3 riding safari holidays to dream about

If you happen to win the lottery in 2014 one of these luxury riding safaris needs to be at the top of your wish list. We’ve hunted down 3 of the most elaborate and indulgent trips on the market. Think feather duvets and ice-cold cocktails — served up in the bush.

1. Kenya

Head to the Masai Mara with Safaris Unlimited where you will be guided by Gordie Church, whose father started running safaris 40 years ago. Get ready to spot zebra, ostrich, hyenas and lion on the open plains, where you will enjoy long gallops alongside the game. And you can forget everything you’ve ever dreaded about camping. Tents are spacious with twin or double beds, carpets, hot showers, feather duvets, Egyptian cotton sheets and hot water bottles. Expect candlelit dinners and camp cocktails — there is even a safari freezer so that you can have ice in your drinks.

The Zululand Private Game Reserve is a 5-star lodge positioned high up in the hills near to St Lucia Wetlands Reserve in South Africa, where rooms have private balconies with sweeping views in all directions. Game is plentiful and when you are feeling exhausted post-riding you can flop into the swimming pool. Non-riders will be happily entertained with a walking trail through the bush, archery lessons and trips to a local market.

Wait a Little Safaris, west of Kruger Park, is the answer if you’re looking for an intimate safari experience. There are never more than 7 people in camp at any one time, which means that you can make the most of owners Gerti and Philip Kusseler’s expertise and meals feel like a dinner party with good friends. Because the reserve holds so much dangerous game you need to be a competent rider — but that means groups are fast paced and you can make the most of the riding. Accommodation is in a roomy tent with duvets and cotton sheets. And the best bit? You can enjoy your bath at the end of a long day’s riding on a private verandah.

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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.