The Side Effects of a Really Good Riding Holiday

A few years ago, Africa Horse Safaris published a blog called “Why You Should Never Go On a Horse Safari in Africa.” In it, they raised several excellent points — like, “The landscapes are average at best… and you probably won’t see any other people the entire time,” and, “You have to ride for hours through the vast wilderness just to reach your destination.”

But we’re not convinced they went far enough.

After all, don’t you — the unsuspecting public — deserve to know the potential side effects of a riding holiday in Africa? And no, I’m not talking about tick-bite fever or saddle rubs. I mean the true nitty-gritty — the stuff that lingers long after you’ve left and tugs at your heartstrings for years to come.

Are you feeling brave? Then let’s jump right in!

Actually, one warning should be issued straight away: If you’re experiencing a sense-of-humour failure, please save this blog for another day! Thank you.

Side Effect #1: One is Never Enough

The trouble with riding in Africa — and especially on the Wild Coast, where those long beach canters are impossible to replicate anywhere else — is that it’s highly addictive. You start off thinking you’ll just treat yourself to one riding holiday on the other side of the world, and before you know it, you’re busy booking another one for next year… and the one after that!

Just look at Tony Marshall: he came for a quick week-long trail about 10 years ago and has since endured more than 100 riding holidays around the world…

…proof that once horses get under your skin, resistance is futile.

Side Effect #2: You’ll Never Forget

Flying along the coastline with nothing but the thunder of horses’ hooves and the roar of waves crashing onto the shore in your ears is an unforgettable experience. And once you’ve experienced it, you won’t be able to erase it. Every time you step into the stirrup or swing into the saddle, the memories will come flooding back, overwhelming you with a sense of pure freedom — and an overwhelming desire to do it all again!

Side Effect #3: All Other Holidays Will be Ruined

Remember how a hiking holiday in the Peak District or a relaxing beach escape on the Mediterranean used to excite you? Well, no more. From now on, every other type of holiday will fade into insignificance beside the adventure you had on a riding holiday in Africa!

Forget lounging by the pool or slurping green smoothies at a luxury spa — nothing will ever compare to the thrill of galloping along a wild coastline with the wind in your face and a good horse beneath you.

Side Effect #4: Heightened Expectations

One of the worst things about a beach riding holiday is the constant stream of surprises — whether it’s a pig exploding out of a bush, dolphins leaping through the surf, or stumbling across a local ceremony unfolding right there on the sand.

Whatever you encounter, it rewires something in you. Your “normal” life will suddenly feel a little… underwhelming. After all, once you’ve cantered past dolphins, how are you meant to get excited about the weekly grocery run?

Side Effect #5: Distorted Sense of Time

When you spend five or six hours in the saddle, time passes in the blink of an eye. You only realise you spent 20 minutes cantering along a never-ending beach when your fitness tracker politely informs you afterward.

The entire 8-day holiday whizzes by so quickly that it feels like you barely had time to leave the airport before you were already heading home again.

But then — cruelly — the return journey stretches on forever and eventually deposits you back at your desk, where the hours slow to a painful crawl. Suddenly, five minutes feels like fifty, and you find yourself wondering if time only works properly on horseback.

Side Effect #8: The Great Weight-Loss Betrayal

Yes, you ride for hours every day. Yes, you’re outside, active, and living your best adventurous life. But sadly, none of this stands a chance against the food. From homemade breads and braais to decadent puddings and dangerously good snacks, you’ll end up eating so well that the scale back home will wonder if you’ve been on a culinary retreat rather than a riding holiday. But still. It’s probably worth it.

Conclusion

While I’ve done my best to highlight the most dangerous aspects of a horse riding holiday in Africa, I’m probably only just scratching the surface. I haven’t even touched on the part where you start weighing up the pros and cons of ditching your job to move to Africa simply so you can enjoy more riding, or the endless journeys where you find yourself asking, “Could I ride a horse there?” (As far as we’re concerned, the answer is always yes!)

So, before you bite the bullet and book our signature Wild Coast Horse Trail for 2026, consider yourself suitably warned. After an experience like this, you won’t be the same person — and you won’t even want to be. Your goals will shift, your expectations will soar to the highest peaks, and every other holiday you’ve ever taken will suddenly feel… a little disappointing. So what are you waiting for? Click below to book a trail and change your life!