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Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Ethiopia
Intro to Ethiopia
 Higlands
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Ethiopian Highlands Ride
Higlands
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a land of myths and superlatives and a land of the horse and Ethiopians have long been a nation of horsemen. A startlingly beautiful country, it is charming and complicated. Splendid ‘imperial Ethiopia’, it is one of the only African countries never properly colonised by the west. Sometimes referred to as the ‘African Tibet’ it is a remote land with arcane religious practises and strange tribes, often called the ‘museum of peoples’.
Our horse treks will take us over hills, along rivers, and across plains where everybody goes on foot or horseback still to this day. This has to be some of the most perfect riding country in the world, with the depth, vastness and ever changing light of a land close to the heavens. Great plains of grass, full of herds of cattle, will be the atypical – for a western eye- Ethiopian landscape to which we’ll set our hoof beat. We’ll pitch our tents under the Abyssinian skies and set off at dawn for the ever expanding horizons. Taking us from Solulta near Addis Ababa this ride encompasses the Montane Forest of Menagesha-Suba, the high plateau of Shoa and the Muger River Gorge. The rides take you off the beaten
track to areas which are seldom visited by foreigners and some villages
and homesteads that you ride past may have not seen Europeans in living
memory. We get to see the typical Abyssinian lifestyle and camp every night together with farming communities and witness their lives first hand. Lots of cantering and diverse landscapes.
The kingdom of Shoa long occupied a central place in Ethiopian history – and not just geographically. This was the seat of power from which Ras Tafari, later better known as Emperor Haile Selassie, was to rule the country. But even stretching far back into the Middle Ages Shoa was a pivotal region where trade routes crossed and bountiful herds of cattle were raised. The Montane forest of Menagesha Suba exemplifies this with a written record in the chronicle of Emperor Zara Yacob in the 15th century proclaiming its protected status.
On the way, we’ll
see orthodox churches, and experience the rhythms and mores of the true
Ethiopian countryside with its inhabitant’s simple life. The horse, here
the most normal form of transport, is the ideal vehicle to slowly
penetrate the aged beauty of a millennial old lifestyle. The horses, a hardy mix of Abyssinian Pony, are well accustomed to the altitude –close to 3 000 meters high- and are energetic and brave with good hearts.
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Camping Ride with vehicle support
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Meeting:
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Addis Ababa
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Airport:
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Addis Ababa
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Transfer:
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Addis Ababa
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
Max
8 riders
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Trip Brochure (PDF) 
Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2013
Rates include:
6 nights accommodation (1 night hotel, the rest in cabins and tents), meals included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6 (exception dinner Day 1 in restaurant in Addis Ababa hotel), bottled water, tea and coffee with the meals, 6 riding days, guiding and equipment, land transfers
| A | 2013 | 7 day trip, AP | 7d / 6n | €1330 | $1730 |
| Single supplement (requested) | €175 | $230 |
| Small group supplement (2-3 riders) pp | €220 | $290 |
| Small group supplement (1 rider only) pp | €440 | $575 |
Transfer and Other Options:
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2013
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Transfer included from Adis Ababa
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Tour Dates for 2013
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| A |
2013
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01/01
- 06/30
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7d / 6n
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7 day trip, AP
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4
/8
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Reserve
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| A |
2013
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11/01
- 12/31
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7d / 6n
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7 day trip, AP
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4
/8
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Reserve
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Rates do not include:
Sleeping bags, dinner on Day 1 at Addis Ababa hotel, gratuities, all beverages alcoholic or non-alcoholic outside of water, coffee and tea at mealtimes, mandatory travel insurance, optional hotel overnight in Addis Ababa hotel on Day 7
Sample Itinerary...
Day 1 (Sunday): You will be met and transferred to our joining hotel to meet the rest of the group. After a rest, you will have lunch before visiting the ethnological museum, which gives a thorough overview of the different cultures and peoples of Ethiopia. After a look around town, you will have an early dinner at a local restaurant tasting traditional food and atmosphere (not included).
Overnight in Addis Ababa hotel
Day 2 (Monday): This morning you will set off for the meeting point with the horses, about an hour away from the hotel. After becoming acquainted with your mounts, you will begin your ride out into the stunning Ethiopian Highlands. You will take a picnic lunch en route and in the evening, you will camp near Rob Gebeya.
