Transfer Option:

Sample itinerary

Day 1: 11.00 am. Guests are met at the Information Counter in the A1 terminal which is in the International Arrivals Hall at Johannesburg Oliver Tambo International Airport. Our driver will then transfer all guests to Dinaka, a stunning stone and thatch safari lodge set high above a large hippo dam, offering a sweeping view of the surrounding plains. Guests will arrive in time to relax and explore the beautiful surroundings and to meet with their guides and fellow safari group. A late lunch will be served to revive the weary travelers. Late afternoon, guests will have their first opportunity to acquaint themselves with their selected horse, to take in the wonderful open spaces around them, and to go in search of game in the soft afternoon light. This ride will give guests their first taste of the stunning variety of game on Dinaka. The day will finish with sundowner drinks and a sumptuous three course evening meal.

Day 2: Today, we will ride to the “Small Serengeti Plains”, where you will be able to observe and interpret the behaviour of various plains game species. Your guides will have a surprise of bush “games” up their sleeve.  On the Dinaka plains riders will encounter the dense game populations this beautiful reserve is renowned for. Sightings of up to 15 rhino, together with 11 other species in your view, are not uncommon.  The open plains provide great opportunities for fast riding.  Riders are also able to experience that dream canter alongside herds of antelope as they gallop and pronk across the open savannah.  Back at the lodge guests can sunbathe above the hippo dam and watch these family-orientated creatures interact and play in the heat of the day.   This afternoon you may be able to go on a little cross country jumping or ride amongst beautiful big trees.

Day 3: Mountain exploration.  After an early breakfast we will set out on a hunt for some of the reserves more elusive mountain species - leopard, mountain zebra, mountain reedbuck, baboon, African rock python, rock dassie, klipspringer and Cape vulture.  This ride ascends a valley that leads deep into the Waterberg escarpment, following a crystal clear stream and passing several picturesque dams along the way.  The bush is dense and full of birdcalls. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed at one of the dams along the way, returning to the lodge in the early afternoon in time for a cooling swim and siesta.  The afternoon is a gentle pre-sunset ride to one of the larger dams hosting some of the many hippos on the reserve.

Day 4: A ride to another area of the reserve, where Dinaka runs its highly successful breeding programme for highly valued species, which include white blesbuck, sable antelope and bontebok.  En route the ride crosses a particularly fertile plain where riders can experience the exhilaration and thrill of cantering amongst herds of game, with many different species galloping together across the plains. 
The afternoon proves a welcome break for both horse and rider.  A Dinaka guide will escort you on an informative game drive, where you will visit another area inhabited by buffalo and some unusual red wildebeest.  The guide, who is responsible for the feeding and monitoring of the rhino on the reserve, will accompany the guests on a very special opportunity to approach and observe some of the rhino on foot.  The last night is the final ‘braai’ evening where guests relax around the fire, enjoy the African night sky and toast their experiences whilst a feast is served.

Day 5: In the morning there is a last chance to find any species not yet seen and enjoy one last gallop along the endless sandy lanes. After a hearty brunch and sad goodbyes, guests are transferred to their next destination - on the other side of the Botswana border!  You will depart the lodge at approximately 10.30 to Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris – a transfer of approximately 4 hours. After crossing the mighty Limpopo River either by cable car or through the dry river bed, you arrive at the stunning Two Mashatus camp. Built in traditional Botswana style, two round huts with Lala palm roofs serve as lounge and dinning area under a majestic Mashatu tree. Your accommodation is A-frame walk-in tents with comfortable beds and an en-suite toilet and shower. Guests are taken on an introductory ride in the afternoon to familiarize riders with their horses; with a stable of 34 horses we aim to find you the perfect match! 

Day 6: After an early rise and a light breakfast, you will head out to explore the Limpopo Valley, including a natural marshland called “Nels Vlei”. The ride offers lots of possible game sightings such as giraffe, eland, kudu and zebra as well as the abundant elephant! The morning ride is 4-5 hours which will take you to your next destination- Zeederberg Wilderness Camp. A well-deserved lunch awaits you upon arrival. After a relaxing afternoon you can join your guide for a bushwalk around the area, following in the footsteps of legends such as Cecil John Rhodes. On return to camp sundowners await you around the campfire and dinner is served. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the African bush, interrupted only by the occasional calls of lion, hyaena and jackal.

