Up until then I have only seen game from the inside or on the top of a car - usually accompanied by the roaring engine sound and by rather unpleasant fumes. What would it be like to ride close to animals?
Ralph, the lodge owner, was joining us as well and came and found us just before five to show us the way to the stables, a short walk from the lodge.  The stables are new and have surrounding paddocks which the horses can graze and play.  They have 4 Ethiopian ponies which are about 13 hands with scruffy ears where they have been branded by previous owners.  They also have 3 thoroughbreds which came from Kenya a couple months ago and are about 15 hands. 

At the stable we met the grooms where head groom Joseph checked how experience we were and then allocated us the horses we would be riding.  Once on our horses and stirrups adjusted we set of into the valleys for our evening hack.  As a mediocre experienced rider, I appreciated the safety equipment offered - including helmets and safety stirrups - and above all the adjustment of our safari according to my riding skills. In other words, Joseph assigned a well trained and not too sultry horse to me, put a sturdy helmet on my head, put me in an English style saddle, and accommodated the pace to walking and trotting, with a bit of cantering towards the end. With the careful adjustment of the rides according to the riding skills of each group also children and absolute beginners can be walked through the valleys. Currently, groups are limited to a maximum of four guests and accompanied by at least one of the experienced grooms. You can choose to go on a short ride of half an hour, or indulge in longer rides up to four hours.

Lake Mburo is actually surrounded by 12 to 14 lakes (they are shallow papyrus lakes that come and go depending on the rains.) which form a horseshoe to the south of the park.  This forms a natural barrier to that keeps the game in a secure area.  We headed off through the thickets into one of the valleys floors that boarders Lake Kacheera.  Once in the valley we were immediately riding with Zebra, Impala, Topi, Warthog and the local Ankole cattle that belong to the Banyakole tribe.  The Banyakole tribe are pastoralist and are happy to let game graze with their cattle are long as they do not threaten there livestock.  This means that even thought the ride led us outside the park there is still plenty of game to view – the game do not recognise the park boundaries and wander back and forth.  Actually, the density of cows seemed to be lower outside the park than inside as we experienced on the following day. Hopefully it will be possible in the future to also ride within the park boundaries.

Riding in the valley in the evening was beautiful with that magical light you get on the equator as the African sun goes down. On the way back to the lodge we cantered through the softer valley floor, cutting between herds of Zebra that cantered across in front of us not quite sure what to make of their darker, larger cousins.  We arrived back at the lodge in time for a gin and tonic after a marvellous game ride and to an amazing sunset and raring to go out again the next day.

The next morning we set out at seven in the opposite direction to where we went the evening before, though thickets and towards Lake Kacheera.  We caught a glimpse of a beautiful but timid Bushbuck before we reached the valley floor.  Trotting for a while, we came to a marshy area beside the papyrus lake shore where we spotted a Crested Crane with her young fluffy yellow chicks – nothing like their elegant mother but a rare sight and they were quickly hidden in the thicket by the protective hen.  We also saw a goliath Heron.  Although I have seen many before I never realised that they are actually so huge – this was one of the great advantages of being on horse back, you get so close to the wildlife.  Cutting over a sandy ridge to the next valley we saw some prints of large cat – maybe even leopard.  Luckily they very few lions in Lake Mburo (they were poisoned by the cattle herders) and most cats are nocturnal hunters so I felt safe on my horse.  Joining the valley we rode in the evening before we again saw many Zebra, Impala, Topi, a few Bushbuck and even startled a Reedbuck that was lying in the grass.  While we did not encounter Eland, Buffalo or Duiker, they can be seen depending on the time of the year and rainfall in the area. It was all too soon that we were back at the lodge for a well deserved breakfast that I had built up an appetite for. 
Having talked to other guests who joined our safari group, I am confident to say that this is an experience which is equally fascinating for beginners as well as for advanced riders. Horseback safaris are a very peaceful and relaxing way to experience nature and I must say that it is a brilliant way to view game, sitting so high you get a great vantage point and you even get close to the more shy animals that look at your curiously without running away. If you have the chance, it is worthwhile to try both the morning and the evening ride as you will see different game.  So next time you go on safari, forget taking your, take a horse and don’t forget to take your camera!

Note:  It is recommended that you wear long trousers and shoes if possible with a heel. Currently they are not taking more than 4 guests out at a time and maximum weight limit for guests is set at 90 kg.
For more details and prices check: www.mihingolodge.com/horsesafaris.htm