Malawi isn’t an obvious
horse riding destination, but there are a couple of excellent operations
that will really get you off the beaten track, whether you are an experienced
rider or complete novice.
Horseback safaris are popular in the Nyika Plateau National Park. This is in
the north of Malawi where big skies and rolling hills make the most
perfect riding country. It's a 3 000 sq km wilderness where you
ride along elephant trails down secluded steep sided valleys, trot
with herds of eland, roan, and zebra, or gallop across the grassy
plains. Safaris run for 2-10 days and you overnight in camps set up
alongside mountain streams while your horse grazes nearby.
Horse riding can also now be organised from the lodges at Chintheche
on the northern lakeshore. The stables are situated on the edge of
the beautiful Chissasira Forest Reserve near Kande Beach. They are
home to 21 well-schooled horses that can cater for any level of rider.
Interestingly, these horses were rescued from farms in Zimbabwe when their owners could no longer afford to keep them. The most popular ride is a three-hour ride through
the forest reserve and the local Tonga Villages. It culminates in a swim
on horseback in the calm waters of Lake Malawi and a gallop along
Kande Beach.
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