Day 7:  Today’s ride of about 4-5 hours takes you to Liana camp, descending from the Zeederberg Hills and on to the open Pitsani plains with the possibility of a fast canter with zebra, wildebeest or giraffe. This ride offers the opportunity of jumping some of the fallen logs pushed over by elephant. Lunch awaits you under another splendid Mashatu tree. A lunchtime siesta follows before heading out on a game drive with a Mashatu ranger, in the hope of seeing some of the big cats or African wild dogs. Enjoy the special situation of this campsite set in an old river bed overhung by the twisted Liana vines after which it is named.

Day 8: The dawn chorus will wake you to a light breakfast. Todays ride of about 4-5 hours will take you back to Two Mashatus camp, passing through the central game area where you will have a good opportunity to look for leopard in the Mashatu trees along the Majale river.  Follow the course of the river and enjoy the winding canters through the bush. This afternoon you have the choice of going to the local village on a game drive or enjoying a relaxing sundowner along the Limpopo. Back at camp another delicious meal cooked over the fire is served, and as the night draws to a close, enjoy a night cap around the fire.   

Day 9: After breakfast around the fire, you will head off in the direction of Nels Vlei with a good chance of catching a final glimpse of elephant as this is one of their favourite areas.  Back at the stables, after a last pat and a fond farewell to your horse, you have the chance to have a good shower and enjoy lunch before heading off for the border and the 5 to 6 hours drive to JHB airport.

Please be aware that due to changes in weather and other unforeseen events the itinerary may be changed at the last minute. We will endeavor to keep everyone informed of any changes and the reason for them.


Alternative last four days of Safari for those enjoying the Static camp

Day 6: After an early rise and a light breakfast you will head out to explore the Limpopo Valley, including a natural marshland called ”Nels Vlei”, the Majale island witch is guaranteed to keep you on your toes as this is where the Majale Island pride of lions hang out. Possibly out to Kanda Corner where the giraffes sometimes are browsing on the mopane bush, as well as the aptly named Elephants Valley! The morning ride is 3-4 hours as you explore the area teeming with general game. Lunch will be enjoyed under the Mashatu Tree back at the Confluence Camp, as the horses graze around you.  In the afternoon you will be back on a fresh horse and you can enjoy the thrill of a natural cross-country course or a leisurely ride along the Limpopo. Dinner is another unforgettable meal under the stars.

Day 7:  Today is another early start as you will be again in the saddle for up to 4 hours, a good breakfast will fortify you for this day! This fascinating ride will focus on the history of the area with interesting tales about the Anglo-Boer War. Depending on where the game is, you could end up on the Pitsani Plains enjoying a fast gallop, and if you’re really lucky zebras, wildebeest and giraffe will join you! In the afternoon guests can choose to go on a game drive (or can go for another leisurely afternoon ride).  If you choose to go on the game drive, you will spend the late afternoon and evening on the "hunt" for the beautiful and awesome cats which are so much a part of the Mashatu experience. Sundowners are enjoyed on a great koppie and at nightfall the spotlight is used for following Africa’s big cats on ‘the hunt’.

Day 8: The dawn chorus will awake you, as a sumptuous breakfast is prepared over the fire. Another long day in the saddle, 4 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.. You pass through a range of vegetation types: riverine forests, savannah acacias, terminalia shrubland and areas abundant in shepard's trees, there is a good chance of seeing Elephants, many species of birds and a wide range of antelopes. The afternoon ride will head towards the rocky outcrop close to Rock Camp where waterbuck, rock dassies, and black eagles are likely to be spotted. On your way back you can head out to the Dam wall for a great view of Mashatu!  Your dinner will be cooked in front of you tonight as its “Braai night” enjoy the comfort of a well earned meal around the fire.

Day 9: After a final breakfast around the fire, you will head off for a last ride in the direction of Nels Vlei, a good chance to catch another glimpse of elephants here, as this is one of their favourite areas.  Some final jumps over our natural cross country course and your back at FJ. A last pat and a fond farewell to you horse, you have the chance to have a good shower and quick lunch before heading off for the border and the 5.5 hours drive to Johannesburg.

Some departure dates will stay at a static camp in Botswana, but most will be staying in several mobile camps.

Static Camp Dates:  the camp doesn’t move location. Instead guests ride twice a day from the comfort of the Two Mashatu tented camp.

Mobile Camp Dates:  move camp daily with once a day long rides in the early morning. Camps are tented but very comfortable.

The climate over most of Southern Africa is temperate. Hot, dry conditions are usually encountered in the Tuli region. Heavy summer thunderstorms of short duration in the late afternoon and evening may be experienced. Rainfall occurs mostly during the summer months (October - March).

