Horizon Botswana

Day 1

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Upon arrival at the Pont Drift Border Post or Limpopo Valley Airfield, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Reception area by the Stables. After a light lunch it’s time to head off to the stables to meet your horse for the week. You will embark on a short introductory ride to make sure that you and your horse are well suited - if time permits you will ride directly to Two Mashatus Camp, otherwise back to the stables again. Dinner will be served in the Llala palm dining room of the Two Mashatus Camp.

Day 2

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

The day begins at sunrise with tea/coffee brought to your tent, followed by a light breakfast. Mount up and head away from the dense woodland along the Limpopo river towards the shallow rocky hills that mark the edges of this great river valley. Your destination is the new Tree Camp which overlooks the Majale river. Here, in the heart of the Mashatu area, the game is plentiful. The Tuli area is home to one of the largest herds of free-roaming elephants south of the Zambezi and you are almost assured of great viewings of these magnificent creatures. After lunch and a siesta you can enjoy your first gentle guided walk to explore the area along the west of the Matabole river before returning to camp for sundowners and dinner.

Day 3

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

An early wake up call heralds a new day and tea/coffee and breakfast is served around the log fire pit. Today your journey takes you through the heart of Mashatu to the ancient rock formations synonymous with the Limpopo valley. Giant baobabs silently survey the land as they have for centuries, ancient elephant trails are stamped into the soil and there are wonderfully long canters on offer through the open scrub. This ride brings you to the banks of the Motloutse river, and nestled amongst the dense Mashatu trees sits a leadwood boma or "Kgotla". This is an old tribal court from a nearby community that was relocated to the banks of the Motloutse River on the western periphery of Mashatu. The open-air traditional African enclosure offers perfect security for spending a night under the stars and a unique experience in the African bush. In the afternoon you are taken on a game drive to search for the areas resident lions before stopping at the "Ampitheatre", an ancient rock formation, for sundowners. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire after which the night is spent sleeping under the stars while listening to the cacophony of sounds generated by the African bush orchestra.

Day 4

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Todays ride takes you to explore the amazing sandstone formations including the famed Solomon’s Wall. Some of the oldest civilizations in southern Africa had their settlements in this valley, with their kings safely nestled in royal kraals on top of these flat-topped hills.  The Mapungubwe topography is ancient and timeless, and combined with the great wildlife sightings, makes for an incredible riding day. 

In the afternoon you are driven a short distance to the Mmamagwa Hills. After a short, easy climb you can sit beneath a beautiful baobab and be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Tuli area, with South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the north and Botswana surrounding you - this is a sundowner spot you will never forget. Return to the Kgotla for a second night under the stars.

Day 5

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Another early rise and a good breakfast will set you up for probably your longest day on horseback. Wind your way through Elephant Valley, following ancient trails stamped into the soil by centuries of migrating elephants, before heading north towards the upper reaches of the Majale river. This area is peppered with enormous baobabs and is one of the most remote areas of the reserve. After an exhilarating ride through this timeless countryside you reach Tree Camp again in time for a relaxing lunch.

In the afternoon you can choose to take another ride, a game walk or a game drive to explore the northern banks of the Majele, Matabole and Jwala rivers.

Day 6

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Today's ride promises great game viewing as you explore the Pitsane river valley. Drinking holes dug by elephants are scattered along the course of the Pitsane and attract thirsty herds of game. This area once staged a skirmish during the Boer war which destroyed Bryce's store, an old British supply post. The stagecoach line, Zeederbergs, ran from the Transval towns in South Africa to the newly forged settlements in southern Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe. These coaches crossed the broad Limpopo and followed the Pitsane into Zimbabwe.

Your ride eventually returns to your base camp, Two Mashatus. Feeling like a returning traveller, you can relax in the comfort of this permanent camp with its pool, shady tents and ensuite bathrooms. In the afternoon, a guided bush walk takes you to a nearby koppie for sundowners before returning to camp for dinner.

Day 7

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Today’s ride meanders through the beautiful plains between the Majale and Pitsane rivers, with abundant game and spectacular views of the Limpopo river valley. En-route you explore the remains of an old Boer war fort on a rocky outcrop before dropping down into a cooler wetland area where plentiful game enjoy the lush grasses. In the summer month, rain and water dependent, it's possible to canter through the shallows of the Limpopo river. 

Return to camp for lunch and a cooling drink beside the pool. In the afternoon you can choose to ride or take a bush walk to your final sundowner spot.

Day 8

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Your last ride is a great opportunity to snap one last picture of elephants or to take a long and winding canter through the scattered mustard bush with your guides. This is a shorter ride of about two hours, allowing you to get back to the stables with enough time to enjoy a hot shower and hearty brunch before saying your farewells. Then it’s off to the airstrip for your air transfer/road transfer back to Johannesburg.

