African Big 5 Explorer

African Explorer, Botswana. A long line of wildebeests is moving across the plains with the riders in the background – a classic image from a riding holiday in Botswana.
African Explorer, Botswana. A long line of wildebeests is moving across the plains with the riders in the background – a classic image from a riding holiday in Botswana.
African Explorer, Botswana. Two lions rest in the tall grass while riders pass by in the distance – a classic riding safari with a chance to see the savannah's largest predators.
African Explorer, Botswana. Two lions rest in the tall grass while riders pass by in the distance – a classic riding safari with a chance to see the savannah's largest predators.
Quick facts
About African Big 5 Explorer
Amenities
Reviews

Waterberg, South Africa and Tuli Block, Botswana

7 nights

fr £2714

Open all year

Max 8 people

Mobile safari with accommodation in different camps

Riding level: 4-5

Max weight: 85 kg

O.R Tambo International Airport

Quick facts
About African Big 5 Explorer
Amenities
Reviews

Waterberg, South Africa and Tuli Block, Botswana

7 nights

fr £2714

Open all year

Max 8 people

Mobile safari with accommodation in different camps

Riding level: 4-5

Max weight: 85 kg

O.R Tambo International Airport

Quick facts

About African Big 5 Explorer

Amenities

Reviews

Waterberg, South Africa and Tuli Block, Botswana

7 nights

fr £2714

Open all year

Max 8 people

Mobile safari with accommodation in different camps

Riding level: 4-5

Max weight: 85 kg

O.R Tambo International Airport

Accommodation

You stay in several unique and exciting camps, ranging from beautiful glamping tents and accommodation built on tree platforms to luxurious lodges. Each with its own character. African Explorer comes in two versions, where the accommodation differs slightly. • African Explorer 1: Four nights are spent in South Africa and three nights in Botswana. The accommodation in Botswana consists of Two Mashatu and Tree Camp. • African Explorer 2: Three nights are spent in South Africa and four nights in Botswana. The accommodation in Botswana consists of Kgotla and Tree Camp.

Camp Davidson
Bellevue Lodge
Tree Camp
Kgotla
Two Mashatu

Camp Davidson is inspired by the old outspan camps of E.A. Davidson, who in the early 1900s travelled through the region with his wagon, trading goods. That early camp atmosphere has been beautifully captured here. Canvas tents on wooden decks are nestled among sandstone ridges overlooking the reserve. Each tent has its own en suite bathroom with a shower. The camp runs entirely on solar energy and also features a pool with a deck. Wi-Fi is available in some of the tents as well as in the main tent.

Camp Davidson
Bellevue Lodge
Tree Camp
Kgotla
Two Mashatu

Camp Davidson is inspired by the old outspan camps of E.A. Davidson, who in the early 1900s travelled through the region with his wagon, trading goods. That early camp atmosphere has been beautifully captured here. Canvas tents on wooden decks are nestled among sandstone ridges overlooking the reserve. Each tent has its own en suite bathroom with a shower. The camp runs entirely on solar energy and also features a pool with a deck. Wi-Fi is available in some of the tents as well as in the main tent.

Camp Davidson

Bellevue Lodge

Tree Camp

Kgotla

Two Mashatu

Camp Davidson is inspired by the old outspan camps of E.A. Davidson, who in the early 1900s travelled through the region with his wagon, trading goods. That early camp atmosphere has been beautifully captured here. Canvas tents on wooden decks are nestled among sandstone ridges overlooking the reserve. Each tent has its own en suite bathroom with a shower. The camp runs entirely on solar energy and also features a pool with a deck. Wi-Fi is available in some of the tents as well as in the main tent.

Camp Davidson

African Explorer, Waterberg, South Africa – Camp Davidson main area, rusticly furnished lounge on a riding safari in Africa.
Pool deck with a beautiful green view at Camp Davidson, horseback safari in Waterberg South Africa

Bellevue Lodge

African Explorer, Waterberg, South Africa – Savannah Lodge viewing point with a sofa and lounge environment, overlooking a golden savannah filled with wild animals.
African Explorer, Waterberg, South Africa – Savannah Lodge main area featuring a beautifully rustic lounge with dining table, sofas, fireplace, and warm lighting during a horseback riding holiday in Africa.