FEBRUARY: This is one of the hottest months of the year, with temperatures soaring.  The conditions are similar to those of January.  Kudus continue to calve and there is a good chance of seeing late Impala lambs, tottering along on spindly, wobbling legs behind their mothers.  Due to the excessive heat, the animals wisely begin to seek shade before 8 o’clock in the morning, only becoming active again in the late afternoon, just prior to sunset.  Tropical thunderstorms are still a regular afternoon feature and there is still a high probability of flooded rivers to add some excitement to game drives.

MARCH: Finally the harsh, searing heat of summer begins to abate and there is less likelihood of rain. A few late Kudu calves may make a bemused appearance in the beginning of the month.  Large nursery herds of gawky Impala young are found, kept under some control by the watchful eyes of their mothers.  The bush is still dense, but the bright shades of green are starting to become duller as the year progresses.  Due to the decrease in rainfall, the characteristic carpets of yellow flowers, so prevalent in the early summer months, begin to disappear.

APRIL: This is a truly splendid time of the year.  It is now autumn and the daily temperatures are most pleasant with balmy days and nights.  The trees are still green and the bush is thick.  Groundcovers growing away from the larger watercourses are starting to change colour to the browner shades of winter, as water becomes scarcer.  A hush begins to fall over the bush, as the myriad of insects, frogs and reptiles quieten down in preparation for winter.  Flocks of migratory birds also begin to congregate in the treetops, gathering themselves together for the long flight northwards to sunnier climes and greener pastures. The rains have abated, although late unseasonable showers may occur, but this the exception rather than the rule.

MAY: The transition from summer to winter occurs rapidly in the Limpopo Valley.  Temperatures begin to drop rapidly after sunset and both evening and morning game drives require warmer clothing.  Although chilly in the morning, the days are clear and pleasant with crisp blue skies.  Now that the rains are over, the veldt begins to dry out and game begins to congregate around the major watercourses, such as the Limpopo and associated wetlands, as well as the artificial waterholes scattered throughout the reserve.  Deciduous trees begin to loose their leaves, with crisp, crackling drifts of golden brown leaves forming on the ground and tree bases.  The grasses, forbs and herbs gradually begin to fade away.  As the vegetation begins to thin, the elusive leopard is more frequently seen.  Lions, which dispersed with the game during the wet season, now begin to concentrate their activities in the central area of Mashatu.

JUNE: Winter is now upon us and has spread its chilly grip on Mashatu.  Most of the natural pans and pools have now completely dried up.  Elephant and a host of other species begin to frequent the artificial waterholes at both Main and Tent Camps, which makes for exciting mealtime viewing.  Predator sightings are good at this time of the year, due to the thinned out vegetation and concentrations of game, cheetah however are scarce.  In general the game is more active later into the day.

JULY: The conditions are much like those in June.  The days are still good, with crisp mornings. The nights can be very cold.  Elephant may begin to dig for water in the sandy riverbeds, providing water not only for themselves, but a variety of other animals.  This is also a favorable time to visit the archaeological site at the Motloutse River.  The summer vegetation has disappeared and a host of interesting features are now visible.

AUGUST: Conditions are extremely dry now.  The floodplains and grasslands adjacent to the Limpopo are very dry and barren.  The bush has become harsh and almost inhospitable, with absolutely no groundcover, only dust and rocks visible for kilometers.  The veldt has all the typical winter hues of brown and red, as the Mopane leaves start turning.  The weather is fine with temperatures increasing slightly.  The early mornings and evenings being not as cold as in June or July.  August is a showy month, with respect to sunsets.  Due to the very dry conditions, large quantities of dust is taken up into the air, giving rise to spectacular pyrotechnic displays as the sun sinks below the horizon.

 SEPTEMBER: This is a month of great contrast.  The bush is still very dry, a condition exacerbated by winds, which blow from August through to October.  However, many trees begin to blossom, in anticipation of the rapidly approaching summer.  The vibrant hues of the blossoms enliven the bush, providing a bountiful treat for baboons and other hungry inhabitants of the bush, all of whom have struggled through the lean winter months.  Temperatures begin to creep upwards and game drives are once again early morning and late afternoon affairs, as a wise means of avoiding the debilitating midday heat.

