Day 1Two Mashatu
After your flight to Limpopo Valley Airfield, you will be welcomed by the team at Horizon Horseback Mashatu for lunch, a safety briefing, and an introduction to the horses. A short riding test is carried out before the safari begins to ensure that everyone rides safely and competently. Afterwards, an approximately 11-kilometre ride awaits along the Limpopo River plains, where elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife are often seen. The route passes wetlands and the Majali River mouth before you reach Two Mashatus, your first wilderness camp.
Day 2Tree Camp
After an early breakfast, you will ride through Mashatu's game-rich landscape along the Majali and Mataboli rivers, where elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes often appear. Spending four to five hours in the saddle, you will follow river trails and keep an eye out for both wildlife and predator tracks. Just in time for lunch, you arrive at Tree Camp, beautifully situated beneath a large mashatu tree overlooking the river. After some rest, a guided bush walk along the Majali River awaits, where you can look out for crocodiles and other wildlife.
Day 3Kgotla
The day offers one of the safari's longest rides through the Valley of the Elephants, past mighty baobab trees, waterholes, and sandstone ridges. You follow ancient elephant trails before the landscape opens up for wonderful canters among zebras, wildebeest, and impalas. Towards the afternoon, you reach Kgotla, a unique camp near the Motloutse River where you spend the night under the open sky. A game drive focusing on predators and sundowners by the Amphitheatre rock formations round off the day before dinner is served around the campfire.
Day 4Kgotla
Today's ride follows the Motloutse River through a landscape defined by mighty rock formations, grand mashatu trees and abundant wildlife. You will pass waterholes where elephants often gather and continue towards Solomon's Wall, an impressive dolomite formation home to troops of baboons. The area also bears traces of ancient civilisations, with relics from the Mapungubwe Kingdom, among others. In the afternoon, a game drive awaits to the Mamagwa Hills for sundowners with sweeping views, before returning to the Kgotla with the chance of encountering nocturnal predators.
Day 5Tree Camp
Today's ride takes you north-east through Mashatu's diverse landscape, along river paths and over ridges offering magnificent views across the wilderness. Here, encounters with elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes await, alongside glorious canters across open mopane plains. After four to five hours in the saddle, you will return to Tree Camp, where lunch and a rest await. In the afternoon, there is the option of a guided bush walk or a game drive, offering good chances of spotting lions, leopards, and other predators.
Day 6Two Mashatu
After an early start, you will ride along ridges offering sweeping views before continuing towards the Majali River waterhole, where elephants, baboons, and impalas frequently gather. The ride offers wonderful canters across open plains and through refreshing riverine forest before you reach Two Mashatus. The camp is beautifully situated amongst large trees near the Limpopo River, in an area particularly rich in elephants and other wildlife. After four to five hours in the saddle, comfortable safari tents and the chance for a cooling dip in the pool await.
Day 7Two Mashatu
The last full day offers horseback riding through the wildlife-rich areas along the Majali and Pitsanifloden rivers. To the north, the landscape opens up to wide plains where herds of game roam freely. The pace is more leisurely, and the guides adapt to the animals while keeping an eye out for leopards and lions.
In the afternoon, one can choose between a bush walk or a shorter horseback ride, perhaps down to the Limpopo River where elephants often cross the water at dusk.
Day 8Departure
The last ride follows the Limpopo River back towards the stable. The road goes through areas rich in wildlife with a hyena den and large wetlands where many birds gather. Here, one can also see ostriches, bat-eared foxes, and the mighty kori bustard – Africa’s largest flying bird.
Upon arrival, a shower and a light meal await before the journey continues to Limpopo Valley Airfield for the flight back to Johannesburg.
