It was to be my first excursion on horseback for, well more years than I care to remember and I certainly didnt want to remember my last experience at the tender age of 17, on a bolting horse down a muddy track with overhanging trees and a fence at the end of the track leading directly onto a main road.

Anyway, enough of the ancient past this was a holiday that was going to be a relaxing time as my partner was the one who wanted the riding. I was going to sunbathe, swim do a little fishing maybe.

The arrival into Johannesburg was uneventful although the security in the airport was a shock and one that I did not expect. During the transfer to the riding centre in the Waterburg area about three hours north of Johannesburg time to relax and chat about the holiday ahead.

An early introduction to the wildlife was meeting the friendly rhino who lived in a game reserve where the driver pulled over and let us take a closer look on the right side of a very strong looking fence.

Arrival at the riding centre just in time for lunch was a very welcoming sight meeting the owners and the other guests. With the formalities out of the way I was ready for an afternoon relaxing by the Hippo Dam with a good book whilst the better half went off for her first excursion.

To cut a very long story short, after a lot of cajoling and the promise of a gentle walk around one of the game reserves I was led to my mount. A pretty chestnut mare who knew the ropes and would take good care of you.

She looked nice and had a kind eye so I figured it was ok to show willing and join the one and only ride I was having over the next 10 days.

A quick shower to freshen up and hopefully loosen some of those aching joints from the long flight to South Africa I headed toward the stables where we were all meeting. Everyone was very excited about their first ride out in the Waterburg. Me? I was terrified. How did I manage to let myself be talked into such a stupid situation?

Once onboard the mare I adjusted, coughed, tried to smile even chat with other guests. Deep down a raging terror ate at me.

Our guide for the first ride was a young South African girl who seemed very sweet, if a little hard.

We walked out of the stable yard and headed toward the creek leading into the dam. At the top of the very high, steep edge of the creek our guide shouted back to me that the horse likes to trot down into the creek and back up the other side.

Without time to comprehend exactly what had been said to me my trusty steed trotted down the bank and up the other side. With a lot of bouncing around and huffing and puffing, eyes closed, I had actually managed to stay on!

I looked back at the vast creek I had just crossed and a huge smile came across my face!

Well that was just the start. The days progressed, up at 6am heading for the horses at 7am and out in the bush for 7:30am.

With each passing day my confidence grew, mainly thanks to that chestnut mare and the guides leading us.

During a chat with one of the guides I was informed that I would be cantering by day three. I had a real belly laugh at that. Well I was. I had NEVER cantered before and it was incredible.

So, onto our close encounter with three rhino.

After a long days riding we headed back to our camp. It had been a long day and we had spent a little too much time watching the rhino on the plains so it was dusk as we approached the encampment.

Our guide made us stop a little way outside the camp whilst she checked for rhino. They occasionally made there way into the encampment but very rarely. The group sat around chatting for about 10 minutes until we were given the all clear by the guide to follow.

As we entered the encampment it was pretty dark and the only things that could be seen were the rhino shaped bushed off in the distance. As we came up the bank and into the main camp the guide froze, quickly signalling us all to stop. As we peered through the dark gloom of night there they were. Three of the biggest rhinos in the park, no more than three feet from us and heading directly toward us. In a flash our guide signalled right and we headed for a very small, narrow tree. The tree was not big enough to hide a small person behind let alone six horses and riders. As we grouped together the three rhinos gave us a glance, a knowing glance, and then passed by without even a snort.

To say that I was scared would be an understatement. Would I have missed it for the world? Never!

My thanks to Louise at www.equitour.co.uk for organising such a fantastic trip and of course our hosts, Shane and Laura.

I will definitely be returning, one day, and will again be calling on the services of Louise at Equitour Worldwide Riding Holidays to make all of the arrangements.