There are some long days in the saddle. Some walking whilst searching for game and stationary game watching, but also lots of good opportunities for canters whilst ducking and jumping across logs on the elephant trails - you just never know what the elephants may have left around the corner! At times, it feels like playing video games on horseback and great fun, but you'll need to be agile and well balanced in the saddle. You'll be also riding in areas with big game and this ride is suitable only for strong intermediate and advanced riders.

Day 1

Arrival at Victoria Falls Airport, meet and greet by a road transfer company, followed by a two to three hour drive to Iganyana Wild. Afternoon tea, briefing, indemnity signing, intro to the horses, and then onto the horses for a short ride. This ride is very important to match you to the correct horse. Back to fabulous Iganyana Wild Camp, sundowners, hot showers, dinner, and peaceful sleep in the spacious ensuite tents.

Day 2

Rise and shine with early morning tea and coffee and a light breakfast. Today we will explore the Dete Vlei and surrounds on Horseback. More time to adapt to our riding style in the bush, the tack and horses. Any changes required will be done on this day. We may ride for the whole day or we may ride in the morning for 3 to 4 hours and again in the afternoon for a shorter ride. This evening we return to Iganyana Wild for our second night.

Day 3

Early morning wake up, tea and coffee around the campfire, pack, breakfast and game drive to Main Camp in Hwange National Park. This is only a short drive of half an hour to perhaps an hour depending on sightings of wildlife. Check-in and payments at the Tourism office, then mount up and ride into the park, or gamedrive deeper into the Park, meet the horses and ride to the campsite. Overnight with sundowners, hot showers, and dining under the stars.

Day 4

Another early morning start – of which time does vary according to the seasons, mid-year being very cold first thing in the morning and thus starts being a bit later around 7am; October, November, and December being very hot days and therefore wake up calls at 5am are sometimes being required.

Onto the horses and out to explore the area again. There are no set routes and the ride is conducted according to what sounds were heard during the night, animal tracks, weather conditions, and many other factors. The day may be a half-day or a full day out with a picnic lunch near a waterhole for wildlife viewing. If lunch is at camp, then it is also an opportunity in the afternoon to do a safari walk or drive. There are a few other waterholes that are worth visiting if guests have good cameras and lenses or are interested in birding. Also, the guide may decide that an early morning walk or drive is going to be better and may then switch the order of the day to a non-riding activity in the morning and a ride in the afternoon. This also depends on the need for horses to rest before a long day tomorrow. Whatever happens, there will be cold drinks around the campfire and a hearty dinner in camp.

Day 5

Today we ride from Camp Baikiaea for a full day out to Kennedy Camp. This is a ride of approximately 30 to 40 kms. It will be through the Zambezi teak and acacia woodlands, passing waterholes which may or may not have water in, with a picnic lunch on route. Arrive late afternoon to Kennedy Camp, settle in with sundowners, and welcome hot showers followed by yet again a delicious dinner, very comfortable beds with hot water bottles for winter.

Day 6

This day will be spent in the Kennedy 2 area of the Park in some very beautiful Acacia groves. The camp is set along the Kennedy Vlei which is a renowned area for wildlife viewing. Options here are riding, walking, or a safari drive in the morning. Much will again be dependent on possible wildlife sightings and activity and time of year as to what riding we will do. A good option is to take a drive to the Ngweshla area not far from camp as it is generally a very productive wildlife area where often a resident pride of lions takes charge.

Day 7

Final early morning wake up to enjoy the dawn in the African bush around the fire. Light breakfast and onto the horses for a 14km or upto 25km ride (dependent on the time of year and early morning wildlife activity) to a point where the horse truck will meet us. There we will end the ride, load the horses, and have a safari drive out of the Park back to Iganyana Wild for the night. Sundowners will be a special affair reminiscing upon the past few days of being in the real African bush on fine steads enjoying the wildlife and big spaces.

Day 8

Depending on departure times, the last morning may include a very short walk out to stretch the legs before a sumptuous breakfast and departure on the transfer vehicle back to Victoria Falls Airport or wherever the next destination is. Sad farewells to the camp, but knowing that a Hwange return is definite!

Please ask about

• It's worth staying an extra night or two in Victoria Falls to visit one of the world's seven natural wonders.