Botswana ~ Limpopo Valley

Riding: 4-6 hours a day.

Horses: Boerpede & Boerpede crosses, Basuto, warmbloods.

Pace: moderate, with good chances for long canters.

Riding ability: confident intermediate to experienced riders.

Weight limit: 95kg (15 stone).

Accommodation: 4∆ and 5∆ camping, comfortable safari lodges.

Group size: maximum 8.

For Limpopo Valley Horse Safari testimonials click here

The horses include South African Boerperds and Boerperd crosses, some have thoroughbred blood and there are some shire crosses. They vary from about 14.2hh to 17hh and all are well schooled and forward going. Saddles are mostly English, with some Maclellan and Australian stock saddles available on request. There are grooms on hand to look after the horses.

Hours: There is usually about 4 to 7 hours riding a day, riding out from camp or to fly camp. Rides are broken with rests, for lunch and game viewing.

Pace and experience required: To join a safari you must be a fairly experienced rider who is comfortable riding at all paces from a walk to fast canter in open country. You will be riding in a varied, open area where there is big game including elephant and lion. The going on the safaris is good, there are places for long canters and you will enjoy it more if you are riding fit. If in doubt about ability please contact us.

Accommodation for the first night of the Tuli ride is at The Two Mashatus Camp, a comfortable, semi-permanent base camp at the confluence of the Limpopo and Majale Rivers. This is also the base for the fixed camp safaris (both Limpopo Safaris and some Combined Big 5 Safaris). At Two Mashatus Camp, all tents have their own long drop loo and also a private shower behind the tent. The camp also has a dining area built in local style with a palm thatch roof and set on raised teak. Other nights on this safari are spent at a selection of wilderness camps, set up at carefully selected locations across the Mashatu Reserve. For the nights spent camping 2 man walk in A frame tents are used, with beds and linen provided. A shower tent is set up as well as a 'long drop' loo and there is a back up lorry which carries camping equipment, provisions and horse food from camp to camp. Meals are eaten outside at a table set up in the shade of a tree.

The Lodge to Lodge safari uses private farms and lodges on the Mashatu Reserve with the last night spent at Two Mashatus camp. All accommodation has en-suite bathrooms but standards vary - there are swimming pools at some of the lodges.

For Tuli safaris the meeting point is Pont Drift border post or Limpopo Valley airstrip in Botswana and it is usually easiest to fly to Johannesburg and transfer overland from there. Mashatu is an easy 5 and a half hour drive from Johannesburg on tarred roads. Vehicle transfers are arranged at set times (cost approx £200 return assuming minimum 2 people) and to make use of these you need to arrive Johannesburg before 08.00 on the first day. Departure after the safari should not be before 20.00. Transfers outside set times can also be arranged (approx £250 per person, assuming 2 or more) or some people prefer to hire a car and drive themselves. For an economy return flight from London to Johannesburg, budget around £550 to £800 (fares vary with seasons).

Itinerary in Brief (7 night Tuli Safari)