When I first heard the word safari, I imagined dusty Jeep rides across the African plains, with lions lounging under acacia trees and elephants trampling through the tall grass. But nothing could have prepared me for the life-changing experience of a horseback safari through Mashatu Reserve in Botswana. This wasn’t going to be your typical adventure, and it was certainly going to be more than just a trip—this was going to be a whole new way of seeing Africa, and the world, from the back of a horse.
Mashatu is a vast wilderness, nicknamed the “Land of Giants,” home to some of the biggest animals on earth. We’re talking elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. And it’s not just the big game you know, but also animals like the eland—the largest antelope in the world.
You can imagine my excitement when I was told I would be riding through this wild beauty on horseback. I was about to become part of the landscape, fully immersed in the sounds, sights, and feels of Africa.
The Journey Begins
Once we left the tarmac road behind, it hit me—we were officially in wild Africa. The road turned into a rough, bumpy track, and civilization seemed to disappear as villages got smaller and less frequent. The Mashatu Reserve is massive—almost 70,000 acres of wilderness. No phone signal. No 5G. It was just us, the horses, and the wild animals, living in the moment.
The horse I was paired with was a 15-hand Boerperd named Pryzma, and he was going to be my partner for the next seven days. As I saddled up for our first ride, I could tell that Pryzma was calm but ready—you could feel it in his movements.
The terrain was rough, but I was in good hands. Our guides, Mpho and Max, were local experts, armed for safety, and had been riding in the bush their whole lives. Our first ride was an easy trek to Tree Camp, a campsite built 13 feet up in a giant Mashatu tree. There were beds, solar-heated showers, and even electricity powered by solar panels.
As I lay in bed that night, I could hear the distant laughs of hyenas, the deep roars of lions, and the soft, steady noises of the horses below. It was like the earth itself was alive.
The Elephants
After a quick breakfast the next morning, we set off our first full day of riding at around 5 a.m. on a 12-mile trek to Kgotla Camp. I could tell Pryzma was just waiting for the moment when we could break into a smooth canter. And when we did, it was incredible. There’s something about riding in the open African landscape that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger, more primal.
We passed herds of giraffe, zebra, warthogs, and antelope. But the best part? The elephants.
The first time I saw them up close, I was blown away. They are so big, but they’re also surprisingly quiet. As we rode closer, I realized how easy it was for these massive creatures to blend into the bush. They just went about their business, slowly moving around a water hole, their trunks softly reaching out to touch each other, like they were saying hello.
The experience lasted only 20 minutes, but it felt like hours. There was no engine noise, no distractions—just the raw beauty of nature.
Later in the week, we were riding along a riverbed when we spotted a herd of elephants crossing. Suddenly, one adult elephant started walking toward us, ears flapping and trunk raised. It was a warning. We’d been trained for moments like this—elephants sometimes make “mock charges” to show they feel threatened, but as long as we stayed calm and backed off slowly, we’d be OK.
The elephant stopped just a few feet from us, trumpeted one last time, and turned back into the bush. My heart was racing, but it was also amazing—to be that close to an elephant in the wild, feeling its presence, its power, was something I will never forget.
The Magic of Africa
The whole safari was full of moments like that. We were riding at sunrise when Mpho spotted something moving in the tall grass. Slowly, a sleek, lithe cheetah appeared. It looked at us for a moment, then melted back into the grass like it had never been there.
Each evening, we’d ride back to camp as the sky turned all kinds of vibrant colors. It felt like the whole world was slowing down, and the beauty was endless. But the best part? Doing it all on horseback. You’re so much more in tune with the land and the animals. There’s no glass window or engine noise between you and nature. You’re part of it.
There’s no way to fully explain the way you feel when you’re riding alongside elephants, or the sense of freedom you get when you’re in the middle of Africa with nothing but a horse and the horizon. It was a safari I’ll never forget, and one that will always be a part of me.
Special thanks to Horizon Horseback for the incredible experience.
This article about Esme’s horseback safari appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
