Day 1Horizon Lodge
Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met by Saddlebag Shuttles for an approximate three-hour transfer to Horizon Lodge in Waterberg. Following lunch and time to unwind, you will have your first introduction to the horses, where each rider is paired with a suitable mount based on their experience and preferences. The afternoon's introductory ride takes you through the bush, offering opportunities to spot giraffes, zebras and hippos. The pace alternates between gentle riding and exhilarating canters along sandy tracks, before the day draws to a close with sundowners out on the open plains.
Day 2Horizon Lodge
The day begins with a ride across open grasslands and through wooded areas where antelope, zebras and other wildlife roam freely. Weather permitting, fast-paced canters through the water along the lake's edge await, and for those who wish, there is also the opportunity to swim bareback with the horses. After lunch and a rest at the lodge, you will head back out into the reserve, riding past waterholes where hippos sometimes make an appearance. In the soft evening light, you will experience the bush's wildlife from horseback.
Day 3Bellevue Lodge
After breakfast, you leave Horizon Lodge and ride towards Savannah or Syringa Lodge in the neighbouring Bellevue Reserve. The landscape transitions from dense bushveld to open grasslands with expansive views and the opportunity to encounter sable antelope and buffalo, among others. Once you arrive, lunch and relaxation by the pool await before you mount up again for the afternoon ride. The trek takes you through the southern parts of the reserve, where the rolling landscape and beautiful views provide an atmospheric conclusion to the day.
Day 4Horizon Lodge
After breakfast, you ride back towards Horizon Lodge through the varied landscapes of the Bellevue Reserve, with the opportunity to spot giraffes, antelopes and other wildlife along the way. The approximately three-hour ride concludes with lunch and well-deserved relaxation at the lodge. During the afternoon, the horses rest while you have the opportunity to book a game drive in a nearby reserve. Here, you have the chance to experience some of Africa's most iconic animals, including elephants, lions, rhinos and cheetahs.
Day 5Camp Davidson
The morning offers a wonderful ride through the reserve, where each day brings new opportunities for exciting wildlife encounters. After a few hours in the saddle, a traditional bush breakfast awaits, cooked over an open fire beneath a magnificent fig tree. In the afternoon, you leave Horizon Lodge and ride along mountain ridges and narrow trails towards Camp Davidson, enjoying beautiful views of the landscape. Here, you might spot baboons and klipspringers before the evening winds down with dinner around the campfire and an overnight stay in comfortable safari tents.
Day 6Horizon Lodge
After a night at Camp Davidson, a morning ride awaits through the reserve's open plains, offering the chance to ride past Sunset Lake, where hippos and fish eagles often gather. Here, the landscape lends itself to exhilarating canters and encounters with zebras, wildebeest, kudus, and impalas. In the afternoon, a different kind of experience awaits as you get to try your hand at polocrosse, a fast-paced blend of polo and lacrosse on horseback. The day winds down with sundowners and dinner, where the afternoon's match is sure to spark plenty of laughter.
Day 7Horizon Lodge
Today, you head to a nearby reserve where you will once again make your way mindfully through the South African bush – home to both sable antelopes and buffalo. The afternoon ride will be the last one where you can enjoy the dusk and the sunset, and by now, you have probably found a favourite among the horses you have ridden. The evening offers a wine tasting with carefully paired small plates, followed by a final three-course dinner.
Day 8Departure
One last breakfast and a final ride. You head out to spot the animals you haven't yet encountered, and perhaps this ride will treat you to even more splashy canters along the water's edge. As you pack up the last of your things for departure and wave goodbye, you'll have memories to cherish for the rest of your life.
