Overview
The Safari starts in the Limpopo province of the Waterberg region in South Africa, is one of the most loved horse safari destinations in the world. Set in a region of outstanding natural beauty, this lodge offers a unique combination of excellent riding, warm hospitality, and a relaxed, flexible atmosphere that keeps guests returning year after year.
The African Explorer is one of the most varied African horse safaris, as it goes to two countries in one trip and covers a range of different topography and terrain, combined with excellent and wide ranging game viewing. The South African bushveld is soft going for the horses, with wonderful sandy tracks to canter along and beautiful blue dams to swim with your horse. In Botswana there is an ancient landscape of rock formations, and open plains dotted with giant Baobab trees and riverine bush. This place feels very wild and will definitely get your adrenaline flowing.
We have two slightly different itineraries:
- ITINERARY 1– 4 nights in South Africa and 3 nights in Botswana. Arrival day is a Friday.
- ITINERARY 2 – 3 nights in South Africa and 4 nights in Botswana. Arrival day is a Tuesday.
The African Explorer is an amazing horseback safari adventure, which suits intermediate riders who love long rides and travel. This is a mobile safari, in the sense that it is a horseback journey from camp to camp and country to country. Everyday will bring on a new discover from the camps you visit, the terrain you traverse to the wildlife you encounter. Over the 8 days of riding you will be riding for up to 5 hours a day. In South Africa, you ride twice a day, while in Botswana, depending on your itinerary, you may just do a long ride in the morning and an activity, such a game drive or bush walk, in the afternoon.
Riding Level: Advanced intermediate to experienced. Riders must be able to independently control a horse at all paces. Jumping – the ability to jump natural obstacles is a benefit, but not essential as these can be ridden around. Must be able to take a light seat at canter. Particularly in Botswana, when long steady controlled canters require a light seat.
Riding Test: Your horse riding ability will be assessed in South Africa and Botswana, with riders taking a short riding test. This is necessary to confirm all riders in the group are competent enough for the rigours of the safari, and fall into the above guideline. The decision of the manager conducting the test is final, as we have to look after each riders safety under the specific safari conditions that will be encountered. Please contact us if you’d like more information about the test beforehand.
Accommodation
Camp Davidson was modelled on the old ‘outspan’ camps of E.A. Davidson (great grandfather to one of the founding partners of Horizon Horseback) when he was selling goods across the area from his wagon in the early 1900s. Horizon has captured the early camp atmosphere in Camp Davidson. Beautiful decked canvas tents are nestled amongst the sandstone ridges overlooking grassy game filled valleys. Each luxury tent has an en-suite bathroom. The camp is completely run on solar energy and has a small swimming pool.
Savannah or Seringa Lodge – These two lodges are on the south western side of the conservancy. It is a tastefully decorated lodge with five en-suite rooms. The lodge had a large comfortable living space and dining areas inside and outside. There is a small pool and deck which overlooks a plain and watering hole close by where the wildlife frequent.
Two Mashatus Camp, nestled in the shade of two large Mashatu trees, the heart of the camp has two traditionally built Lala Palm rondavels for dining and lounge areas. Guest accommodation is in large A-frame walk-in tents set on teak platforms each with an ensuite bathroom. Each tent is private and positioned in the shade of a tree in the bush, not far from the main area. Each tent has a small deck area in front where guests can relax privately during the afternoons. Two Mashatus Camp also has a small swimming pool under a Mashatu tree for guests to enjoy. Please note we only stay at this camp on an African Explorer 1 itinerary, which starts on a Friday.
Tree Camp – This is a beautiful tree house camp, which is 4 metres up two big Mashatu trees in Botswana along the edge of the Majale river. Guests sleep in twin sleeping areas off the main deck of the camp. The four bathrooms are situated along a walkway from the main decl and look out over the river. Sometimes you can shower whilst looking at a herd of elephants!