Tree Camp

Tree Camp in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana – unique treetop accommodation built on a raised platform with a bed surrounded by mosquito netting during a horseback safari with Africa by Horse.
African Explorer, Botswana. Tree Camp is nestled among the mashatu trees by the riverbank and is an iconic part of the safari – a place where nature and comfort meet.
African Explorer, Botswana. Tree Camp is situated high among the trees and offers spacious rooms with amazing views – a tranquil oasis in the bush during your horseback safari.
African Explorer, Botswana. Wake up to the sound of birdsong and the first rays of sun through the mosquito net – a magical start to the day during your riding journey in Botswana.
African Explorer, Botswana. The morning sun colours the sky golden outside the tent. A quiet moment before the day's ride begins – this is the essence of a riding holiday in Africa.

Kgotla

Kgotla Camp in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana – cozy thatched hut with a neatly made bed in the middle of the bush, offering an authentic experience during a horseback riding holiday in Africa.

Two Mashatu

Pool deck with sun loungers at dusk at Two Mashatu, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana – relaxation after a day’s horseback safari during a riding holiday with Africa by Horse.
African Explorer, Botswana. The night in Mashatu is filled with stars and the sounds of the bush. Falling asleep under the open sky makes every ride unforgettable.
African Explorer, Botswana. A horse stands calmly in the shade next to the campsite – a peaceful morning on a riding safari where the silence is only broken by the song of birds.
African Explorer, Botswana. The shared area at Two Mashatus Camp is nestled among the trees and offers the sounds and scents of the bush – a perfect place for dinner after the day's ride.
African Explorer, Botswana. The comfortable safari tents are simple yet homely, with real beds and linen sheets – perfect for an authentic riding holiday in the bush.
African Explorer, Botswana. Spacious tents with two separate beds and an open design towards nature – simple comfort in the heart of Botswana's wilderness.

More information

Food and drinks
Food and drinks
Horses and equipment
Horses and equipment
Riding, riding level and hours in the saddle
Riding, riding level and hours in the saddle
Guides and safety
Guides and safety
Climate
Climate
Passport and visa
Passport and visa
Health Recommendations
Health Recommendations
Practical information
Practical information

About the nature reserves

African Explorer takes you through two of southern Africa’s most fascinating safari areas – the Waterberg region in South Africa and the vast Mashatu Game Reserve in the Tuli Block, Botswana. Together, they create a riding safari with great variety in landscape, wildlife and atmosphere. In South Africa, you ride through parts of Waterberg, a UNESCO-protected biosphere area in Limpopo Province, about three hours north of Johannesburg. The landscape is characterised by red sandstone formations, open savannah, dense bushveld and gentle mountain ridges shaped by millions of years of erosion. The reserves you ride in together cover around 21,000 acres of private wilderness and offer a classic South African bush experience with varied terrain and large open riding areas. The safari then continues into Botswana and on to Mashatu Game Reserve, located in the eastern part of the Tuli Block where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet. Here the landscape changes dramatically – vast plains, ancient rock formations, riverbeds, giant Mashatu trees and dramatic views create a more raw and expansive sense of wilderness. Mashatu is known for its ecological diversity and its huge open areas with free-ranging travel across tens of thousands of hectares of private reserve. The wildlife on safari is both varied and impressive. There is a chance to see large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, impala, waterbuck, eland, warthogs and ostriches, as well as predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas and jackals. You may also encounter both buffalo and rhinoceros, meaning that, with a bit of luck, you could see the full Big Five during the week. For bird lovers, there is also a rich birdlife with hundreds of species. What makes African Explorer particularly special is the combination of two different safari areas that complement each other – from Waterberg’s softer mountain scenery and bushveld to Botswana’s more dramatic and open Tuli landscape.

