Horseback rides and trails

If you dare, and if you can, one of the most unique ways to experience Namibia is from the back of a horse. Here are a number of options. 

The following trails are all offered by the Namibia Horse Safari Company.

• For accomplished riders there are several options, including the Namib Desert Ride of about 400 km starting in the Khomas Hochland and leading through the Kuiseb Canyon, Tinkas, Tumas and Welwitschia Plains, Moon Valley, the seasonal Swakop River and coastal dunes to the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Greater Fish River Canyon Ride traverses two private parks: the Gondwana and Aussenkehr parks (about 237 000 ha), combining dramatic canyon landscapes, spacious desert plains and the mighty Orange River, covering between 20–50 km per day over eight and a half days.
• On the Damara Elephant Ride, which takes eight days through vast open spaces on horseback, riders can expect to see elephant, giraffe and rhino in a desert habitat; ancient craters and other remnants from prehistoric times; and the forbidding Skeleton Coast. The ride also includes a half-day sightseeing at the famous Twyfelfontein engravings, a visit to a cultural village and the seal colony at Cape Cross.
• The two Sossusvlei Desert Horses rides (either 10 days, or 3–5 days) are only for those who have done one of the other rides with the Namibia Horse Safari Company. 
• The Desert Homestead, 35 km from Sossusvlei, offers accommodation in rock chalets with views across the Nubib Mountains. Under the trade name Desert Homestead & Horse Trails, the enterprise offers horse trails into the surrounding plains and watercourses, including horse sleep-outs (1–3 nights), sundowner and breakfast rides.

Desert homestead horses. Photo ©Marita van Rooyen

River Crossing, 3 km outside Windhoek en route to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, offers morning and afternoon rides. The pace is varied and suited to the weakest rider in the group.

Horse riding

Horse trails at BüllsPort are geared to experienced riders as well as beginners, and include several outrides of varying lengths as well as tailor-made overnight trails into the Naukluft with participants sleeping under the stars.

From just outside Swakopmund, Okakambe Trails offers tailor-made overnight trails into desert terrains varying from sand dunes and rocky plains to mountains and dry riverbeds. The daily distance covered is approximately 30 to 40 km, depending on the experience of the riders and the weather conditions. Day tours and out-rides are further possibilities.

Okapuka Horse Safaris offers rides close to Windhoek. Riders can expect to be on horseback for between 4 to 5 hours per day on willing, responsive Arabian horses, and usually between 6 to 8 days.

Just 15 kilometres north of Windhoek, Equitrails Namibia offers riding lessons, rides by the hour, champagne breakfast rides, picnic day rides, sundowner rides, and lodge-based excursions for beginner, intermediate and experienced riders.

The Namibia Endurance Ride Association (NERA) holds regular endurance competitions throughout the country, while show jumping, organised by the Namibian Equestrian Federation, is also popular. Dressage and horse racing are more equestrian sports to choose from.

Camel rides

A camel farm just outside of Swakopmund offers 20-minute, 40-minute, 1-hour and longer rides into the surrounding desert and Moon Landscape.