Signature Safari

8 Days  |  From £2041pp

South Africa ( Best airport: Johannesburg)

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Contact us now on WhatsApp with any queries you have about this trail.

This safari captures all the best elements of riding on the Horizon reserve in South Africa, including game sightings, polocrosse, mustering the horses at dawn and popping logs on the jumping lanes. This private game reserve sits in a region of sour mixed bushveld in the north-western region of South Africa. There is no better way to see the bush and its wildlife than from a horse. You will ride across an area of approximately 21,000 acres.

This safari also offers the chance to spend a night away from the lodge and under canvas at Camp Davidson.

The Riding

The Signature Safari captures all the best elements of riding at Horizon Horseback in South Africa. Spread over eight days (seven nights), the safari not only covers a great deal of riding – over 150 km on horseback through truly spectacular landscapes, with regular sightings of a wide range of wildlife species – but also fun activities such as splashy canters, swimming with horses, mustering the horses at dawn, playing polocrosse and popping over a series of natural obstacles on the way to a spectacular sundowner spot. To cover these distances and enjoy all these activities, while maintaining the cohesiveness of the group, riders need to be of at least an intermediate riding level. Should the guides feel a guest is not able to ride at the correct standard for this safari, alternative rides from the lodge will be organised.

Guests will typically enjoy two riding activities a day – generally a longer ride in the morning and either a shorter ride or fun riding activity in the afternoon.  Over the course of the safari, riders will get to see all parts of the 15,000-acre reserve using carefully planned routes which take into account all the game hotspots and interesting natural features. Given the diverse habitats – from wide open plains to savannah, rocky outcrops, wetlands and dense forest-like habitats – they are sure to encounter a wider range of wild animals than usually seen even on a trip to some of the most famous national parks in Africa. Species typically seen within this veritable Noah’s ark in the Waterberg include the following:  giraffe, hippo, cape buffalo, eland, zebra, sable, roan, kudu, impala, waterbuck, red hartebeest, nyala, tsessebe, blue wildebeest, blesbuck, bushbuck, ostrich, baboon, vervet monkey, warthog and jackal. Occasionally seen are crocodile, brown hyena, serval, duiker, bush pig, steenbuck and reedbuck. These are all beautiful animals and a privilege to observe in their natural environment. Combined with the wide open spaces, variable topography and excellent going, this makes the Signature Safari an unforgettable riding experience.

Level of Riding and Fitness

You should have a good level of fitness in order to enjoy 4 to 6 hours in the saddle each day. Riders following the set itinerary should be of intermediate level (able to walk, trot and canter in open spaces).

Weight Limit

13st 5 lbs/ 187lbs / 85kg. Slightly heavier riders may be accepted if very experienced or tall – please enquire.

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 fantastic company!

The maximum number of riders in a group is 8.

Any questions?

Contact us now on WhatsApp with any queries you have about this trail.

The Horses

With a herd of over 100 horses, your hosts are able to ensure that riders of any ability are well matched and have a chance to ride several suitable horses during their holiday. The herd is comprised of Boerperd, Throroughbred, Warmblood and Arab crosses.

 

Tack and Riding Equipment

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

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Accommodation and Dining

Food
After the horses, food is your hosts’ second passion. Before an early morning ride, guests are offered a light breakfast. After working up an appetite on your ride, lunch is served under the giant syringa tree in the garden followed by afternoon tea at about 3 pm.

Dinner is a sociable and sumptuous affair, during which the day’s adventures are accounted with great delight. The carefully planned three-course menus are accompanied by a selection of fine South African wines. Fresh vegetables and home grown herbs are used in all recipes with home made bread and cakes which are baked on a daily basis.

Accommodation
The main lodge accommodation comprises several rooms and chalets, all of which are en-suite with either a shower, a bath or both. Guests also have access to a spacious living area, dining room, stoep (verandah) and swimming pool which overlooks the lake.

In addition to the main lodge, Horizon also has a tented camp called ‘Camp Davidson’ where guests can stay for a more traditional ‘under canvas’ safari experience. The camp features luxurious canvas tents with decking and is completely run on solar energy. It also has its own small swimming pool.

