Travel to the beautiful East African country of Tanzania, where you can visit national parks, see diverse wildlife, and experience the African wilderness. Climb on the back of a trusty steed and follow your guide through the Tanzanian wilds.
Horseback riding in Tanzania is one of the best ways to explore the landscape. You’ll be able to enjoy the gorgeous scenery and partake in the culture all from the back of a stunning horse. Horse Tours Club can help you create the dream equestrian vacation.
Equestrian History of Tanzania
Horses aren’t native to Tanzania. European settlers introduced them to southern Africa in the 1650s. Unlike many other areas where horses were introduced, horses never really took hold in Tanzania, and their population remains small to this day.
While the country has a lot of livestock, horses only make up a small portion of it today. The animals are mostly used for horseback safaris in Tanzania, but they are also utilized as stock horses on ranches, for polo clubs, and for leisure riding near cities such as Dar es Salaam.
Tanzanian Breeds
There are a range of horse breeds in Tanzania, including the Boerperd and the Namib Desert Horse.
The Boerperd, a re-creation of the traditional Cape Horse or old-type Boer Horse, is a modern breed originating in South Africa. This breed is sturdy and well-muscled. It is known for its versatility, intelligence, and hardiness.
The Namib Desert Horse is a feral breed from the Namib Desert in Namibia. No one knows for sure how these horses originated, but they seem to have adapted to the desert conditions. They are hardy and athletic.
Your Horse Tour in Tanzania
Your horse riding safari in Tanzania will be full of adventure, whether you’re a beginning, intermediate, or expert rider.
You can visit the Serengeti, a geographical region known for being the location of the Great Migration (also known as the Great Wildebeest Migration). Over 2 million animals participate in this migration every year. You may be able to see the wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles as they move across the country in a clockwise direction.
The Serengeti is also full of breathtaking views and cultural diversity. The vast plains appear to go on forever. You don’t want to miss this destination.
Or you can participate in a once-in-a-lifetime Kilimanjaro elephant ride. Near Mount Kilimanjaro, you can ride your horse among wild elephants, the biggest land mammals in the world. Connect to nature by getting up close to these majestic creatures.
In Arusha National Park, you can explore the rainforest. As you ride between the trees, you may be able to spot buffaloes and giraffes. There’s even a chance you’ll see elephants and leopards and some even rarer species like the suni, the red duiker, Hartlaub's turaco, and the colobus monkey.
Your guide will take you on the trails Margarete Trappe used to ride, and you’ll pass her old house, Momella. Trappe was a German-British wildlife hunter, the first female professional hunter in East Africa. She emigrated to the area in 1906 with her husband. They built a farm and became acquainted with the land. It’s said that when she died, a herd of elephants came to say goodbye. Roam through the area where Trappe and her family used to explore.
Ride to one of the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro, then take a quick car ride to a nearby waterfall. Enjoy lunch near the water. Then you can visit the Momella lakes, where you have a chance to see some hippos and water birds.
Interact with people of different cultures as you ride through the Tanzanian farmland and the Maasai Steppe, a landscape that covers more than 24,000 square miles (40,000 square km). The Maasai people live in the area and often water their cattle where you’ll stop to water the horses.
On your horse safari, visit the Seven Sisters, a group of seven hills near Sinya Village. After riding through the village, you’ll trot through both grasslands and forests where you may see more animals such as zebras, giraffes, or wildebeests. Keep an eye out for the Gerenuk, a shy species of antelope in the area.
Canter along the beach of Lake Natron, where you’ll be stunned by the red waters of the mineral-rich soda lake. This alkaline lake is the breeding ground for thousands of flamingos. You’ll have the chance to see the birds up close and take in the surrounding beauty of the area.
You can also visit the only active volcano in Africa. Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning Mountain of God, has erupted just in the last few years. It’s a rare volcano because it erupts natrocarbonatite, which is a cooler form of magma than most volcanoes usually have. Explore the area around the volcano and take in its beautiful cone shape.
Get some reprieve from the hot African sun when you ride through a shady riverbed. When you stop to take a break, you’ll be able to rest underneath some big acacias. The next day, after your big ride, you’ll be able to relax in some hot springs. During the day, let the water loosen your muscles and wash off the dirt, then take an evening ride when the air gets cooler to search for hyenas and jackals where they rove the mud flats of the lake.
Tanzania has so many options for adventure. With everything from plains to mountains to lakes to forests—and let’s not forget the incredible wildlife—a horse riding safari here will be the trip of a lifetime. Horse Tours Club can help you plan the perfect vacation. We provide global horse riding tours, ensuring safety and quality for our customers. Book your Tanzanian horseback riding tour through Horse Tours Club today!