Overnight in mobile camp
Day 3 (Tuesday): Today you will ride off over the high plains towards Senyo Gebiya and the Muger River Gorge. We will get our first feel for the plains of Shoa, which have long been the breeding grounds for Ethiopia's horses and mules (which we will witness first hand later in the Saturday market). The night is spent camping by a traditional homestead.
Overnight in mobile camp
Day 4 (Wednesday): We will cross countless small brooks on the way, amongst herds of cattle and fertile lands very far from typical images of Ethiopia. Whilst riding this route you will become acquainted with the great highland plains, peppered by small homesteads and Orthodox churches that form much of the central heart of Ethiopia. Lots of nice grassy grounds will make for a lot of cantering and a quite fast paced day.
Overnight mobile camp
Day 5 (Thursday): Leaving the plains we ride down towards Mount Wechecha, a medieval stronghold of the imperial court. In the afternoon we reach the endemic forest of Suba, whose first trees were planted by the 15th century emperor Zara Jacob.
Overnight in park headquarters
Day 6 (Friday): Today you will ride through the forest which is inhabited by the endemic Menelik Bushbuck, yellow fronted parrot, African Forest Hog and leopard and where you will have lunch before returning to the park headquarters. This is slow day with a lot of walking and forest observation.
Overnight in park headquarters
Day 7 (Saturday): Striking out for our last day across the plains, we set off for the Equus stables in Solulta. Skirting the hills of Entoto with their eucalyptus forests, we will reach the stables in the late afternoon, with some nice cantering ground along the way. Time and weather permitting we will visit a horse market en route where you can buy incense from the Land of Punt and plastic sandals from Southern China... and a good 'Sennar' mule if it fits in your luggage!
-- subject to changes --
Terrain
Much of the riding is through cultivated land - these highlands are very fertile and many different crops are grown. You will see people working the fields in biblical fashion, ploughing with oxen and harvesting with sickles. The valley bottoms, and areas which are marshy in the rains, tend to be left for the shepherds to take their cattle and sheep to graze. Here there are plenty of open pastures which offer good opportunities for long trots and canters. There are places each day where riders need to dismount to walk over rough ground - both uphill and down - and you need to be quite physically fit. The routes tend to stick to the highland plateau but sometimes you descend into a valley system and there are often fabulous views across gorges of true African proportions. Overall the area is lovely for riding with varied scenery and some chances to move on each day.
Meeting:
Addis Ababa
Airport:
Addis Ababa
Transfer:
Addis Ababa
Distance:
20 miles / 30 kilometres
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Tack:
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Mix of McClellans, Australian Stock and English and Western. Saddle bags are provided!
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Horses:
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Local Abyssinian ponies and crosses (average 14 hh)
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Pace:
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6 to 7 hrs per day day. The rides are at a slower paced on 2 days due to the mountain terrain. On the 4 days the pace is faster and there are some long trots and canters across the wide open meadows
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
Gallop |
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Level:
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(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate
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Weight:
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Max
200 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
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Max
8 riders
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Your Riding Level:
You should be comfortable at all paces, this means walking, trotting and galloping and be able to remain in control of your horse at all times in open country! These rides are aimed at reasonably experienced, confident riders. To join them you must feel relaxed, comfortable and secure in the saddle on well schooled horses at a walk, trot and canter. You should also be used to riding for reasonably long hours, outside in an open environment and on sometimes challenging terrain. The horses are sensible, but they have a generally lively temperament so they suit confident, relaxed riders only. It is not good to overestimate you ability as it is unsafe for you and all on the tour, horses included, and also may frustrate other riders who have to deal with the consequences.
As with all our rides, you will enjoy your trip much more if you are fit - for Ethiopia you should be both riding fit and with a good level of general fitness as there is quite a lot of walking over rough terrain. If you do not ride regularly at home, we recommend some concentrated training in the months before you go to get used to the hours you will spend in the saddle. The rides include 6 days riding, generally about 4 or 7 hours in the saddle each day, with breaks to rest and for lunch, although riding time does vary. There can be quite a lot of walking and leading the horses - you will generally lead the horses for 10 minutes or so to warm them up in the morning before starting the ride and again to cool them off after riding at the end of the day. You will also be asked to get off to lead up or down any steep hills, so you do need to be comfortable walking on uneven ground and on a gradient - and of course mount your horse unaided. You may also be asked to dismount in villages out of politeness to the inhabitants. You are encouraged to spread out where possible, taking your own line, rather than single file, though when riding through narrow gorges and tracks through the rock formations this will not be possible. Groups are limited to a maximum of 6 guests. Horses are tacked up, prepared for you each morning by the grooms but some input is expected and you may be asked to un-tack / tack up at lunch time and also un-tack in the evening.