Kgotla Camp – We stay at this rustic camp only on an African Explorer 2 which begins on a Tuesday. This camp is on the western side of Mashatu Game Reserve along the Motloutse river. We stay in individual sleeping pods under a high Mashatu tree, within a ‘boma’ deadwood enclosure. This is an incredible camp for feeling ‘close to nature’, as you will hear the hyenas, lions and elephant close by throughout the night. Perfect for those who love the outdoors. Please note we only stay at the Kgotla camp on an African Explorer 2 itinerary which starts on a Tuesday.
Dining
Dining is a highlight of every stay. Guests enjoy three delicious meals daily, and unforgettable bush breakfasts cooked over an open fire during rides into the reserve. Evenings often finish with sundowners as the sun sets, followed by chef-prepared dinners in beautiful settings. With all drinks included, from wine to beer, basic spirits and inspired dishes created by talented chefs, dining at Horizon is every bit as memorable as the riding.
Details
- Camps and some Lodges
- Time in the saddle – 20-30 km a day. Maximum 5 1/2 in the saddle per day.
- Pace – Variable, depending on the nature of the terrain. There will be some opportunities for faster riding each day.
- Strictly no under 12’s.
- Intermediate and above riders
- Maximum of 8 guests
- Weight limit – 85 kilos / 187 lbs with exceptions
Riding Ability:
The African Explore itinerary caters to riders intermediate and above.
The pace is generally at a walk for game viewing, with opportunities for faster riding along dry riverbeds and extended canters between sections.
In Botswana, rides take place in areas with dangerous game, so this experience is reserved for experienced riders who are confident and secure in the saddle. The terrain includes steep riverbanks, ditches, and natural obstacles, and riders must be comfortable handling their horses at all paces and over small jumps in open country.
The minimum age is 16 years but exceptions can be made for private groups or very competent riders. Riders under 12 years of age cannot be accepted.
Riding helmets are mandatory.
Horse Breed:
The Horizon Lodge has a herd of over 100 well-trained horses and 70 horses in Botswana, carefully selected for their temperament, reliability, and suitability for riders of all abilities. The herd includes a mix of breeds, predominantly South African Boerperd crosses, Apaloosas, Fresian crosses and Arab crosses, chosen for their athleticism, calm nature, and versatility across different riding disciplines. The horses range in height from 14.3hh to 17hh. They are in excellent condition and fit for their work. All are very sure-footed with good temperaments.
Group Size:
Rides are a maximum of 8 riders led by two experienced guides, ensuring personalised attention, safety, and a memorable experience for every rider.
Type of Tack:
The rides use South African McClellan saddles fitted with sheepskin pads for extra comfort. Each saddle includes small saddlebags and a water bottle. Designed for long hours in the saddle, they offer excellent comfort for both horse and rider. Most horses are ridden in snaffle bridles, providing a light and responsive connection suitable for all experienced riders.
Riding helmets and international travel insurance are mandatory.
Dates and prices:
Rates: 2026
The rates are calculated in British Pounds and Snaffle Travel uses the ANZ bank conversion rate CHECK HERE to get an indication. All rates are based on twin-share accommodation. Please ask us for non-rider rates.
African Explorer 7 night package – Double/twin room per person (7 nights)
LOW SEASON – 2 – 29 January 2026 & 4 December 2026 – 1 January 2027) – £2714.00
Single supplement – 50% – £4071.00
HIGH SEASON – 30 January 2026 – 6 December 2026 – £3462.00
Single supplement – 50% – £5193.00
If you would like to book for 2027, you can secure your place with a deposit now. We will honour the 2026 rates until the 2027 rates are released at the end of the year.
ROAD TRANSFERS – All transfers are an additional cost. Collection and transfers from Oliver Tambo (ORT) International (Johannesburg, South Africa) airport are organised with the partner company Saddlebag Shuttles. The drivers will meet you in the arrivals hall as you land. The transfer from ORT airport is approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic and stops en route.
