MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND SOUTH AMERICAN HORSE SAFARIS

Isabel is the heart and soul behind African Horse Safaris and has spent the last 10 years turning a love of horses, Africa and adventure into unforgettable riding experiences across the continent. Now, she’s following another long-held obsession: South America.

Horses have been part of Isabel’s life for as long as she can remember. Originally from the UK, she first caught the African bug 15 years ago on a family trip to Namibia and never quite recovered. After travelling extensively across Southern and Eastern Africa and working with horse safari companies in Botswana and Malawi, she eventually landed in Zimbabwe, where she spent 2.5 years living in the bush with 30 horses and seven giraffes in the back garden. I

That combination of horses, wild places and adventure eventually became African Horse Safaris. But for years, another destination had been calling. South America had been on Isabel’s riding bucket list for years. Then she rode with Jakob von Plessen, tackled the Lanín Volcano Trail, visited Estancia Los Potreros and discovered the extraordinary horses, landscapes and people that make Patagonia so addictive. And she left a little piece of her heart there… And so, after 10 years of African adventures, South American Horse Safaris was born!

Milan grew up on a farm where her mom ran a riding school with 16 horses. Growing up surrounded by horses inspired her to take up endurance riding with her beautiful Arab mare and fostered a deep appreciation for the connection that can develop between horses and people.

Her love for horses never left, while her passion for adventure and travel continued to grow. During a six-month overland journey from Cape Town to Kenya, she saw mountain gorillas in Rwanda and chimpanzees in Tanzania, explored the Serengeti, searched for the elusive shoebill in Uganda and swam in Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls. She also spent two months living in Malawi, getting to know the rhythms of life in the bush, before working as a horse guide in the Namib Desert.

Milan studied Development and Environmental Studies at university, strengthening her endless curiosity and respect for the natural world, from vast landscapes to the birds, bugs and tiny details that are so easy to miss. She believes every trip has something to teach you, and that travel has a unique way of bringing distant people, cultures and places closer together. With plenty still on her bucket list, she is excited to discover new destinations, unique cultures and different ways of riding as African Horse Safaris expands to South America and Worldwide.

Having worked with horses for over 16 years, Sinead brings both equestrian experience and creative flair to the team. A lifelong rider with an adventurous spirit, she has always been drawn to travel, wild places, and meaningful connections with animals. Her passion for horses, nature, and exploring the African bush is what led her to African Horse Safaris & South American Horse Safaris.

With a background in art, graphic design, animation, and social media management, Sinead combines her eye for detail with her love for storytelling, hoping to create engaging content that captures the magic of riding holidays across Africa & South America. When she’s not designing visuals, you’ll find her spending time with her two beloved horses – Hugo, her cheeky miniature, and Louis, her kind Boerperd – who bring her endless joy and inspiration.

Margot grew up in the dusty fishing town of Walvis Bay in Namibia. This is where she fell in love with horses, spending most afternoons riding in the nearby dune belt and swimming bareback in the lagoon.  School holidays were spent searching for desert elephants in Damaraland or long road trips across the county following the rains. With a long bucket list, she has ticked off: horse riding under the midnight sun in Iceland, sailing in Turkey and the Greek Islands, skydiving over the Namib Desert, scuba diving in Thailand, flying over the Okavango Delta, galloping across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Even travelling extensively, the call of Africa has always brought her back home. She has a tourism and sales background and worked at a luxury safari operator creating bespoke tours across the continent. She’s brought her passion for adventure and safari background to her role as marketing executive.