The Pace:
The rides are at a slow to moderate pace overall due to the terrain and long days but there are some nice long trots and canters along the valley floors and wider paths between fields of crops. There are some quite steep mountain tracks which dictate a slow pace, descending into and climbing out of deep valleys. And it is also slower work when carefully picking your way between farmers' crops and riding safely through populates homesteads and villages.
The Staff
The rides are organized by our partner Yves Stranger. Yves, who was born to a Guernsey family and is decidedly ‘mid-channel’ in his origins, grew up in the south of France where as a child he shepherded the family goats on horseback. He has lived in Ethiopia for the past seven years and speaks fluent Amharic, the national language. His wife Lydia is Ethiopian and his mother in law, Merehete, runs the camp and back up team.
The Horses
The horses are a mixture of the famed Abyssinian ponies, a hardy mountain breed of about 14hh and many of which are renowned for their polo playing abilities and crossed with Lipizzaner, Arab and Thoroughbreds and descendents of Emperor Haile Selassie’s stable. The horses are very tough, well accustomed to the high altitudes, and are energetic and brave. Saddles are generally ‘McClellans’, with one or two Aussie stock saddles and a few English saddles available. Saddle-bags are provided when needed. The rides are usually led by Elias, who speaks English, Amharic and Oromo and, as a local knows the customs and area well. Elias is accompanied by a back up rider and sometimes Yves also rides with the group. Grooms are on hand at camp to tack up and untack the horses. There is a rider weight limit of 90kg / 200 lbs imposed for the well being of the horses on the hard journey.
Ethiopia is a land of the horse and Ethiopians have long been a nation
of horsemen. Where do the horses come from? We should say that we do not
know, and that their origin is lost in the dust kicked up by the
cavalcade of time. The medieval writer Ibn Fadl Allah Al-Omari, in his
work on the Muslim kingdoms of Abyssinia Masalik El Absar Fi Mamalik El
Amsar, tells us that that the ruler of Ifat - the location of which is
uncertain and now the name of the area north-east of Addis Ababa - could
put fifteen thousand riders in the field, and that these mounts were
ridden with just a goat's skin thrown on their backs. And Al-Omari adds,
"they are Arab horses." Marco Polo himself reports that in the
"Provinces of Abash (Abyssinia) there are excellent soldiers and many
horsemen." The Scot James Bruce, a little more believable since he
actually visited the country, tells us that the Ethiopians were
excellent riders and that they went to war, two per horse.
The altitude in Ethiopia ranges from about 110 metres below sea level in the Danakil Depression to 4700 metres in the highlands so therefore temperatures and rainfall throughout the country vary immensely, giving rise to an incredible diversity of ecosystems and a rich endemic flora and fauna. The riding is in the highlands at altitudes from 2,000 to 3,000 meters. The rainy season in the highlands is from July to September, when monsoon-like downpours occur daily! The dry season is from October to June, with a short rainy period in April. Rides are run during the dry months only but please note that showers are possible in the mountains at any time! In October, just after the rains,
it is usually quite lush and green with many wild flowers. As the dry season
continues the crops are harvested and the open stubble fields offer
chances to spread out more and take ones own line. Eagles, buzzards and
vultures can be seen soaring above, storks, cranes and ibis hunt the
marshes for frogs and insects and there are other beautiful birds
including bright bishop and widow birds, weavers, hoopoes and a variety
of sun birds. There is no big game though you may see the famous
bleeding heart baboons, vervet monkeys and Abyssinian hares - and there
are many hyena which can sometimes be heard at night and from which the
horses have to be stabled during hours of darkness. Daytime temperatures are 20 to 25 C (68 to 77 F) dropping to around 5 C (41 F) at night. Although the highlands are highly populated, they are fortunately almost completely lacking in tropical diseases - there is no malaria for instance.
