grasslands, endless views, the Mara River and rocky outcrops. Riding lets you go where others can’t
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It’s for you if… you want an exciting mobile safari with lots of game and possible migration |
The Laikipia Plateau Game is in smaller groups than the Mara but still plentiful; varied terrain with wooded areas, river valleys and rocky outcrops; mostly private land
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It’s for you if… you want to stay in a beautiful & welcoming colonial villa, like a house party with lovely horses, swimming pool and other activities on offer |
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It’s for you if… you want to stay somewhere a bit “special” with great riding & lots more |
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Offbeat Laikipia Lodge to Lodge Safari It’s for you if… you want a mobile safari but prefer a relaxed schedule and lodges to camping |
NAMIBIA
~ The Climate ~
| December - March | HOT. Some days will be humid and it may rain - often localised afternoon thunderstorms |
| April – May | Pleasant with good grazing and less dust after the rains |
| June - August | Clear skies, unlikely to rain, can be freezing in the desert at night |
| September – November | Warming up, can be dusty. Chance of rain in November |
~ Areas & Safaris ~
Namibia Horse Safari Company
It’s for you if… you like a fast, progressive ride, amazing desert landscapes with top horses and team
It’s not for you if… you prefer to see lots of greenery or are not riding fit - on long rides, the daily schedule is full on
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Open desert plains; mountain backdrop; possible to see desert elephant; ends on the Skeleton Coast |
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An ancient desert landscape, harsh at times but providing endless space to ride - long days, but rewarding as you finally reach the coast |
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From the Fish River Canyon to the Orange River; some days slightly slower with spectacular scenery and semi-permanent camps |
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One of the most scenic parts of Namibia, from the Namib “dune sea” to rolling grassy plains dotted with “island mountains”. |
SOUTH AFRICA
~ The Climate ~
| December - March | Summer months; can be hot during the day with afternoon showers / thunderstorms possible Bush vegetation getting thick |
| April - May | Autumn, clear warm and dry, pleasant temperatures. Bush is green and quite thick after rains |
| June - September | Winter, bright sunny days & clear skies, lovely for riding, can be cold at night. Bush dries out and leaves start to drop |
| October - November | Spring, temperatures rising and can be humid in build up to rain. Showers possible. Bright green leaves and buds on trees. |
~ Areas & Camps / Safaris ~
The Waterberg Beautiful rolling hills with wonderful views, immense variety of vegetation, areas of open grassland, rivers, rocky outcrops and woodland.
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It’s for you if… you want a comfortable, family friendly safari, lots of activities & safe riding |
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It’s for you if… you want a great value, friendly & relaxing base with plenty of lovely horses |
The Karongwe Private Game Reserve Close to the Kruger National Park, this fenced reserve has rolling terrain with rocky outcrops, river gullies & plenty of game - there’s a lot of vegetation but also sandy tracks for canters
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It’s for you if… you’d like to ride excellent horses and get up close and personal with wildlife |
TANZANIA
~ The Climate ~
| June - October | Dry season, pleasant temperatures getting a bit hotter towards October. Can be dry and dusty, with some humidity in the build up to short rains. |
| November - December | The ‘short rains’ - often just localised showers in the afternoons |
| January - February | Often a dry spell in between the rains. Wildebeest migration may arrive in Serengeti any time from late February through to March |
| March - May | The ‘long rains’ arrive some time in March; cloudy and can be a downpour on a daily basis - though usually localised and seldom lasts all day |
~ Areas & Safaris ~
Kaskazi Horse Safaris
It’s for you if… you’d like to get off the beaten track and explore new areas
It’s not for you if… you want loads of game - it can’t always be found in big, open country
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Kilimanjaro & Amboseli Varied terrain of open plains, scrub, desert flats & Maasai grazing land; Mt Meru, Longido & Kilimanjaro backdrop; good game but can be scattered |
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Natron Ride High & dry, little visited, remote and a harsh environment, the unique habitat of Lake Natron |
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Serengeti Safari Safaris on the never-ending grass plains of the Serengeti are timed to try and catch the wildebeest migration - it can’t be guaranteed, but has a good chance of being utterly spectacular! |