Itinerary

Day 1 Riding: 1 - 2 hours. Guests will be personally met at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg by our sister company, Saddlebag Shuttles. The road trip up to Horizon Lodge in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve in Limpopo Province takes about three hours. After a light lunch in the gardens of the Lodge, and later a sumptuous tea, guests will be introduced to their horses. The first ride is a gentle introduction to the reserve and an excellent opportunity for first encounters with species such as zebra, giraffe and hippo. The riding ranges from purposeful walking to easy cantering along sandy tracks and culminates with sundowner drinks on the open plains. Horizon takes great care to match horse to rider based on a guest’s riding experience and ability. Given that the first two nights of the safari are spent at the Horizon Lodge, the operational hub for Horizon’s herd of close to 100 horses, there is ample time to ensure that the most suitable horse is available for the long days in the saddle over the last five days of the safari.
Day 2 Riding: 3 - 5 hours. The ride this morning is generally sporty. The route follows the centre of an open valley which is home to species such as kudu, sable, reedbuck, red hartebeest, waterbuck and impala. The sandy tracks make for excellent going, and the route crosses open grassland and weaves through dense woodland. Dark red pedigree cattle bred on the property are often encountered on this route. When conditions are suitable, the last stretch of the ride involves splashy canters along the edge of the lake adjacent to Horizon Lodge. This is a great experience, but don’t expect to remain dry in the process! There is also the chance to cool off whilst experiencing the exhilaration of swimming on horseback. The afternoon ride heads east following the river past a series of dams where encounters with hippo are likely and returns across the open plains. At this time of day there is often much activity on the plains, with the herds mingling in the soft sunlight and different groups coming and going as they prepare for the night. It is a truly magical experience to be able to ride so close to these wild animals, which have become completely relaxed in the presence of the horses.
Day 3 Riding: 4 - 6 hours. An early start is needed for the long ride from the Horizon Lodge to either Savannah Lodge in the far south west of the reserve, or Seringa Lodge in the south east. The first part of the route covers country that riders will now be somewhat familiar with, but soon enters new terrain. In places the bush is thick but after a while the scenery opens up to grasslands with sweeping views to the south and west. Riding through this landscape gives riders a sense of the vastness of the African plains. The area boasts a very high concentration of game with herds of over 300 blesbuck, or 80 eland, often sighted. Other species which are home to the plains include red hartebeest, tsessebe and ostrich. There are plentiful zebra, wildebeest, impala and giraffe, and smaller groups of sable, roan and waterbuck. The final stretch to Savannah Lodge is along a wooded stream where kudu and bushbuck are likely to be seen. After a relaxing time around the pool and within the sophisticated lodges, it is time to ride to the southern most areas of the reserve in search of Cape buffalo. These are members of Africa’s famous “Big Five” and deserve their formidable reputation. Riders therefore need to be alert and responsive to the guides’ instructions. This area is known for its spectacular sunsets as the sun sets over the distant headlands of the Waterberg escarpment – a fitting end to an eventful and memorable day in the African wilderness.
Day 4 Riding: 5 hours. Another long ride through game rich country returns riders to the heart of the operation, Horizon Lodge. The route taken is different from that on the outward leg, turning this part of the safari into an exciting journey passing through diverse landscapes and ecosystems. Game species typically prefer different habitats, with nyala and bushbuck for instance occupying dense forest-like sections of the reserve while blesbuck and hartebeest stick to the open plains, and waterbuck and reedbuck, unsurprisingly, are normally seen close to streams and other waterways. The route provides excellent opportunities to see giraffe, which is always a highlight. After more than five hours in the saddle, the afternoon activity is a game drive in the nearby Entabeni or Welgevonden game reserves. Although this involves an hour or more of travel to reach these destinations, the opportunity to see lion, elephant and rhino in their natural environments make this excursion well worthwhile.
Day 5 Riding: 4 - 6 hours. Horseback rides in a game reserve are always interesting because one never knows what animals will be encountered. The route on this day goes deep into the reserve to parts with a real wilderness quality. After about three hours in the saddle, riders arrive at a giant wild fig tree for a delicious bush breakfast prepared on an open fire. After this hearty meal the route back to the lodge passes through a dense forest area where some of the shyer species like to shelter. That afternoon guests leave Horizon Lodge and head towards Camp Davidson for an exciting night under canvas. The camp is perched high on a ridge overlooking a vast wilderness area to the east. This is not a long ride, but the route is exciting, following a narrow trail along the edge of the ridge. Wildlife often encountered in the area includes baboon, bushpig, kudu and klipspringer. Porcupines are frequent nocturnal visitors to the camp and leopard spoor outside the tents is not uncommon.
Day 6 Riding: 4 - 6 hours. Today’s route covers the north eastern areas of the reserve, descending from the camp to cross a stream and open plain and then tracks through untouched bush to the upper reaches of Sunset Lake. This lake is a favourite haunt of the hippo on the reserve and home to crocodile, otter, fish eagle and other waterfowl, such as the beautiful African jacana. Guests ride along the water’s edge and must be constantly on the lookout for the hippo. These animals, while having a reputation for being some of the most dangerous in Africa, are not a threat during the day but will often honk and blow as they observe the riders go by. The route offers an opportunity for exciting splashy canters, which the likes of Esme and Laura Collett loved doing. Having left the lake, riders cross open plains with some quick riding back towards Horizon Lodge. After the morning’s exertions, guests can relax around the swimming pool and enjoy the beautiful unspoilt surroundings. The afternoon activity is polocrosse, an amalgam between polo and lacrosse. The game is highly addictive and is sure to bring out competitive passions! Horses which are used to playing the game are used and no previous experience of playing polocrosse is required. What is guaranteed is a great deal of fun. Tonight’s dinner starts with a wine tasting , each wine is paired with a complimenting amuse-bouche.
Day 7 Riding: 5 - 6 hours. The route follows the valley down to eastern edge of the reserve, before crossing up to the highlands near Camp Davidson and then winding along game trails back to the lodge. There are places on this ride for extended canters, interspersed with off-piste riding with very scenic views across the highlands of the Waterberg. In the afternoon, riders follow a route interspersed with optional cross country jumps on the way to sundowners in a stunning spot with views over the rolling hills. A slow ride back to the Lodge at dusk completes the day’s adventure.
Day 8 Riding: 3 hours. By now riders are well versed in all aspects of the safari experience, and in consultation with their guides can suggest a favourite ride for their final experience. This is a last opportunity to ride amongst Africa’s incredible antelope species through a beautiful environment on superb horses. Following lunch in the garden it is time to embark on the road transfer back to the airport in Johannesburg.

