'This holiday was the most expensive week of my life... but we've already booked for next year'

"GIRAFFE, I see giraffe!" our guide, Emma hollered, pointing to a thicket.

While all I could see were trees, I trotted up behind her. Indeed not one, not two, but three giraffes were ambling along in the tall grass.

And then a baby popped its head above the blades like a fuzzy periscope.

READ MORE: This affordable flight upgrade gives you 40 per cent more leg room

We walked a little closer and they merely all stared at us, blinking their long lashes. They didn't seem to mind our presence. Probably because we were on horseback.

And wildlife is generally more accepting of fellow creatures than humans, which means you can get pretty close.

You see, I was on a horse riding safari in South Africa.

View gallery

The ten 'hottest' islands to visit in 2025

Sounds like the bucket list stuff of dreams, right?

It's also the most expensive week's holiday I've ever been on.

And like all the best things, I only discovered it existed when falling down an internet rabbit hole one night.

READ MORE: Nine things that surprised me on my first safari holiday

I'd decided I wanted to take myself on another horse riding holiday. I'm a lifelong horse girl and have already been to stay on a ranch in the USA a couple of times.

Initially I'd been considered a riding holiday in Australia.

Unfortunately, the only options I could find cost about $5k for a week in the outback... camping.

For less money, I found out I could ride for a week in South Africa instead, with safari animals - and sleep in an actual room.

Wildlife-related holidays are booming right now. Searches have risen over 300 per cent worldwide over the past year, according to Travel Republic.

Because we all need some peace and quiet while looking at animals, it seems.

Meanwhile, my husband said he wouldn't let me go alone (not solely because of my safety, mind, but because he didn't want to miss out) and declared he wanted to come, too.

But after getting the quote for the trip to Horizon Horseback from a place called African Horse Safaris, we debated it for weeks.

READ MORE: Switching off with a tech-free getaway just three hours from Sydney

Did we really want to splash almost ten grand on a week's holiday for the two of us - PLUS flights, as well as extras like insurance and gear?

But, as the cliché goes, we're not getting any younger.

Also, we have no kids, no car, and we rarely eat out... so if we saved, we could afford it we decided.

We collect airline points too - and it turned out we had just about enough for flights to Johannesburg.

Despite a few nights when I woke up, sweating, thinking, were we MAD, we booked it. And it's definitely the best holiday I've ever been on.

READ MORE: From historic cities to turquoise rimmed beaches, these are the best places to visit in Croatia

We swam with horses in the farm's dam (after they checked the resident hippos weren't there), and played western games on horseback which was so funny I ACTUALLY peed myself laughing (just a little bit).

We rode through the local village, waving to the children (I took books and stationery to give to the school).

And we drank sundowners on a dramatic rock outcrop overlooking the plains like Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out of Africa (or so I thought).

My husband, despite being a beginner did some advanced horse-riding moves by the end like cantering and jumping (you know those people who are good at everything? Turns out he's one of them, ugh).

READ MORE: 'The confronting part of my holiday left me feeling confused - but also incredibly lucky'

As well as giraffe, we also spotted zebra, buffalo, kudu, impala, wildebeest, warthog and red-billed hornbills, like Zazu from The Lion King.

(And before you ask, there were no 'dangerous' animals like lions.)

We fell into bed in our rustic rondavel every night at 8.30pm, snuggled up with the hot water bottles handed out after the communal dinner which was cooked by a fancy gourmet chef.

Also, it turns out you can't mindlessly scroll on your phone on horseback, which is something I very much needed.

Oh... and we've just paid our deposit for next year.

The writer travelled to South Africa at their own expense.

View gallery

Private islands and exclusive destinations you can visit on cruises