Across the velvet plains in a saddle

I have just returned from a most remarkable safari – 300 km across the Namibian Desert on horseback. We travelled mostly parallel to the Fish River Canyon and the scenery was spectacular beyond description.

Nights were spent under the stars – and what a spectacular display of stars there were. It was comforting and companionable to hear and feel the horses close-by on the picket-line  every night.

As you know, I love walking – for the pace, the exercise and the sense of belonging to the environment. Well travelling by horse is also slow enough to really allow you to be immersed in your surroundings and it also provides plenty of exercise

Riding provides an excellent vantage from which to see animal tracks and from which to spot wildlife – and it was astonishing how much wildlife we saw on the ride.

To ride across a landscape like this for ten days without seeing other people is a rare privilege. The team with which I worked made it an even more special experience. If you love horse-riding and want to see Namibia, you HAVE TO talk to me about doing one of these trips. . . . and galloping across “The Velvet Plains” is an experience that I will treasure forever.