Signature Safari

8 days / 7 nights / 6 full days of riding
£2041pp

Single supplement is 50% of the ride cost for single riders who do not want to share with another rider

Do NOT book flights until you have received the ‘Booking Confirmation Email’ from saddletravel.com.

Please plan your flight to arrive at Johannesburg airport (South Africa) on Day 1 of your holiday. Your departure flight should be on Day 8 of your holiday after 7.30pm so that you can ride on the final day.

Transfers
Group transfer: £150 per person return
Only available on Sundays for guests staying a minimum of 7 nights. GROUP transfers from and to Johannesburg airport are charged per person return and are strictly at SET TIMES. You will have to wait for riders arriving on other flights. Clients must arrive no later than 10h15 Clients must depart no earlier than 19h30. If you stay longer and arrive on days other than Sunday then the standard transfer rates apply.

Private transfer: £320 per vehicle each way
Available at any time.

Non riders
Non riders are welcome to join riding guests (paying the child rate) and can take part in bush walks, game drives and other activities which can be booked locally when you arrive.

Price Includes
  • 6 full days of riding
  • Shorter rides on arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in double or twin rooms
  • All meals
  • Drinks
  • Bush walks
  • Sundowners
  • Laundry
  • All arrangements for duration of holiday
  • Services of guides
Price Excludes
  • Flights (international & domestic)
  • Transfers
  • Tips
  • Optional game drives