Horse holidays abroad · South Africa
Horse Riding Safari in South Africa: the Waterberg, the Lowveld and the Coast
A horse riding safari in South Africa is usually a week based at a lodge or camp in a game reserve, with mountain, beach and wine country trails of 4 to 7 nights as well.
- Best monthsAll year, dry May-Oct
- Level
Novice to expert - Typical trip5 to 7 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in South Africa involve?
- Best monthsAll year; May to October is dry, with cool nights
- Riding level
Beginner at some lodges; experienced for the big five reserves - Hours in the saddle2 to 6 hours a day
- Typical trip5 to 7 nights, with 5 or 6 riding days
- Weight limit85kg to 96kg, depending on the ride
- Group size6 to 12 riders at most, depending on the ride
- HorsesBoerperds, Thoroughbreds, Arabs, and Friesian and Shire crosses, 15hh to 17hh on safari
- TackSouth African trail saddles or English saddles, mostly with snaffle bridles
- AccommodationLodges and en-suite tented camps; guest houses on the coast trails
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is a horse riding safari in South Africa like?
A horse riding safari in South Africa usually means a week at one lodge or camp in a private reserve, riding out each day among plains game or the big five.
In the Waterberg, north of Johannesburg, you ride among giraffe, zebra, kudu and hippo, and one reserve there has elephant, rhino, lion and leopard. Near Kruger, the lowveld reserves have the big five as well.
On the big game rides there are long spells at a walk while the guide tracks game, broken by canters on open ground. Game drives and bush walks fill the rest of the day.
Away from the reserves you can ride mountain paths in the eastern Free State, beaches and river mouths on the Wild Coast, and farm and wine country in the Western Cape.
The Waterberg
The lowveld near Kruger
The eastern Free State
The Wild Coast
The Western Cape
When to go
When is the best time for a riding safari in South Africa?
You can ride in South Africa all year, and most lodges and reserves stay open through every season.
On the Wild Coast, November to April is hot with some rain, and May to October brings dry, warm days and cool nights. In the Waterberg the winters are dry and mild, and summer is warm with storms.
In the eastern Free State spring and autumn are the best seasons, because winter is cold with occasional snow. The Western Cape wine trail runs only in April, September and October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Your level
What riding level do you need for a riding safari in South Africa?
You can ride in South Africa as a beginner at a Waterberg lodge, but the big five reserves take experienced riders only.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You want to see big game from the saddle
- You are secure at every pace and can hold a light seat
- You like a lodge base with game drives and bush walks as well
It is not for you if
- You weigh more than 96kg in your riding clothes
- You are still learning to canter and want the big five
- You want to avoid a malaria area near Kruger
Among big game you need to be secure at every pace and able to hold a light seat, and one reserve asks you to jump small logs. The coast and mountain trails ask for a confident rider at walk, trot and canter in open country.
The weight limit runs from 85kg at one Waterberg lodge to 96kg near Kruger and in the Free State. Hard hats are compulsory in the Waterberg and on the Wild Coast.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in South Africa?
The safari horses are mixed strings of Boerperds, Thoroughbreds, Arabs, warmbloods, and Friesian and Shire crosses, standing from 15hh to 17hh near Kruger.
The Boerperd is a native South African breed. In the eastern Free State the string is Boerperds and retired Arab endurance horses raised on the mountainsides.
Most rides use South African trail saddles with snaffle bridles, with breastplates and cruppers on the mountain routes. The lowveld reserve near Kruger uses dressage and general purpose saddles.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding safari in South Africa?
You stay in a lodge or an en-suite tented camp in the reserve, and ride out from the same base each day.
Near Kruger the tents stand on wooden platforms with their own bathrooms. In the Waterberg you choose between lodge rooms and chalets, and the big five reserve has a river lodge of ten rooms with air conditioning.
On the Wild Coast you move between guest houses with en-suite rooms. One lodge in the Waterberg lies outside the malaria area, and the lowveld near Kruger lies inside it.
The cost
How much does a riding safari in South Africa cost?
A riding safari in South Africa is a higher price for a week at a Waterberg lodge, before flights, rising to a premium price in a big five reserve.
Wild Coast beach trail
Price guide
Higher
Waterberg lodge week
Price guide
Higher
Kruger big five week
Price guide
Higher
Waterberg big five safari
Price guide
Premium
A short coast trail is also a higher price, for four nights on the Wild Coast.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in South Africa?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Waterberg lodge ride
A Waterberg game farm with about 93 horses, plains game and polocrosse, outside the malaria area and open all year.
Kruger big five ride
Big five riding near Kruger from tented camps, on schooled horses of 15hh to 17hh in English saddles, with game drives included.
Free State mountain ride
A lodge in the eastern Free State near the Lesotho border, with long canters on the plains and steep, rocky mountain paths.
Wild Coast beach trail
Beach and river trails in the Eastern Cape from guest house to guest house, for up to 8 riders, in three versions of 4 to 7 nights.
Common questions
South Africa riding questions
Can you see the big five on horseback in South Africa?
Yes, in a few private reserves in the Waterberg and near Kruger. These reserves take experienced riders only, and sightings are never guaranteed.
Can beginners go on a riding safari in South Africa?
Yes, at a Waterberg lodge with plains game such as giraffe and zebra. The big five reserves are for experienced riders.
What is the weight limit on a South African riding safari?
It runs from 85kg to 96kg, depending on the ride. Some lodges make exceptions based on riding ability.
Is there malaria on a South African riding safari?
One lodge in the Waterberg is outside the malaria area. The lowveld reserves near Kruger are inside it.
What is a Boerperd?
The Boerperd is a native South African breed. Every big game string listed here includes Boerperds or Boerperd crosses.
Is South Africa good for a family riding holiday?
One lodge in the Waterberg suits families, with early dinners for children, a pool and rides for every level.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.