The Route: Ride and camp for 10 days on a grassland plateau you'll share with antelope, eland, reedbucks, warthogs, and a mind-boggling assortment of birds, including Denham's bustard and the chrring cisticola.

When to go: Year-round

Difficulty: Moderate

Travel advisory: Lukewarm equestrians, take heart. One of Africa Adventure Center's options cuts the riding in half, adding three days of hiking in Liwonde National Park and three days of boardsailing and snorkeling at Lake Malawi.

High/low points:

• Following a zebra herd across the Nyika Plateau in November, when the wildflowers — including 30 varieties of orchid — are in full bloom.
• Narrowly avoiding the large open game traps dug by poachers.