Apart from your personal toiletries you’ll need chaps or leather riding boots (plastic wont do), a hard hat if you use one (we don’t provide them), a good rain coat and comfortable riding clothes. Sunburn can be a serious issue and a hat with a good brim is a must. It can be quite hot during the day and cold at night so you’ll have to come with clothes suited to both ends of the temperature spectrum. Orthodox churches and mosques can be very loud late at night and early in the morning: earplugs may come in handy. For treks, you’ll also need to bring your own sleeping bag.
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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The first night is spent in Addis Ababa at a comfortable 3-4* hotel. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms. 2 nights are spent at the Suba Park Headquarters in simple, rustic cabins with shared bathroom (or tents maybe set up next to the cottages). Other nights are spent in mobile camps. Sleeping tents are either small 2 man 'dome' tents or more traditional Abyssinian style tents. Good, 4 inch thick, mattresses are provided to sleep on - you may need to take a sleeping bag for the mobile camp. There is a central 'mess' tent which is made of white canvas and tables and chairs are set up inside for breakfast and dinner - though on fine evenings and mornings you will eat in the open air. In the evening, whilst sitting around the fire, you will be offered a 'gabbi', a cotton blanket, to drape over your shoulders and keep out the cool night breeze. A 'shower' tent, which has a basin and jugs for pouring hot water, is set up for the group. There is also a 'long drop' loo tent.
If you are booking as a single traveler and are happy to share a room / tent with another single traveler of the same sex then a supplement is not charged. If you would particularly like a single room / tent then these are usually available on request - there is a supplement to pay.
Meals
Ethiopia does not have a great reputation of 'haute cuisine' however the camp staff make a huge effort to show off some of the traditional Ethiopian food and produce some really delicious dishes. The staple - 'ingera' - is rather like a large pancake and is traditionally used as an edible plate on which are placed sauces and curries. In local restaurants this will come served on a basket table and is eaten communally. Ingera is made from a tiny grain (tef), which is ground and fermented, then cooked on a metal griddle over the fire. The result is a sponge like pancake with a slightly sour taste, eaten cold - you break off bits with your hand to scoop up the sauce / curry. Breakfast in camp is usually fruit juice, porridge, scrambled eggs or omelet and fresh bread or toast with butter, jam, peanut butter and delicious Ethiopian honey. Coffee is a great tradition and on some days this will be prepared Ethiopian style (which takes some time!), served rather like in Turkey, in small cups and usually pre sugared. Tea is usually drunk black and often has a spice, a cinnamon cardamom mix, added - very refreshing. Lunch is generally a picnic, carried in your saddle bags, which might be a sandwich of unleavened bread with tuna and mayonnaise or ham and cheese - or baked potatoes and boiled eggs. Dinner is usually a number of curries and sauces, perhaps chicken, beef or goat, served with ingera, bread or rice. On fast days (most Wednesdays & Fridays) no meat is served but the vegetable dishes excel. Pudding may be fruit, homemade cake or flan. Vegetarians can, of course, be catered for, but please let us know in advance by filling in the dietary requirements on the booking form. Tea, coffee and mineral water are included and bottled soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits are available for purchase. Some wine is produced locally but both the bar is stocked with both Ethiopian and South African wine.
This trip includes
and can accommodate special dietary requests.
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Tack:
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Mix of McClellans, Australian Stock and English and Western. Saddle bags are provided!
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Horses:
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Local Abyssinian ponies and crosses (average 14 hh)
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Pace:
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6 to 7 hrs per day day. The rides are at a slower paced on 2 days due to the mountain terrain. On the 4 days the pace is faster and there are some long trots and canters across the wide open meadows
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
Gallop |
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Level:
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(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate
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Weight:
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Max
200 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
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Max
8 riders
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Your Riding Level:
You should be comfortable at all paces, this means walking, trotting and galloping and be able to remain in control of your horse at all times in open country! These rides are aimed at reasonably experienced, confident riders. To join them you must feel relaxed, comfortable and secure in the saddle on well schooled horses at a walk, trot and canter. You should also be used to riding for reasonably long hours, outside in an open environment and on sometimes challenging terrain. The horses are sensible, but they have a generally lively temperament so they suit confident, relaxed riders only. It is not good to overestimate you ability as it is unsafe for you and all on the tour, horses included, and also may frustrate other riders who have to deal with the consequences.
