Limpopo Valley Safaris - Big 5 Safari

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Guests are met at the Information desk in the arrivals hall at Oliver Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International). All participants on the safari are transferred to Dinaka, a stunning stone and thatch safari lodge set high above a large hippo dam, offering a sweeping view of the surrounding plains. You arrive in time to relax and explore the beautiful surroundings and to meet you guides. A late lunch is served. Late afternoon, guests 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 gives guests the first taste of the stunning variety of game on Dinaka. The day will finish with sun downer drinks and a sumptuous three course evening meal.

Day 2

Today, you ride to the “Small Serengeti Plains”, where you will be able to observe and interpret the behaviour of various plains game species. Your guides have a surprise of bush “games” up their sleeve. On the Dinaka plains riders 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 you can sunbathe above the hippo dam and watch these family-orientated creatures interact and play in the heat of the day. In the afternoon you may be able to go on a little cross country jumping or ride amongst beautiful big trees.

Day 3

After an early breakfast you 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 is enjoyed at one of the dams along the way, and you return 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 successful breeding programme for highly valued species, which include white blesbok, sable antelope and bontebok. En route the ride crosses a particularly fertile plain where riders 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 escorts you on an informative game drive, where you will visit another area inhabited by buffalo and some unusual red wildebeest. The last night is the final ‘braai’ (barbecue) 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 the next destination - on the other side of the Botswana border. You depart the lodge at approximately 10.30 to Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris – a transfer of approximately 4 hours. After crossing the mighty, but seasonal, Limpopo River either by cable car or through the dry river bed, you arrive at the Limpopo Valley Horse Safari Stables. Here you enjoy a light lunch and get acquainted with your hosts as well as your horse for the week. You are taken on a short introductory ride in the afternoon to familiarize yourself with your horse - with a stable of 35, the aim is to find the perfect match! After the ride guests are taken to the 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

Day 6

After an early rise and a light breakfast, you head out to explore the Limpopo Valley, including a natural marshland called “Nel’s 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, and takes you to your next destination - Zeederberg Wilderness Camp. Enjoy a refreshing lunch upon your arrival in camp. After a relaxing afternoon you join your guide for a bushwalk around the area. On return to camp sundowners await, 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, with a descent 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 wild dogs. Enjoy the unique setting of this campsite - in an old river bed overhung by the twisted Liana vines after which it is named.

Day 8

The dawn chorus wakes you to a light breakfast. Today’s ride of about 4-5 hours takes you back to Two Mashatus camp, passing through the central game area where you 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 sun downer 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 head off in the direction of Nel’s 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 time for a shower and lunch at the stables before heading off for the border and the 5 to 6 hours drive to OR Tambo airport.

Please be aware that due to changes in weather and other unforeseen events the itinerary may be changed at the last minute.

Please note that during the months of February, March and November the Botswana part of the ride is based at Two Mashatus camp. Riders will be able to enjoy 4-5 hours a morning on horseback and leisurely game drives or walks in the afternoons as per the above itinerary.

General Information

Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris is owned and run by Cor and Louise Carelsen. Cor is a dedicated conservationist and guide, with a diploma in Nature Conservation and has worked as a project manager for a charitable conservation foundation in Ecuador, South America which was dedicated to preserving virgin Andean cloud forests as well as the Estate Manager for a racehorse stud and training farm in England.

Louise is an experienced competitor on the affiliated British Eventing circuit, and has also worked as an exercise rider for top trainers in Newmarket and participated as an amateur jockey at ‘Point to Point’ race meetings. Trained professionally at the French National Riding School at Saumur, Louise is now qualified as a BHS Intermediate Instructor.

The horses have been individually selected for their temperament and ride-ability. They have been carefully chosen from the various South African breeds, which are well known for being of a tougher nature - able to cope under extreme conditions. These breeds include the Boerperd, Shire cross Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, and the South African Warm blood. They range in size from 14.3 hands to 17 hands.

Tack: Australian stock saddles, South African McClellan’s and a selection of English saddles for those who prefer.

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.

Travel Documents: a valid passport is obligatory if travelling from outside Botswana with a re-entry visa for South Africa for some nationalities

What to bring:

• Comfortable riding clothes and well fitting hard hat - compulsory for any person under the age of 21, but highly recommended for each and every person taking part in the safaris. A wide brimmed hat also is advisable as protection against the sun.

• We recommend the use of neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, brown, beige and green) that blends in with the bush (no brightly coloured, or white clothing). Light weight long sleeved shirts

• Swimming costume
• Jodhpurs or long trousers
• Short boots and half chaps (long rubber boots not advised)
• Head lamp
• Camera, film (and extra batteries)
• Binoculars
• Reading material
• Lip balm
• Passport
• Mosquito repellent
• Walking shoes, hiking boots or ride/run boots
• Warm clothing (for winter, May to August)
• Sun block (factor 20 or higher)
• Bum bag
• Waterproof raincoat (for summer, from November to March)
• Basic first aid kit with plasters, painkillers and antihistamine