the great ruaha ride
saddle up with kwandala
Ride along the Great Ruaha River, sleep beneath a sky full of stars, and wake each morning beside your horse. Kwandala Horse Safaris offer a rare opportunity to explore corners of the Ruaha River on horseback. This is a safari for the competent and the courageous. You must be entirely at home in the saddle at all paces and ready for the unpredictability of the bush. The riding is shaped by the wildlife and a diverse landscape. At times the pace is exhilarating, at others deliberate and technical.
where are we riding?
The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of Tanzania’s toughest, most honest wilderness. Located in the heart of the country, the Ruaha ecosystem is formed through a network of wildlife concessions, acting as a vital buffer between village, land and Ruaha National Park. Our safaris explore Ruaha’s wide sandy riverbeds, where hippos claim the last remaining pools, and elephants forge the paths we ride. This is a place of scale and contrast.
Famously known as “the home of the giants,” the Greater Ruaha ecosystem holds one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa alongside a staggering 10% of the worlds remaining lions. From the back of a horse, the hierarchy of the bush shifts. There is a quiet negotiation as you approach a herd of buffalo, and a mutual respect as you cross the fresh tracks of a pride that passed through only an hour before.
rider requirements
Your safety is our highest priority. This is not for first-time horse safari travellers. Riders must be fit and comfortable to ride for several hours each day on safari. This ride is fast-paced, traversing a multitude of environments, in an area abundant with wild animals. Encounters with wildlife are natural and unscripted. It is therefore essential for riders to be confident, fit and experienced. If you are unsure of your riding level, please let us know and we can advise you honestly.
Please note that our weight limit is strictly 95Kg
life on safari
arrival day
From the moment you arrive in Tanzania, we'll take care of the logistics so you can focus on the adventure ahead.
Please arrive before midday on the start date. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, a member of the Kwandala team will meet you at the airport. Depending on your flight arrival time, you'll have access to a nearby hotel with day rooms where you can shower, relax, enjoy a meal and meet the rest of your group before your scheduled domestic flight to Iringa.
Your guide will meet you at the Iringa airport, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in a boutique hotel. It's a chance to settle in, get to know your fellow riders and ease into the rhythm of safari life before the adventure truly begins. The next morning starts with a tasty breakfast before getting on the road for a 3 hour drive into the heart of Ruaha. We join the team and horses for lunch, then after the briefing, it’s time to mount up for the afternoon introduction ride.
a day on safari
Your next few days follow a natural, unhurried routine. You will ride approximately 6 hours per day, broken into longer mornings and shorter afternoon rides, with a well deserved rest during the midday sun.
departure day
On your final morning, there is time for one last ride before returning by vehicle to the airport for your scheduled evening flight back to Dar es Salaam. Should you wish to extend your stay in Tanzania, we're always happy to assist with additional accommodation, transfers or onward travel arrangements.
Exploratory safaris
Our exploratory rides in Ruaha are designed for experienced riders seeking adventure beyond the ordinary.
Tailor-made safaris
Bespoke horseback safaris through Ruaha. Tailor-made safaris are designed around your pace, interests and sense of adventure.
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Professionally trained armed guides and equestrian specialists
A full team including grooms, tent stewards, chefs, waiters, and rangers
The safari horses with all their necessary tack and equipment
Accommodation for the duration of the safari
All meals and beverages
Scheduled chartered flights to and from Dar es Salaam to the closest bush airstrip
Airport transfers, including to the hotel on arrival, to the domestic airport and all transport in the bush
Conservation and park fees
Emergency evacuation, providing rapid air or ground extraction to the nearest appropriate medical facility for medical assessment and initial treatment. All medical care and costs after evacuation are the responsibility of the guest’s personal travel insurance
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International flights
Medical vaccine costs (please discuss with your doctor regarding the recommended vaccines for travel to Tanzania).
Tanzania entry visa
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (souvenirs)
Personal riding gear (appropriate clothing, boots, helmet, gloves etc).
Emergency evacuation beyond the standard plan
Optional additional activities not included in the itinerary
FAQ’s
on ruaha
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Ruaha is one of the wildest and richest ecosystems in East Africa, however big game encounters are never staged or guaranteed.
Elephant sightings are common, alongside giraffe, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, impala, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and a huge variety of birdlife. Lion, leopard, african wild dogs and hyena are also often sighted.
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Riding in big game country always carries an element of unpredictability, which is part of what makes these safaris so extraordinary. Safety comes from well trained horses and experienced wildlife guides with a solid understanding of reading animal behaviour and a good respect for the wildlife and their environment.
Upon arrival guests are given a thorough briefing. Each ride hosts two armed guides who are trained to make decisions based on the conditions, terrain and animal behaviour.
Our horses are experienced bush horses, and are fully accustomed to wildlife encounters.
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Yes. The standard weight limit for our safaris is 95kg. This is for the welfare of the horses and to ensure they remain comfortable and capable over long days in demanding conditions.
In some cases, exceptions may be possible depending on the riders experience, balance and fitness. An option for a second horse is subject to availability of horses and must be discussed in advance before booking.
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Riding in this area is for experienced riders only. Guests must be confident riding at all paces in open country and comfortable managing tricky terrain, wildlife encounters and long hours in the saddle. This ride is not for first time riding safari goers.
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All Kwandala safaris operate in remote parts of Tanzania where medical facilities are not immediately accessible. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is mandatory for all riders.
We are registered through rescue.co, ensuring every rider has emergency medical evacuation if the situation should ever occur where it may be necessary.
All guides carry emergency communication equipment, and evacuation procedures are in place should they ever be required.
Guests are fully briefed before the safari begins.
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4-6 hours
Our rides are normally structured with longer mornings and shorter afternoons.
This is an active safari and riders should arrive with a reasonable level of fitness and stamina.
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Soft safari-style luggage is preferred due to charter flights and the mobile nature of the safari. Minimal packing is essential; neutral-coloured riding clothes, comfortable riding boots and chaps, riding helmet, lightweight layers, sun protection, waterproof jacket and a warm layer for the cooler mornings and evenings are all recommended.
A full packing list will be sent to each guest upon booking a safari with all the essentials needed for riding, camp life and internal travel within Tanzania.
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No. Particularly on exploratory rides, routes are intentially flexible. Weather, wildlife movement, ground conditions and access all influence the journey.
Some days involve covering significant distance, while others slow down to spend more time within a particular area. Our safaris are designed around the landscape and the wildlife, not a fixed route.
Our Ruaha gallery