AFRICAN EXPLORER TRANSFERS (2 x Road and Flight Botswana to SA) Per Person – £565.00
AFRICAN EXPLORER TRANSFERS (ROAD ONLY) Per Person ( Min 2 Pax) – £437.00
Notes: Please check with us for transfers
Re Transfers: Arrival: Clients to land by 9h30. Latest meeting time at the info desk arrival hall is 11h00. ( Exact meeting time will be advised prior to arrival) Arrive: Camp Davidson South Africa for a late lunch
Departure: Fly out of Limpopo Valley Airport (LVA) Botswana by plane at 13h30, into Lanseria approx. arrival OR Tambo Johannesburg Airport by 16h30
Flight from Vaalwater to Botswana can be added in South Africa (min 4 pax) for additional cost of £310 pp booked and paid on site. Please let us know if a flight upgrade would be preferred
Note: Flights must be booked after 20h00, to allow for delays or a change to a road transfer in the case of bad weather.
The rates are based on the British Pound and are subject to currency fluctuation until final payment. We use the ANZ sell rate to convert from the British Pound to the Australian dollar. Please contact us for the most up-to-date pricing for your riding holiday.
Includes
- The price includes 8 days/7 nights accommodation
- All riding, full board, beverages including local beers, wines and a selection of basic spirits, (excluding airport transfers).
- Breakfast, lunch, sundowners including snacks, and three-course dinner
- Includes three nights at Camp Davidson, one night at Bellevue Lodge and three nights in Botswana.
- Riding activities: outrides and game viewing, conservancy ride, swimming your horse,
- Swimming pool at most lodges and camps
- Free Wi-fi and daily room cleaning
- Free laundry
Not included
- The price does not include international flights, travel insurance (compulsory), airport transfers, staff tips, and additional activities not listed on itinerary.
- Extra Activities: Guided bush walks, night sky safari with a local astronomy guide,
- Optional Mashatu game drive tips and curios are payable locally in cash or by card
- Shared Road Transfer from Horizon Lodge to Horizon Botswana, Mashatu
- Departure Day – Shared Charter Flight Transfer between Horizon Horseback Botswana, Mashatu and Johannesburg
- Only a conservation levy ($20 per night in support of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (NORTUGRE) conservation initiatives)
- Additional incidents, merchandise and tips for staff can be paid by cash or card
- Visas and inoculations
- Single supplements
PLEASE NOTE: The excursions can be changed according to weather, horses, rider’s experience level, or circumstances beyond our control
by the management of the Lodge. Safety is the primary concern.
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: (D) – Camp Davidson – South Africa
Guests are personally met at OR Tambo Airport in South Africa by representatives of our sister company, Saddlebag Shuttles, and transported directly to Camp Davidson in the Waterberg, where they will enjoy a light lunch overlooking the vastness of the Waterberg plateau. They will then receive a safety briefing and meet their horses. Horizon takes great care to match horse to rider based on a guest’s riding experience and professed ability. The horses are predominantly boerperds, together with a mixture of warmbloods, Appaloosas and Friesians. They are all well schooled, forward going but calm horses. It is crucially important for the safety and enjoyment of the whole group that riders wishing to book the African Explorer are at least intermediate riders. While the journey is not an endurance test, it does involve long hours in the saddle and, with the possibility of close encounters with elephant and the big cats in Botswana, riders need to be able to control their mounts gently and confidently. The first ride is a gentle introduction to the reserve and an excellent opportunity for first encounters with species such as zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and kudu. The riding ranges from purposeful walking to easy cantering along sandy tracks and culminates with sundowner drinks on the open plains.
