Waterberg Big Five Safari

Day 1

Riding: No riding.

You will be met at OR Tambo international Airport and transferred to Entabeni Game Reserve, which is about a 2.5 hour drive away. On arrival you will be welcomed by the team at Fly Camp set up on a nearby farm where buffalo roam abundantly as well as the rare Sable antelope which you'll hopefully see from horseback. During lunch you'll receive an introductory brief on the days to come including your horse preferences so that you can be allocated a horse you'll enjoy.

In the afternoon you will set out on a game drive (3 hours) to see the Big 5 from your vehicle.

Arrive back for dinner and a good rest as you settle into the African bush.

Overnight at Wild-Side Tented Camp.

Day 2 - Lower Escarpment Ride

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

Early wake up and an optional game drive (3hrs.) as the bush comes to life. On your return you will have an opulent breakfast before you meet your horses for your morning ride (2.5-3 hrs.). You will be riding the plains in hopes of seeing some of the Big 5 on horseback. Maybe cheetah or elephant to get the adrenaline pumping! Return to the lodge for lunch, with some down time to rest at the pool, before you set out again on horseback as the sun gets cooler.

Your afternoon ride will take you along spectacular scenery and less travelled paths (2.5 hrs), on search for some more game, such as wildebeest, zebra, giraffe or hippo. Return as the sunsets, join the group around the fire for dinner.

Overnight at Wild-Side Tented Camp.

Day 3 - Escarpment Ride & Rock Pools

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Wake up as the sun starts to ride, and set off for your early morning game drive (3 hrs). You will return for breakfast, and have your luggage packed which will be transported to the next camp for you. Your horses will be ready as you head for the renowned Yellowwood kloof, which is the steepest man-made road in Southern Africa. You will partially lead your horse and ride on the less steep areas, taking you through a valley and mountain passes with spectacular views (5-6 hrs). There is a support vehicle on stand-by should you not be able to walk.

You will stop at natural rock pools for lunch, and a swim if the weather permits. As you come out of the valley, the plains open up in front of you, like a mirage of open savanna potted with game, blesbuck, giraffe, eland... maybe your first sighting of rhino, who tend to like to visit the horses at camp! Your guides will give you an intro to fly camp and welcome you with some traditional song and dance to set the scene. The tents look out onto the plains, where animals roam free. As the horses settle in the paddocks next to camp, the team will have prepared the bar ready for sunset drinks by the fire, and a three-course meal. Let the feeling of serenity set in and enjoy this spectacular camp which you will call home for the next two nights.

Overnight at Fly Camp

Day 4 - Rhino Tracking

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

Wake to the sound of the bush coming to life, with hot water boiling on the fire and a bush breakfast ready. Today you will set off in search for rhino (2.5 hrs). As you track these protected giants you might come up very close to giraffe, as you ride the plains and mountain passes, taking routes which no vehicle can go. Return to camp for lunch.

After lunch and a rest you will set out on your afternoon ride (2.5hrs) to the highest point of the reserve, for a drink or two! Soak in the views, and return for a romantic dinner, with pathways lit up and lanterns to set the scene.

Overnight at Fly Camp

Day 5 - Kingfisher Lodge

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

After breakfast at the fly camp, pack your bags and load into the support vehicle. Today you will ride to Kingfisher Lodge (3-4 hrs) for some pampering and comfort. Kingfisher is a 5* Lodge set on a lake on the upper escarpment of the reserve, where your riding group will have a secluded area, overlooking the lake. If you are lucky, you might see some hippos in the lake.

Arrive in time for lunch, and settle in at this little “gem”, you may make use of the pool, before your afternoon game drive (3 hrs), in search for hippo, giraffe and rhino amongst other such as eland and other abundant game.

Overnight Kingfisher Lodge

Day 6 - Ride to Wildside Camp

Riding: 4 - 6 hours

Early start with tea, coffee and biscuits at the lodge, before your game drive (3 hrs) or bush walk. Your hosts will take your bags down the mountain then when you get back from your morning activity you will ride into the Big 5 areas of the lower escarpment, and back to Wildside Lodge which you should reach in time for lunch. After a very long day in the saddle (5 hours) you will have the option to rest at the lodge or go on a game drive in the afternoon. Return to the lodge for dinner and spend the evening relaxing.