OCTOBER: Temperatures begin to steadily increase and conditions are becoming desperate for many of the herbivores.  This is due to subregion frontal systems touching on the Limpopo Valley, bringing superheated air into the region.  There may be an occasional tropical thunderstorm, but this early rain is sucked up like a sponge by the barren earth.  This welcome water is however not enough, and seldom results in a notable floral display.  Predators have a field day, as many of the game are weak and tend to restrict their activities to the area close to the waterholes.  The lack of dense vegetation and the dry powdery soil make tracking lion and leopard an easier task and often result in exceptional sightings.  Elephant listlessly wait out the dry season, moving from waterhole to waterhole, where they take full advantage, wallowing and drinking for hours.  They will feed on the surrounding vegetation, moving into the bush on feeding forays when temperatures have dropped sufficiently for them to forage out of the protective shade.  It is also at this time that eland begin to calve.

NOVEMBER: Summer is now in full swing at Mashatu.  The temperatures are high and there is a lot of humidity in the air.  The chances of convectional thunderstorms are great, although the real rains are still at least a month away.  Some of the summer migrant birds begin to arrive.  The characteristic call of the Red-chested Cuckoo rings out clearly, heralding the approach of better times for all.  Once good rains have fallen, the small, drab, but extremely vocal Monotonous Lark keeps the bush awake day and night with its irritating call, as they perch on every treetop.
 

Accommodation: in South Africa is the luxurious Dinaka Lodge (laundry available) followed by Two Mashatsus, comfortable tented safaris in Botswana.

Catering Requirements - Please inform our reservations department upon reservation of any special dietary requirements. Please also advise us if any guests will be celebrating a birthday or special occasion, which that you may want us to be aware of.

Drinking Water - All water in the camp is filtered to the highest standards and is guaranteed perfectly safe for drinking.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Please note riding helmets are mandatory. You will need to sign a waiver on arrival if you choose not to wear a helmet. Important- you are not covered by our partner's insurance if you do not wear a helmet.

The horses have been individually chosen for their temperament and ride ability and have substantial experience within the game reserve.  These horses have been specifically selected from some of the numerous South African breeds of horses that are recognized for being well adapted to extreme African conditions and harsh terrain.  Among the breeds represented in our group of horses include the Boerperd, Basuto, Anglos and S.A. Warmbloods.  They range in size from 14 h.h. to 16.2 h.h. and are an assortment of color. 

Guests must BE EXPERIENCED RIDERS, this means they must ride regularly and be comfortable at the faster gaits, canter and galloping as well as able to do small jumps.
Children under 16 years are not permitted.

Tack:		Classic English style ,Australian stock saddles and South African Mcllelans
Horses:		Boerperd,Warmblood thoroughbred, Appaloosas and Shire Cross
Pace:		Some fast, exhilarating, and challenging riding! 4-6 + hours in saddle per day | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3.5 to 5 out of 5)    Strong Intermediate
Age:		Min 16
Weight:		Max 220 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 8 riders

Please note riding helmets are mandatory. You will need to sign a waiver on arrival if you choose not to wear a helmet. Important- you are not covered by our partner's insurance if you do not wear a helmet.

The horses have been individually chosen for their temperament and ride ability and have substantial experience within the game reserve.  These horses have been specifically selected from some of the numerous South African breeds of horses that are recognized for being well adapted to extreme African conditions and harsh terrain.  Among the breeds represented in our group of horses include the Boerperd, Basuto, Anglos and S.A. Warmbloods.  They range in size from 14 h.h. to 16.2 h.h. and are an assortment of color. 

Guests must BE EXPERIENCED RIDERS, this means they must ride regularly and be comfortable at the faster gaits, canter and galloping as well as able to do small jumps.
Children under 16 years are not permitted.

Passports
Passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure required by all nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Passport must have at least two blank pages for entry stamp. This cannot include the 'endorsement' page at the back. Passengers who also require a visa must have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for their entry stamp. Anyone attempting to enter South Africa without the required pages will be returned to their country of origin.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days for business and tourist purposes, except:
1. nationals of Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic who may stay for up to 30 days, and nationals of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia who do require a visa, unless transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (advance notice of overnight stay is required).
Visa Note
(a) Proof of financial means may be required. (b) Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when travelling alone. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses). (d) After entry, extensions of stay may be sought from the Department of Home Affairs.
Types of Visa and Cost
Visa fee: £35. UK nationals are exempt from visa fees.
Validity
Dependent on length of stay requested. Permits may be extended if done so 30 days prior to expiry of original permit.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses. Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may send their applications to the embassy in the nearest country.
Working Days Required
Five to 10 days.