Back in the saddle: riding in Swakopmund, Namibia

Back in the saddle: riding in Swakopmund, Namibia

After suffering an injury in 2017, Kia decides that riding in Swakopmund is the perfect way to get back in the saddle

Swakopmund is a strange little town. Known as Namibia's adventure capital, it has a suitably dramatic backdrop. On one side, a particularly wild Atlantic hits the coast; On the other side, the vast, barren Namib Desert stretches out in deadly menace. Between these astonishing scenes lies the city itself.

With its clean streets, half-timbered architecture and distinctly German names, Swakopmund could be a holiday town on the German North Sea transported to African soil. Swakopmund is used as a base for exploring the Skeleton Coast and the Namib Desert and offers all tourist amenities.

alt="Self-drive safari through Namibia Swakopmund">Atlas & BootsThe Zeila shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast

Our 17-day self-drive safari through Namibia took us to Swakopmund for two nights. The stormy city was unlike anywhere else in Namibia. The cloudy sky and intimidating sea stood in stark contrast to the calm, bright blue of Sossusvlei and Etosha.

For me, the dramatic backdrop offered the perfect opportunity to get back in the saddle. I hadn't been on a horse since an injury in 2017 and was keen to start riding again. In fact, I couldn't believe it had been a whole year.

We called a local company that offers horse riding in Swakopmund and booked a two hour ride on a Monday morning.

When we arrived at the Okakambe Riding Center, we found a well-maintained area that is home to a range of animals: not just healthy horses, but also puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs and more. Basically, it was Peter's ideal place to work.

We selected our helmets, stowed our bags and signed the necessary paperwork. The level of organization was very different from the guerrilla riding in Ecuador we did three years ago. In this post, I'm being rather cavalier about riding an unruly horse. I have since looked back and shuddered at the fact that I rode without a helmet. As I say in the riding tips for the first ride, it's just not worth the risk.

alt="Ready to ride while riding in Swakopmund">Atlas & BootsReady to ride

At Okakambe we met our guide, Kelvin, and our two horses: mine, Hidalgo, presumably named after Frank Hopkins' famous mustang, and Peter's, Samsung, "because he's easy to handle." We'll be leaving soon.

Riding in Swakopmund was the perfect way to get back in the saddle. We drove along the Swakop riverbed, a bare, flat landscape with little risk of falling or injury. There was no one or anything around. Kelvin compared it to riding on the moon.

alt=“Horse riding in Swakopmund is like riding on the moon”>Atlas & BootsRiding in Swakopmund is like riding on the moon

As I have taken lessons in the past we were allowed to trot (if you have experience please mention this when booking). It was especially fun because riding is probably the only sport I'm better at than Peter. I struggled with the PADI diving course as it sailed through, I keep catching up on our challenging hikes and have fallen off the bike more times than I can count, but I'm the more experienced rider.

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Atlas & Boots

We drove across the windy plain and although the landscape was desolate, it added a special dimension to the journey. Riding in Swakopmund felt like riding in its purest form: just us on our horses and nothing else to see. It was the perfect place to get back in the saddle.

It's true that Ecuador was more exciting and the scenery in Montenegro was much more breathtaking, but riding in Swakopmund allowed me to see a different side of Namibia. It reminded me why I love riding in the first place and as Peter said in his post about Etosha, time spent with animals is time well spent - especially when those animals are calm, strong and beautiful horses like Samsung and Hidalgo.

Horse riding in Swakopmund: the essentials

What: Horse riding in Swakopmund, Namibia as part of a 17-day self-drive safari from Wild Dog Safaris.

Where: Accommodation on the tour includes 16 nights in a range of hotels, lodges and safari camps, including the Prost Hotel in Swakopmund.

The tour can be booked as either accommodation (like we did), camping or a combination of both. Breakfast and several dinners are included in the overnight option; Camping is largely self-catering.

When: The best time to travel to Namibia is May-October during the dry season (winter). The low seasons of May and November are good for cheaper accommodation with higher availability. Heavy rains can occur in November, although mainly in short, intense bursts.

How: We booked directly with Okakambe Riding Center. Beginners are generally only allowed to walk (not trot or canter). So if you have experience, make this clear at the time of booking.

A two-hour trip costs 820 NAD (56 USD) per person in a two-person group (see latest price list). This may be a bit expensive compared to other parts of the world, but it's worth noting that the horses here are kept to an extremely high standard and we felt the cost was worth it. Price includes pickup and drop-off at hotels in central Swakopmund (including Prost Hotel).

We visited Swakopmund as part of our self-drive safari. Wild Dog Safaris will book accommodation, provide a rental car and organize an itinerary for the trip. On arrival in Windhoek we were met by Wild Dog Safaris who provided us with a detailed itinerary, driving directions, maps and information.

We flew to Namibia with British Airways via Johannesburg in South Africa. Book flights at the best prices through Skyscanner.

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Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia is a comprehensive travel guide to Namibia and includes some useful tips for visiting Swakopmund.

Disclosure: We traveled to Namibia with the support of Wild Dog Safaris. All publications say this, but we really don't guarantee positive coverage. We say what we think – good and bad – so you can make informed decisions with honest advice.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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