Horse Safaris in Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe Horse Safari

Join Us In The Saddle Within Africa’s Wilderness

Enjoying nature and seeing wildlife becomes a whole new experience when done from horseback. Cawston Encounters offer a tailor-made Zimbabwe horse safari to match client’s ability, confidence, and personal desire.

Experience the magic of a Zimbabwe horse safari in Zimbabwe at Cawston Encounters, a wonderfully authentic riding safari destination. Riding through the bush allows you to get closer to wildlife than in a vehicle, spotting giraffe, zebra, antelope, and cheeky warthogs from the saddle.

Whether you’re seeking a family-friendly riding holiday, a luxury African equestrian adventure, or a relaxed horse safari for beginners, our team tailors each ride to your group’s confidence and ability. From sunset horse rides to multi-day mobile rides under the stars, Cawston offers unforgettable encounters with nature and the freedom of Africa’s wilderness.

Best times to ride are April to November, but don’t forget green season (December – March) horseback safaris are thrilling in a very different way – discover lush landscapes alive with migratory birds and newborn wildlife.

We welcome mixed-ability groups (beginner to advanced) when booked as a group of friends/family travelling together.

Horse Safari
Sunset Horse Safari
Green Season Horse Safari

Zimbabwe Horse Safari – The Rides

We offer a variety of riding experiences to suit every preference. Guests can enjoy lodge-based rides, with all rides returning to the lodge for lunch and overnight stays. 

For a more adventurous option, consider our mobile rides, where you can ride out to our semi-rustic bush campsite with access to a flush toilet and shower.  For the really adventurous, you can choose our completely wild option with no modern amenities!  On a mobile ride you are welcome to assist in feeding, grooming, and tacking up your horse.  Meals are cooked over a campfire, and you’ll spend the night sleeping under the stars on stretchers or fold-out mattresses.  Our mobile rides are better suited for riders comfortable with longer hours in the saddle and faster paces.  For groups booking with mixed-ability riders, we can adjust routes and pace to accommodate everyone.

To add to the excitement, our 2.5 km equestrian cross-country bush course showcase numerous natural jumps, each from 60–90 cm.

We run set-date safaris, which are ideal for solo riders wishing to join a ride. All riders on these rides should be intermediate and above.

Zimbabwe Horse Safari
African Horse Safaris

The Horses

Our horses are a cherished part of the family, well-loved and cared for. Some have been rescued from abandoned farms and, despite their rough starts, are gentle and affectionate. We are home to over 20 horses, including a mix of thoroughbreds, Boerperds, and bush ponies, all well-suited to the bush environment.

Some of our rescue horses have past injuries that prevent them from being ridden, but we still give them the love and care they deserve, practicing holistic healing with all of our horses.

Our team consists of experienced bush horses to green-backed youngsters. We personally train and ride them using natural horsemanship methods, ensuring they are responsive, friendly, and happy.

Our horses are treated with the same respect as any member of the team, contributing to the smooth running of our safaris.

Tack & Equipment

Our tack is of excellent quality, and although we ride mostly with English GP saddles, we do have Australian stock saddles to fit different horses and cater for guests’ preferences.

We require all riders to wear a helmet. Should your helmet be with delayed luggage, we do have a few helmets for use. We suggest riders wear jodhpurs / riding trousers and boots/chaps for comfort.

Enock Horse Groom
Our Walking Safari

What Our Guests Say

  • Dear Juliet and Sean, Thank you very much for an awesome trip. Had a blast being in Zim for my first time and will certainly be returning at some point in the future. It was also a pleasure to meet Peter and riding out in the bush was great fun! Cheers.
    Testimonial 06
    Jonas S.
  • To the whole Cawston Team, Thank you for another wonderful trip, it’s a good place to recharge the batteries and get our bush fix! The game was plentiful, the kids had a gas and the memories made were many! Can’t wait to come back and find an illusive zebra. See you all soon.
    Testimonial 01
    The HillVillies
  • Dear Mr. Johnstone, Juliet, Sean and Luke, Thank you all for a wonderful experience at Cawston Ranch – hospitality unsurpassed and the bush thick and flourishing. Certainly 10 days that will be etched in our memories… we will be back. Kind Regards.
    Testimonial 02
    All the Hendersons
  • Thank you for a most beautiful and tranquil stay. Such an amazing place and managed with such precision. Stunning accommodation, bush and animals. Friendly and efficient staff. We will definitely be back. So lovely to meet Mr. Johnstone, an incredible man filled our evenings with incredible stories and Juliet, you are an amazing lady. Thank you again.
    Testimonial 04
    Du Toits
  • Dear All, wonderful stop over! Great facilities and friendly staff! Look forward to coming back in the dry season. Many Thanks.
    Testimonial 03
    The Kings & Kluckows

Horse Safaris FAQ

Important Information

We do not take riders weighing more than 95kg or 200lbs.

