African Explorer

8 Days | From £2119pp

South Africa ( Best airport: Johannesburg)

The African Explorer takes you to two countries in one trip beginning on a private game reserve in a region of sour mixed bushveld in the north-western region of South Africa where you’ll ride across an area of approximately 21,000 acres, with excellent game viewing, wonderful sandy tracks to canter along and beautiful blue dams to swim in with your horse. Transfer to Botswana to ride among the ancient landscape of rock formations, and open plains dotted with giant Baobab trees. This place feels very wild and your guide will choose the best riding routes across the reserve. Accommodation in beautiful lodges and safari camps.

The Riding

This week-long trail is the perfect way to ease you into riding with dangerous game. The first few days in South Africa will get you accustomed to the tack and terrain before you head off to Botswana to ride amongst elephants, hyenas and possibly a big cat or two! For those that want to, you can swim with your horse and jump some natural obstacles.

Level of Riding and Fitness

As you’ll be riding amongst wild game, this holiday is for experienced, confident and calm riders with a sense of adventure. The guests should ride regularly and be comfortable at rising trot, light seat canter and gallop, as well as be able to control a horse independently at all paces and jump small natural obstacles. You should be able to mount and dismount unaided. Good riding fitness is expected as you’ll be spending 4-7 hours in the saddle each day.

Before each safari, every rider will take a short riding test to ensure they are competent enough for the safari and fall into the above guideline. The decision of the manager conducting the test is final. Hard hats are mandatory and the weight limit is 95kg.

Guides and Group Size

The guides have many years of experience in leading safaris and they have grown up in the area. They know the bush like the back of their hand and are qualified by the Botswanan Qualifications Authority.

Maximum number of riders in a group is 10. Groups over 8 are split into two groups for rides, unless one ride is specifically requested by a private group.

Any questions?

The Horses

The horses have been carefully chosen for their temperament, courage, endurance and responsiveness. They are tough and used to coping with extreme conditions. They are of various breeds including Boerperd, Shire cross Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas and South African Warmbloods, ranging from 14.3h to 17h.

The saddles used are South African McClellans. They are designed for the cavalry and ideal for long hours of riding. Small saddlebags are provided.

Accommodation and Dining

Camp Davidson was modelled on the old ‘outspan’ camps of E.A. Davidson (great grandfather to one of the founding partners of Horizon Horseback) when he was selling goods across the area from his wagon in the early 1900s. Horizon has captured the early camp atmosphere in Camp Davidson. Beautiful decked canvas tents are nestled amongst the sandstone ridges overlooking grassy game filled valleys. Each luxury tent has an en-suite bathroom. The camp is completely run on solar energy and has a small swimming pool.

Two Mashatus Camp is nestled in the shade of two large Mashatu trees, and the heart of the camp has two traditionally built Lala palm rondavels for dining and lounge areas. Guest accommodation is in large A frame walk-in tents set on teak platforms, each with en-suite bathrooms. Each tent is private and positioned in the shade of a tree in the bush, not far from the main area. Each tent has a small deck area in front where guests can relax privately during the afternoons. Two Mashatus also has a small swimming pool under a Mashatu tree for guests to enjoy.

Tree Camp is a very unique camp; any childhood dream of sleeping up in the arms of a tree will be completely fulfilled here! Nestled in the bough of a giant Mashatu tree and two ancient Leadwood trees, this Seligna deck, 4 metres off the ground, will be your retreat for the night. Two guests each share an airy and cool sleeping pod. Along a short walkway, shared showers and toilets are under the Leadwood trees. The spacious dining and lounge area flow from the sleeping pods and overlook the Majale River. This truly extraordinary camp is one that will be remembered and spoken about for years to come.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 Meet at OR Tambo at 11.15 and transfer to Camp Davidson in time for a late Lunch. In the afternoon you will be introduced to your safari horse. We will ensure that you are matched to a horse that suits your ability and experience before heading off on your ride. This first introductory ride is a relaxed affair, giving riders the opportunity to settle into their new surroundings. Crossing the plains, enjoy your first close encounter with wildlife on horseback. A stunning lookout spot for sundowner drinks is a welcome moment to take in your first taste of Africa after a long journey. A three course supper is served at Camp Davidson that evening.

Day 2 Today’s ride sets off from the high country overlooking a beautiful wilderness area to the east, and heads south, winding along the banks of Sunset Lake with its resident pod of hippos and the odd sly crocodile, followed by a visit to one of the Horizon dams for a swim with the horses before getting back to camp in time for lunch. Guests can then relax by the pool, before a shorter afternoon ride.

Day 3 Today you will head south to the Game Conservancy which is home to the Bellevue Lodges. The ride traverses a wide wetland, home to reedbuck and grass owls, before entering dense woodland dotted with wild fig trees and large fruited bushwillows. Here it crosses the watershed and descends through open grasslands with sweeping views to the upper reaches of the Conservancy’s main water system. The route passes the favoured habitat of waterbuck and Cape buffalo. The open plains that follow are aptly known as “Little Serengeti”; large herds of blesbuck, eland, wildebeest and kudu are all on view, as are groups of elegant sable, swift red hartebeest and impressive journeys of giraffe and Cape buffalo. After a lunch at the lodge and a rest by the pool, the afternoon ride continues to explore this game rich area, closing with sundowners overlooking the African plains.

Day 4 A morning ride in search of buffalo before returning to the lodge for lunch. There will be a chance to relax and enjoy this fabulous setting before riding back to the Horizon lodge, where you say goodbye to your horse before heading up to camp for a last night at Camp Davidson.

Day 5 An early start today with departure from camp by 6 am with a picnic for the road. The aim is to have you through the border by 9am in order to arrive at Mashatu by 1pm in time for lunch and a chance to change before the afternoon ride to Tree Camp.

Day 6 A morning ride from Tree Camp exploring the center of the reserve and the game rich Pitsane river area, before arriving at Two Mashatus for lunch and a chance to relax by the pool. That afternoon there is the option of another ride or a game drive in the Kgotla area with sundowners on the Mmagwa hills.

Day 7 Today starts with a full morning ride from Two Mashatus camp. After lunch you will have the option of an afternoon ride, a bush walk or if available a game drive with Mashatu with a good chance of seeing the big cats ( additional charge $65 pp), then back to Two Mashatus for your last night in Africa.

Day 8 On your final day there is time for one last ride on your favourite horse before a delicious lunch. You may have to check-out of your room if other guests are arriving but can relax in the communal spaces until your transfer arrives to take you back to Johannesburg airport.