Being mounted on a horse or a camel gives you quite a different perspective on your African safari, and it’s one I greatly enjoy. The two experiences are quite different, with safari horses being plucky but generally more placid, while camels can be a little more wilful.
If you’re an experienced rider, you must try cantering across the African savannah, with the horse’s hooves drumming out ancient rhythms. Always superbly trained, your trusty steed won’t shy or rear at any sudden surprises. Riding through the wilderness in Kenya always seems particularly appropriate – this is after all the land of the four-legged journey.
Wildlife generally reacts with mild curiosity, but no alarm – meaning that you can enjoy close encounters. The presence of camels signifies the climatic and cultural shift as you head further north into East Africa, and camel trekking through the arid landscapes of Samburu has an authentic flavour of desert romance.