Day 2: (B,L,D) – Camp Davidson – South Africa
The ride this morning is generally quite fast. The route follows the centre of an open valley which is home to species such as sable, reedbuck, red hartebeest, waterbuck and impala. The sandy tracks make for excellent going, and the route crosses open grassland and weaves through dense woodland. Dark red pedigree cattle bred on the property are often encountered on this route. When conditions are suitable, the last stretch of the ride involves splashy canters along the edge of the lake adjacent to Horizon Lodge. This is a great experience, but don’t expect to remain dry in the process! The afternoon ride follows past a series of dams where encounters with hippo are likely and returns across the open plains. At this time of day there is often much activity on the plains, with the herds mingling in the soft sunlight and different groups coming and going as they prepare for the night. It is a truly magical experience to be able to ride so close to these wild animals, which have become completely relaxed in the presence of the horses.
Day 3: (B,L,D) – Camp Davidson – South Africa
Setting off in a westerly direction, this ride tracks past a brown hyena den, skirts past the upper reaches of the Horizon dam before crossing a wide grassy valley. At one point the ride enters into dense woodland, home to shy species such as kudu, bushbuck and Vervet monkeys. Emerging from the woods, the horses have a chance to stretch their legs along open sandy tracks. Finally the ride swings back to the north, through mixed bushveld and fascinating rock formations. Two highlights of this ride are the jumping lanes and the chance for riders to swim their horses bareback in the Horizon dam next to the main lodge. For many guests, this is an exhilarating and unforgettable experience. Once dried off and back in the saddle, the ride climb back up to Camp Davidson is particularly intriguing, as it follows a mountain pass cut through boulders and outcrops. After lunch, enjoy a sundowner ride across the plains on the reserve. We are very fortunate to have a large herd zebra. Over the years, the herd has become quite habituated to the horses and it is now possible to ride really close and experience being part of the zebra herd. A wonderful way to watch the foals frollick.
Day 4: Wednesday – Bellevue Lodge – South Africa
An early start is needed for the long ride from Camp Davidson to either Savannah Lodge in the far southwest of the reserve, or Seringa Lodge in the southeast. The first part of the route covers country that riders will now be somewhat familiar with, but soon enters new terrain. In places the bush is thick but after a while the scenery opens to grasslands with sweeping views to the south and west. Riding through this landscape gives riders a sense of the vastness of the African plains. The area boasts a very high concentration of game with herds of over 300 blesbuck, or 80 eland, often sighted. Other species which are home to the plains include red hartebeest, tsessebe and ostrich. There are plentiful zebra, wildebeest, impala and giraffe, and smaller groups of sable, roan and waterbuck. The final stretch to Savannah Lodge is along a wooded stream where kudu and bushbuck are likely to be seen. After a relaxing time around the pool and within the sophisticated lodges, it is time to ride to the southern most areas of the reserve in search of Cape buffalo. These are members of Africa’s famous “big five” and deserve their formidable reputation. Riders therefore need to be alert and responsive to the guides’ instructions. This area is known for its spectacular sunsets as the sun sets over the distant headlands of the Waterberg escarpment – a fitting end to an eventful and memorable day in the African wilderness.
Day 5: (B,L,D) – Two Mashatus Camp – Botswana
Morning ride: After an early start, another long ride through game rich country returns riders to the heart of the operation, Horizon Lodge. The route taken is different from that taken on the outward leg, turning this part of the safari into an exciting journey passing through diverse landscapes and ecosystems. Game species typically prefer different habitats, with nyala and bushbuck for instance occupying dense forest-like sections of the reserve while blesbuck and hartebeest stick to the open plains, and waterbuck and reedbuck, unsurprisingly, are normally seen close to streams and other waterways. The route provides excellent opportunities to see giraffe, which is always a highlight. At the Horizon Lodge, guests embark on the road transfer to Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana with Saddlebag Shuttles.
afternoon: Ride to Two Mashatus Camp. Having crossed the mighty Limpopo River, guests are received at the Horizon Horseback Mashatu Stables where they will enjoy a light lunch, receive a safety briefing, and meet their horses. The route on this afternoon is from the Stables to Two Mashatus Camp, a distance of 11km. It follows the Limpopo River floodplains, with good opportunities for those first exciting encounters with elephant, giraffe, zebra, ostrich and wildebeest. The route crosses close to a large wetland area which acts as a magnet for game and there is even a chance to come across bat eared fox, black backed jackal and spotted hyena. It then crosses the Majali River close to its confluence with the Limpopo, a favourite haunt of leopards and a resident pride of lion. Across an open plain the famous Two Mashatus Camp awaits.