Our max group ride number is 8 guests.

The lower age limit to ride on a safari is 12 years and they must be confident at a trot, however, families with children under 12 years who wish to join a horse safari, must contact us to arrange a private safari.

For guests who are not on a horse safari who wish to ride, we offer leading rides for beginners and small children and can give one-off horse-riding lessons in our arena with advance notice.

We can cater for all riding abilities; however, we try to keep guests with similar abilities booked together on the same ride. Mixed-ability groups are welcome when booked as a single group. In such cases, your guide will, with safety in mind, make every effort to occasionally split the group, allowing for two different-paced rides to take place simultaneously.

Upon signing up to ride with us we will send you a questionnaire which will be used to match you up with the horse that best suits your ability and personality. Riders are always welcome to try a few horses and swap around within the group.

Non riding guests accompanying you can choose from a variety of other activities or choose to sit back and relax in our lodge, viewing wildlife from the deck or the pool.

Just like any regular horse-riding activity you will want to make sure you have proper riding jodhpurs / jeans, closed shoes/riding boots, and a helmet. We do have a small selection of helmets to borrow by request or if your luggage is lost on your travels to us. Pack plenty of sunscreen and shirts that cover your shoulders & arms as it can get hot out there. Some riding areas may be bushy or thorny, so it is advised to bring chaps and riding attire to protect your legs.

On the mobile safaris, you will need a day pack you can use to pack your personal toiletries and clothing for your time out there in the bush. You will not need to carry it with you on the horse, as we will have a back-up vehicle delivering all the supplies to the campsite.

We cater to all riding abilities, but only take small groups of beginners. We believe safety is key and so for riders of lower abilities we use our safest horses, and our guide will be there to coach you through the experience. Riding lessons are available at an extra cost.

For the more advanced riders we have a cross-country course, more technical riding terrain and places to canter and gallop.

Max number in a group of riders is 6. Max number of beginners in that group is 3.

When you get in touch with us for your booking, please let us know when you want to visit, a basic idea of the riding abilities of each person in the group and the ages of any children. If you want to do any mobile safaris, this has to be arranged at the time of booking and not on arrival in Camp.

When you confirm your booking, we will ask you for a detailed riding ability assessment of each Rider so that you can be paired with a horse that matches.

The Zimbabwean seasonal calendar provides different experiences for our riders. It really depends on what you want to experience!

Winters are but a dream if you come from colder climes. Cold nights and warm days, with no mosquitos and less bugs. Our coldest months are June and July. Temperatures can be freezing in the very early morning warming into the low 20’sC by midday.

Spring is August and Sept and is marked by often windy weather, hotter days and the odd budding tree. Sept to Nov Giraffes collect in huge herds along river lines searching for fresh new leaves.

Oct and Nov is this transitional period of dry to wet weather. The change in bush is magical and changes so speedily that from one day to the next you’ll notice the increase in leaf cover. This is definitely the hottest time of the year with temperatures reaching the high 30s (100F). The first thunderstorms of the season are highly electrical making for some spectacular views and sounds!

Dec to March is our rainy season and bush is lush and green. It’s the calving season for our antelope and every herd will boast calves. The bush can also be quite muddy so canters are reserved for firmer ground areas.

April and May the temperature is a little cooler but the bush is still beautiful and green yet slowly drying out.

Our conservancy is teeming with African wildlife. You are likely to see and be able to ride up close to giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, warthog, bushbuck, kudu, eland and sable; just to mention a few. There is also a wide variety of birdlife to see along your rides as well.

We do cater for some dietary requirements. All requirements must be submitted at booking. Some common requirements we cater to are gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy free.

Yes! However, rides are always carried out at the ability of the weakest rider for safety. Groups with mixed abilities may split for short canters a few times within a ride.

No. If some of the group would not like to ride or only want to ride for some of the duration of stay, they are welcome to stay in the lodge, use the pool, go on game drives or game walks, or sit in a blind for game viewing. This request can be made upon booking.

Encounters

Cawston is more than a safari; it’s a journey into a world where responsible tourism drives the preservation of habitats and the empowerment of local communities. Perfect for families, adventurers, and nature enthusiasts, this is your chance to embrace adventure with purpose.

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