Day 1

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Upon arrival at the Pont Drift Border Post or Limpopo Valley Airfield, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Reception area by the Stables. After a light lunch it’s time to head off to the stables to meet your horse for the week. You will embark on a short introductory ride to make sure that you and your horse are well suited - if time permits you will ride directly to Two Mashatus Camp, otherwise back to the stables again. Dinner will be served in the Llala palm dining room of the Two Mashatus Camp.

Day 2

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

The day begins at sunrise with tea/coffee brought to your tent, followed by a light breakfast. Mount up and head away from the dense woodland along the Limpopo river towards the shallow rocky hills that mark the edges of this great river valley. Your destination is the new Tree Camp which overlooks the Majale river. Here, in the heart of the Mashatu area, the game is plentiful. The Tuli area is home to one of the largest herds of free-roaming elephants south of the Zambezi and you are almost assured of great viewings of these magnificent creatures. After lunch and a siesta you can enjoy your first gentle guided walk to explore the area along the west of the Matabole river before returning to camp for sundowners and dinner.

Day 3

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

An early wake up call heralds a new day and tea/coffee and breakfast is served around the log fire pit. Today your journey takes you through the heart of Mashatu to the ancient rock formations synonymous with the Limpopo valley. Giant baobabs silently survey the land as they have for centuries, ancient elephant trails are stamped into the soil and there are wonderfully long canters on offer through the open scrub. This ride brings you to the banks of the Motloutse river, and nestled amongst the dense Mashatu trees sits a leadwood boma or "Kgotla". This is an old tribal court from a nearby community that was relocated to the banks of the Motloutse River on the western periphery of Mashatu. The open-air traditional African enclosure offers perfect security for spending a night under the stars and a unique experience in the African bush. In the afternoon you are taken on a game drive to search for the areas resident lions before stopping at the "Ampitheatre", an ancient rock formation, for sundowners. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire after which the night is spent sleeping under the stars while listening to the cacophony of sounds generated by the African bush orchestra.

Day 4

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Todays ride takes you to explore the amazing sandstone formations including the famed Solomon’s Wall. Some of the oldest civilizations in southern Africa had their settlements in this valley, with their kings safely nestled in royal kraals on top of these flat-topped hills. The Mapungubwe topography is ancient and timeless, and combined with the great wildlife sightings, makes for an incredible riding day.

In the afternoon you are driven a short distance to the Mmamagwa Hills. After a short, easy climb you can sit beneath a beautiful baobab and be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Tuli area, with South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the north and Botswana surrounding you - this is a sundowner spot you will never forget. Return to the Kgotla for a second night under the stars.

Day 5

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

This morning’s ride starts by taking advantage of the wonderfully sandy soil in the west of the reserve with some long and open canters. The route typically then cuts through sandstone formations before reaching a hidden canyon near the banks of the Limpopo River. The Kgotla area is particularly rich in game, with large herds of elephant, eland, zebra and impala often sited. Upon returning to Kgotla there is time for a luxurious siesta before the afternoon game drive to the Ampitheatre, where yet another incredible vista into the west provides us with the perfect sundowner spot.

Day 6

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Today's ride promises great game viewing as you explore the Pitsane river valley. Drinking holes dug by elephants are scattered along the course of the Pitsane and attract thirsty herds of game. This area once staged a skirmish during the Boer war which destroyed Bryce's store, an old British supply post. The stagecoach line, Zeederbergs, ran from the Transval towns in South Africa to the newly forged settlements in southern Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe. These coaches crossed the broad Limpopo and followed the Pitsane into Zimbabwe.

Return to camp for lunch and a cooling drink in the shade. In the afternoon you can choose to ride or take a bush walk to another glorious sundowner spot.

Day 7

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Today’s ride meanders through the beautiful plains between the Majale and Pitsane rivers, with abundant game and spectacular views of the Limpopo river valley. En-route you explore the remains of an old Boer war fort on a rocky outcrop before dropping down into a cooler wetland area where plentiful game enjoy the lush grasses. In the summer month, rain and water dependent, it's possible to canter through the shallows of the Limpopo river.

Your ride eventually returns to your base camp, Two Mashatus. Feeling like a returning traveller, you can relax in the comfort of this permanent camp with its pool, shady tents and ensuite bathrooms. In the afternoon, a guided bush walk takes you to a nearby koppie for sundowners before returning to camp for a final dinner.

Day 8

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Your last ride is a great opportunity to snap one last picture of elephants or to take a long and winding canter through the scattered mustard bush with your guides. This is a shorter ride of about two hours, allowing you to get back to the stables with enough time to enjoy a hot shower and hearty brunch before saying your farewells. Then it’s off to the airstrip for your air transfer/road transfer back to Johannesburg.