Day 6: (B,L,D) – Two Mashatus Camp – OPEN PLAINS– Along the Pitsane River – Botswana
The riding explores the game rich area along the Majali and Pitsani Rivers. In the north there are open plains . Overall the riding is relaxed, with the guides responding to the herds whilst keeping their eyes peeled for the big cats. In the afternoon there is the option of a bush walk or a shorter ride, maybe to the banks of the Limpopo River where elephants are often seen crossing.
Day 7: (B,L,D) – Two Mashatus Camp to Tree Camp – Botswana
Today’s ride heads northeast, following river trails back towards the heart of the reserve. Wildlife gathers near the water, and sightings of elephant, zebra, giraffe, and wildebeest are common. The route crosses the watershed before winding along ancient paths beside a stream leading to the Majali River, offering sweeping views of Mashatu’s vast wilderness. Riders enjoy a mix of elephant trails and open canters through the open mopane veld before following the river past rocky pools, cliff faces and green ribbons of grass. Expect to see baboon, kudu, klipspringer, and crocodile along the way. After 4–5 hours in the saddle, Tree Camp awaits. After a well earned rest, later in the afternoon, enjoy a guided bush walk or optional game drive with Mashatu Main Camp guides—renowned for their remarkable lion, leopard, and even cheetah sightings.
Day 8: (B,L) – Limpopo Farewell – Tree Camp to the Stables
After an early breakfast, riders head out on the final safari ride, following a ridge with sweeping views across the reserve. The trail descends to the Majali River, a haven for baboons, impala, and often large herds of elephant coming to drink, play, and bathe. The ride finishes with exhilarating canters across the open plains back to the stables. Keep an eye out for Kori Bustards, bat-eared foxes, and ostriches along the way. After returning to the stables, enjoy a shower and a relaxed meal by the river before transferring to Limpopo Valley Airfield for your flight to Johannesburg in South Africa.
Note: All programs and itineraries are weather-dependent; in the face of adverse or unexpected weather conditions, reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding.
All programs are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
Other Information
Location
This two-centre ride combines riding in the heart of the Waterberg Plateau in South Africa with riding in the Tuli Block in eastern Botswana. Nearest airport is Johannesburg.
Weather
Weather website: https://www.weathersa.co.za/
Activities
During the ride, you will enjoy sightseeing and see Game. Almost all properties have a swimming pool.
Game Viewing: Plains game, including giraffe and zebra, hippo, leopard (rare sighting), hyena country. Prolific birdlife. Over 330 species to be seen. Optional game viewing at private game reserve to see the BIG 5.
Guided Bush Walk: For a change of pace and a chance for more in depth information on the flora and fauna on the area, our guides will escort you on
a walk through the game reserve. A walk is a chance to see the smaller details in the bush and also with over 250 different species of bird on the reserve, it is
an ideal opportunity for bird watching.
Night Sky Safari: Optional: An amazing opportunity to be guided through the night sky by a local astronomer, Dr Phil Calcott. Wrap up warm in the provided blankets as you are directed to view constellations, planets and galaxies.
Languages spoken
English
Closest Airport
The closest airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, approximately three hours’ drive from the Main lodge.
Terms and conditions
This holiday is calculated using British Pounds and is subject to currency fluctuation. We will update the final invoice 7 days prior to final payment. This itinerary is subject to our terms and conditions. The deposit is 25% and is non-refundable. Please ask for our *terms and conditions which apply to riding holidays.
Snaffle Travel is more than happy to arrange airfares, transport, extra accommodation, any other travel arrangements, and insurance. Please contact Snaffle Travel for further information, riding holiday booking terms and conditions to info@snaffletravel.com.au
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