As with all our rides, you will enjoy your trip much more if you are fit - for Ethiopia you should be both riding fit and with a good level of general fitness as there is quite a lot of walking over rough terrain. If you do not ride regularly at home, we recommend some concentrated training in the months before you go to get used to the hours you will spend in the saddle. The rides include 6 days riding, generally about 4 or 7 hours in the saddle each day, with breaks to rest and for lunch, although riding time does vary. There can be quite a lot of walking and leading the horses - you will generally lead the horses for 10 minutes or so to warm them up in the morning before starting the ride and again to cool them off after riding at the end of the day. You will also be asked to get off to lead up or down any steep hills, so you do need to be comfortable walking on uneven ground and on a gradient - and of course mount your horse unaided. You may also be asked to dismount in villages out of politeness to the inhabitants. You are encouraged to spread out where possible, taking your own line, rather than single file, though when riding through narrow gorges and tracks through the rock formations this will not be possible. Groups are limited to a maximum of 6 guests. Horses are tacked up, prepared for you each morning by the grooms but some input is expected and you may be asked to un-tack / tack up at lunch time and also un-tack in the evening.
The Pace:
The rides are at a slow to moderate pace overall due to the terrain and long days but there are some nice long trots and canters along the valley floors and wider paths between fields of crops. There are some quite steep mountain tracks which dictate a slow pace, descending into and climbing out of deep valleys. And it is also slower work when carefully picking your way between farmers' crops and riding safely through populates homesteads and villages.
The Staff
The rides are organized by our partner Yves Stranger. Yves, who was born to a Guernsey family and is decidedly ‘mid-channel’ in his origins, grew up in the south of France where as a child he shepherded the family goats on horseback. He has lived in Ethiopia for the past seven years and speaks fluent Amharic, the national language. His wife Lydia is Ethiopian and his mother in law, Merehete, runs the camp and back up team.
The Horses
The horses are a mixture of the famed Abyssinian ponies, a hardy mountain breed of about 14hh and many of which are renowned for their polo playing abilities and crossed with Lipizzaner, Arab and Thoroughbreds and descendents of Emperor Haile Selassie’s stable. The horses are very tough, well accustomed to the high altitudes, and are energetic and brave. Saddles are generally ‘McClellans’, with one or two Aussie stock saddles and a few English saddles available. Saddle-bags are provided when needed. The rides are usually led by Elias, who speaks English, Amharic and Oromo and, as a local knows the customs and area well. Elias is accompanied by a back up rider and sometimes Yves also rides with the group. Grooms are on hand at camp to tack up and untack the horses. There is a rider weight limit of 90kg / 200 lbs imposed for the well being of the horses on the hard journey.
Ethiopia is a land of the horse and Ethiopians have long been a nation
of horsemen. Where do the horses come from? We should say that we do not
know, and that their origin is lost in the dust kicked up by the
cavalcade of time. The medieval writer Ibn Fadl Allah Al-Omari, in his
work on the Muslim kingdoms of Abyssinia Masalik El Absar Fi Mamalik El
Amsar, tells us that that the ruler of Ifat - the location of which is
uncertain and now the name of the area north-east of Addis Ababa - could
put fifteen thousand riders in the field, and that these mounts were
ridden with just a goat's skin thrown on their backs. And Al-Omari adds,
"they are Arab horses." Marco Polo himself reports that in the
"Provinces of Abash (Abyssinia) there are excellent soldiers and many
horsemen." The Scot James Bruce, a little more believable since he
actually visited the country, tells us that the Ethiopians were
excellent riders and that they went to war, two per horse.
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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Ethiopian Highlands Ride
Tour Code:
IT-ETRT01
7 days /
6 nights
~$1,730.00
Dates :
Jan-June, Nov-Dec
Trip Rating :
Difficulty :
Riding Level Explained | A | Beginner
 | Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter. | | B | Novice
 | Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of
applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting
trots, and short canters. | | C | Intermediate
 | Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces
(including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly. |
| D | Strong Intermediate
 | Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day. | | E | Advanced
 | All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country. |
Lodging:
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accommodation
Tack:
Mix of McClellans, Australian Stock an...
Horses:
Local Abyssinian ponies and crosses (a...
Pace:
6 to 7 hrs per day day. The rides are ...
Walk,
Trot,
Canter,
Gallop,
Airport:
Addis Ababa
Location on Google Map
Image Gallery
Image Slide Show
Customer Trip Rating
Climate
What To Bring
Download tour PDF
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