Holiday Hoof Beats and Riding Solo in South Africa

In this guest post, Horse Rookie contributor, Nicky Hoseck shares her thoughts on why horse-riding holidays are perfect for solo travelers.

Now a full-time part of the team at one of South Africa’s leading horseback holiday providers, Wild Coast Horse Trails, Nicky meets hundreds of solo travelers each year, each proving that solo travel isn’t about being alone, but about making connections and discovering freedom.

What Makes A Horse Riding Holiday Ideal For Solo Travelers?

Traveling alone can be daunting. Fortunately, it’s not as frightening as it might initially seem, especially for someone who regularly gets on a 1,000-pound animal for fun!

Traveling with your own horse is one way of embarking on a solo horse-riding adventure, but it’s not the only one. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of horse-riding holidays internationally, many providing the perfect itinerary for solo travelers.

You can be alone without being isolated, you can have freedom without hurling yourself head-first into the unknown.

At Wild Coast Horse Trails in South Africa, we host hundreds of solo travelers every year, each one keen to discover the exhilaration of long beach canters in a pristine wilderness and to share that experience with other like-minded people.

And therein lies some of the magic that makes horse-riding holidays perfect for solo travelers.

Safety in Numnahs: Solo Travel without the Stress

One of the biggest concerns for any solo traveler is safety, but when you join a horseback vacation, all you need to worry about is staying on the horse! At Wild Coast Horses, like most other horse-riding operations in Southern Africa, we provide experienced guides to show you the way, point out any potentially dangerous obstacles, and look after the horses once the ride is over.

An additional staff member takes care of your luggage and transports it from place to place. These measures ensure you and your valuables are taken care of every step of the way, so you don’t need to worry about the little things in life and can put all your attention into enjoying the moment.

Alone but not Isolated: Solo Travel with New Friends

Another thing that often worries solo travelers is the fear of being lonely.

No matter how comfortable you are in your own company, embarking on an adventure that takes you out of your comfort zone and far from your friends and family can be daunting. Fortunately, on a horse-riding holiday, there’s always someone willing to keep you company – even if it’s your horse!

Riding horses together also creates a natural sense of community.

As you tackle various obstacles, share exhilarating canters along empty beaches, and watch the horses interact, you develop a connection with your fellow riders.

At Wild Coast Horse Trails, we’ve seen countless solo travelers arrive as strangers and leave as friends. The intimate group sizes mean you’re not just another face in a large tour, but part of a small group of like-minded individuals.

Balancing the Social with the Solitary

Of course, if you’re considering solo travel, the chances are, you’re more than happy to spend some time in your company, and our trails offer the perfect balance between quality me-time and social interactions.

While on the horse, you can zone out of the conversation and enjoy some quiet moments of reflection, letting the rhythm of your horse’s stride and the vastness of the landscape lull you into a state of peaceful introspection.

How to Avoid the Single Supplement

Another challenge for many solo travelers is the additional expenses incurred with pesky things like single supplements and the often higher costs of booking accommodation and transport designed for couples or groups.

Horse-riding holidays offer an economical solution to these financial challenges. Many horse trails, including ours at Wild Coast Horse Trails, specifically cater to solo travelers by offering shared accommodation options that either reduce or eliminate single supplements.

Solo travelers who are willing to share accommodation may be paired with other single travelers in comfortable, twin rooms, making the entire experience that much more affordable.

At many of our destinations, our riders are accommodated in their own rooms whenever space allows, which means you get the comfort and privacy many solo travelers yearn for without the hefty price tag!

The inclusive nature of horse-riding holidays means fewer unexpected expenses.

Your package typically covers everything from your horse and tack to your accommodation and meals, meaning everything is paid for upfront, so you don’t have to worry about budgeting.

On those occasions when room sharing is necessary, we try to match travelers according to age and interests. As a result, many of our guests have found lasting friendships through these shared accommodations, turning a practical arrangement into an unexpected highlight of their journey.

Freedom and Flexibility: Pursuing a Solo Adventure

One of the best things about solo travel is the ability to pursue your interests and needs without worrying about fitting in with others. Admittedly, on most horse-riding holidays, you’ll spend the majority of your time in the saddle, but once the ride is over, you have the freedom to explore, or unwind without concerning yourself with the plans others might have made.

During the day, you’re part of a guided trail, enjoying shared experiences with a group of horse lovers, but once the riding is done, you have the freedom to do as you wish.

Want to stretch your legs on the beach? Go ahead.

Prefer to relax and read a book? That’s perfectly fine.

Wish to chat with fellow travelers or simply enjoy some solitude? The choice is entirely yours.

This flexibility offers an ideal balance between structured activities and personal freedom. It gives you enough support to keep you from worrying too much about how to fill your day while providing the freedom to indulge your interests and preferences.

Parting Thoughts

You’re a horse rider which means you spend your free time wrestling with a beast several times bigger than yourself and find it enjoyable.

If you can do that, then the challenges of solo travel fade in comparison, especially if that solo vacation involves a horse riding holiday with an organization like Wild Coast Horses.

Solo travel isn’t about conquering loneliness or overcoming fears—it’s about embracing adventure.

And what better way to do that than on horseback, where every stride takes you further from your comfort zone and closer to self-discovery?

Whether you’re cantering along empty beaches, sharing stories with fellow riders, or enjoying a moment of quiet reflection, a horse-riding holiday offers more than just a vacation. It provides a journey of personal growth, unexpected connections, and pure, unbridled freedom.

So saddle up, solo traveler. Your next great adventure awaits.

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