Horseback Safari at Aquila Game Reserve

Ditch the regular, old game drive and saddle up for an up-close experience with South Africa’s creatures

Aquila Game Reserve in the southern Karoo (about two hours from Cape Town) offers visitors who don’t want to travel too far from the Mother City a chance to get up close and personal with the Big Five on classic game drives. But for those who want to get even more intimate with the beasts of the bush, there’s the option to experience it all cowboy-style on the horseback safari.

The quirky take on wildlife viewing is led by knowledgeable guides who help you canter across the plains in search of even more surreal animal sightings. The horseback expeditions are done either in the morning or the afternoon and last between one and a half and two hours – no riding experience is necessary.

You’ll get introduced to your four-legged companion and set up with a helmet, a bottle of water and safety tips for the journey (like, don’t scream); then, once all the riders are saddled up and ready to go, the guide take everyone into the ‘wild’ section of the conservancy. There’s plenty of opportunity to view zebra, giraffe, springbok and eland from mere metres away; though, for safety’s sake, the horses don’t get as close to the elephants, rhino or buffalo (and you don’t have to worry about running into the more ferocious members of the Big Five either). Because these rides aren’t restricted by wheels or roads, guests get to see Aquila’s fynbos-filled veld from a unique perspective and can reach the animals no matter where they are in the park.

Whether you’re familiar with African wildlife or you’re seeing it all for the first time, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience simply because you get to be just a little bit closer to nature and truly in touch with the breathtaking environment.

Cost and Booking Info for a Horseback Safari at Aquila Game Reserve

Aquila offers both horseback safari day tours and overnight experiences.

Guests coming for the mere morning or afternoon can opt for just the horseback safari or a day trip combo, which includes a standard game drive too. Both package options also treat guests to a breakfast and lunch buffet and a visit to the Animal Rescue & Conservation Centre (ARC). Aquila also offers transfers to and from Cape Town for an additional R750p/p.

Overnight visitors who’d like to add a horseback safari to their accommodation package will need to pay R760p/p. Note, it’s not possible to substitute a horseback safari for a standard game drive.

The minimum age requirement for the horseback safari is 16 years and the maximum weight allowed is 95kg.  

The itinerary and costs are as follows:

Visit Aquilasafari.com for more details. To make bookings, call +27 (0) 861 737 3783 or email res@aquilasafari.com.

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Discover more of what Cape Town has to offer

Horse riding lessons, kids party venue, touch farm + more at The Riding Centre. 

Can’t get enough of the wild? Read more about our overnight stay at Aquila Game Reserve. Watch a video of the newly born baby white rhino in South Africa.

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