About the nature reserves

African Explorer takes you through two of southern Africa’s most fascinating safari areas – the Waterberg region in South Africa and the vast Mashatu Game Reserve in the Tuli Block, Botswana. Together, they create a riding safari with great variety in landscape, wildlife and atmosphere. In South Africa, you ride through parts of Waterberg, a UNESCO-protected biosphere area in Limpopo Province, about three hours north of Johannesburg. The landscape is characterised by red sandstone formations, open savannah, dense bushveld and gentle mountain ridges shaped by millions of years of erosion. The reserves you ride in together cover around 21,000 acres of private wilderness and offer a classic South African bush experience with varied terrain and large open riding areas. The safari then continues into Botswana and on to Mashatu Game Reserve, located in the eastern part of the Tuli Block where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet. Here the landscape changes dramatically – vast plains, ancient rock formations, riverbeds, giant Mashatu trees and dramatic views create a more raw and expansive sense of wilderness. Mashatu is known for its ecological diversity and its huge open areas with free-ranging travel across tens of thousands of hectares of private reserve. The wildlife on safari is both varied and impressive. There is a chance to see large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, impala, waterbuck, eland, warthogs and ostriches, as well as predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas and jackals. You may also encounter both buffalo and rhinoceros, meaning that, with a bit of luck, you could see the full Big Five during the week. For bird lovers, there is also a rich birdlife with hundreds of species. What makes African Explorer particularly special is the combination of two different safari areas that complement each other – from Waterberg’s softer mountain scenery and bushveld to Botswana’s more dramatic and open Tuli landscape.

Rates 2026

4 nights South Africa, 3 nights Botswana

Low season

2–29 January, 4 December 2026–1 January 2027

£2714

Low season

2–29 January, 4 December 2026–1 January 2027

£2714

High season

30 January–3 December

£3462

High season

30 January–3 December

£3462

3 nights South Africa, 4 nights Botswana

Low season

1 Januariý–3 February, 3-31 December

£2995

Low season

1 Januariý–3 February, 3-31 December

£2995

High season

4 February–3 December

£3846

High season

4 February–3 December

£3846

Including

7 nights per person in shared double accommodation All food and drink

Excluding

Flight tickets, transfers, game drive (optional if you wish to participate), conservation fee (USD 20 per person per night), travel insurance, and any visa costs.

Including

7 nights per person in shared double accommodation All food and drink

Excluding

Flight tickets, transfers, game drive (optional if you wish to participate), conservation fee (USD 20 per person per night), travel insurance, and any visa costs.

Transfers

Transfer is carried out as follows.

African Explorer 1

Car from OR Tambo Airport – Camp Davidson, South Africa Car from Camp Davidson, South Africa – Tuli, Botswana Flight from Tuli, Botswana – Lanseria, South Africa

£565

Per person, based on a minimum of 4 people sharing

African Explorer 2

Car from OR Tambo Airport – Camp Davidson, South Africa Flight from Vaalwater, South Africa – Tuli, Botswana Flight from Tuli, Botswana – Lanseria, South Africa

£875

Per person, based on a minimum of 4 people sharing

Departure date

April - June, 2026

April - June, 2026

5-12 June 12-19 June 19-26 June

5-12 June 12-19 June 19-26 June

July - September, 2026

July - September, 2026

7-14 July 10-17 July 17-24 July 24-31 July 31 July - 7 August 18-25 August (1 spot left) 28 August - 4 September (1 spot left) 1-8 September 25 September - 2 October 29 September - 6 October

7-14 July 10-17 July 17-24 July 24-31 July 31 July - 7 August 18-25 August (1 spot left) 28 August - 4 September (1 spot left) 1-8 September 25 September - 2 October 29 September - 6 October

October - December, 2026

October - December, 2026

13-20 October 16-23 October (1 spot left) 27 October - 3 November 30 October - 6 November 6-13 November 10-17 November 20-27 November 24 November - 1 December 27 November - 4 December 15-22 December 18-25 December 25 December - 1 January

13-20 October 16-23 October (1 spot left) 27 October - 3 November 30 October - 6 November 6-13 November 10-17 November 20-27 November 24 November - 1 December 27 November - 4 December 15-22 December 18-25 December 25 December - 1 January

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