Overnight at Wildside Camp

Day 7 - Entabeni & Fly Camp

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

You will have the option of a game drive before breakfast if you wish. After breakfast, your bags will be collected by the team,
and you will set off on a ride through the reserve and start heading out towards the horses' stables. Your next fly camp is set at a beautiful fig tree, which you will ride to.

You will stop for a bush lunch on the way, and arrive to a lit fire, and welcome drinks. After a day travelling with your horses (5 hours) you will have a special farewell dinner with plenty of dancing and singing.

Overnight at Fly Camp

Day 8 - Departure

Riding: 2 - 3 hours

Early morning, after breakfast you will go on your last morning ride, on the lower escarpment of the reserve. When you return from your ride you will have time for a shower before you depart for the airport.

Day 1 - Arrival

Riding: No riding.

You will be met at OR Tambo international Airport and transferred to Entabeni Game Reserve, which is about a 2.5 hour drive away. On arrival you will be welcomed by the team at Fly Camp set up on a nearby farm where buffalo roam abundantly as well as the rare Sable antelope which you'll hopefully see from horseback. During lunch you'll receive an introductory brief on the days to come including your horse preferences so that you can be allocated a horse you'll enjoy.

In the afternoon you will set out on a game drive (3 hours) to see the Big 5 from your vehicle.

Arrive back for dinner and a good rest as you settle into the African bush.

Overnight at Wild-Side Tented Camp.

Day 2 - Lower Escarpment Ride

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Early wake up and an optional game drive (3hrs.) as the bush comes to life. On your return you will have an opulent breakfast before you meet your horses for your morning ride (2.5-3 hrs.). You will be riding the plains in hopes of seeing some of the Big 5 on horseback. Maybe cheetah or elephant to get the adrenaline pumping! Return to the lodge for lunch, with some down time to rest at the pool, before you set out again on horseback as the sun gets cooler.

Your afternoon ride will take you along spectacular scenery and less travelled paths (2.5 hrs), on search for some more game, such as wildebeest, zebra, giraffe or hippo. Return as the sunsets, join the group around the fire for dinner.

Overnight at Wild-Side Tented Camp.

Day 3 - Escarpment Ride & Rock Pools

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Wake up as the sun starts to ride, and set off for your early morning game drive (3 hrs). You will return for breakfast, and have your luggage packed which will be transported to the next camp for you. Your horses will be ready as you head for the renowned Yellowwood kloof, which is the steepest man-made road in Southern Africa. You will partially lead your horse and ride on the less steep areas, taking you through a valley and mountain passes with spectacular views (5-6 hrs). There is a support vehicle on stand-by should you not be able to walk.

You will stop at natural rock pools for lunch, and a swim if the weather permits. As you come out of the valley, the plains open up in front of you, like a mirage of open savanna potted with game, blesbuck, giraffe, eland... maybe your first sighting of rhino, who tend to like to visit the horses at camp! Your guides will give you an intro to fly camp and welcome you with some traditional song and dance to set the scene. The tents look out onto the plains, where animals roam free. As the horses settle in the paddocks next to camp, the team will have prepared the bar ready for sunset drinks by the fire, and a three-course meal. Let the feeling of serenity set in and enjoy this spectacular camp which you will call home for the next two nights.

Overnight at Fly Camp

Day 4 - Rhino Tracking

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Wake to the sound of the bush coming to life, with hot water boiling on the fire and a bush breakfast ready. Today you will set off in search for rhino (2.5 hrs). As you track these protected giants you might come up very close to giraffe, as you ride the plains and mountain passes, taking routes which no vehicle can go. Return to camp for lunch.

After lunch and a rest you will set out on your afternoon ride (2.5hrs) to the highest point of the reserve, for a drink or two! Soak in the views, and return for a romantic dinner, with pathways lit up and lanterns to set the scene.

Overnight at Fly Camp

Day 5 - Big Five Ride

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Early start with tea, coffee and biscuits at the lodge, before your game drive (3 hrs) or bush walk. Your hosts will take your bags down the mountain then when you get back from your morning activity you will ride into the Big 5 areas of the lower escarpment, and back to Wildside Lodge which you should reach in time for lunch. After a very long day in the saddle (5 hours) you will have the option to rest at the lodge or go on a game drive in the afternoon. Return to the lodge for dinner and spend the evening relaxing.

Overnight at Wildside Camp

Day 6

Riding: 2 - 3 hours

Early morning, after breakfast you will go on your last morning ride, on the lower escarpment of the reserve. When you return from your ride you will have time for a shower before you depart for the airport.