Featured trip for 2025
Horse or mountain Bike Safari
Saturday, May 17th–May 24th, 2025
or Monday, May 19th-May 26th, 2025
If these dates don't quite fit your schedule, feel free to reach out, and we can explore other options,
including off-peak season rates!
I have traveled the world, yet the best trip I have ever done was the Tuli Ride in Botswana. I have 2 blocks for travel for 2025. You can ride horses or bikes. It is such an amazing way to see the country and the wildlife, and it has such little impact on them. It exceeded all my expectations within the first few hours of this year’s ride.
There will be two exclusive and consecutive safaris: the Tuli Safari from Saturday 17 – Saturday 24 May 2025 and the Tuli Safari overlapping that from Monday 19 – Monday 26 May 2025. Note that the Monday-to-Monday itinerary differs slightly, offering three nights at The Kgotla.
This safari is a seven-night adventure that covers a distance of over 120 miles. Traversing the Mopane savannah and stunning river valleys, with accommodation in three unique and beautiful camps, each with a distinct design and character.
This journey embraces the true definition of a safari: an expedition to observe animals in their natural habitat. From horseback, the beauty of the African topography, fauna, and flora will unfurl, complimented by a touch of classic safari luxury: hot showers, mouth-watering food, and memorable camps.
As the wildlife in this area is not seasonal, wonderful game-viewing experiences are possible throughout the year.
Our May 2025 rates are GBP 3,976 per PP for equine and GBP 3,381 per person for cyclists. Plus, the transfer of GPB 800.
The above is our sharing rates and inclusive of all riding activities, accommodation, daily laundry service, meals, and drinks (including local wines & beers). Solo travelers are welcome to book at our sharing rates. The only extras are a per person per night conservation levy, charged USD 20 per person per night, an optional full afternoon game drive with Mashatu Reserve guides, currently charged USD 75 per person, any merchandise purchases you might like to make, gratuities at your discretion and your transfer.
You will need to book your own international flights to arrive and depart from Johannesburg OR Tambo International, which I can book or assist with. For our Tuli Safari, we provide a return charter flight transfer for your Tuli Safari group from Johannesburg to Limpopo Valley Airfield, Mashatu Reserve (just a few minutes drive from our stables) @ GBP 800 per person.
Please note that our Tuli Safari is suitable for experienced riders only. Riders for all our safaris should ideally be under 85kg, with exceptions to this upper weight limit for taller and experienced riders.
DAY 1 - STABLES TO TWO MASHATU’S 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 a large A-frame walk-in tents set on teak platforms, each with en-suite bathrooms. 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 Mashatu also has a small swimming pool under a Mashatu tree for guests to enjoy.
DAY 2 - TREE CAMP
This is a very unique camp; any childhood dream of sleeping up in the arms of a tree, will be completely fulfilled here. Nestled in the bough of a giant Mashatu tree and two ancient Leadwood trees, this Seligna deck, 4 metres off the ground, will be your retreat for the night.
Two guests each share an airy and cool sleeping pod. Along a short walkway, shared showers and toilets are under the Leadwood trees.
The spacious dining and lounge area flows from the sleeping pods and overlooks the Majale River.
This truly extraordinary camp will be remembered and spoken about for years to come.
DAY 3 – KGOTLA (Three nights with the Monday to Monday ride)
The ‘Kgotla’ is an old traditional court enclosure from a nearby community, which was relocated to the banks of the Motloutse River on the western periphery of Mashatu. This open-air enclosure, made of Leadwood logs, provides a secure location for a camp.
The camp has hot running water, beautiful open-air showers and flushing toilets: the perfect combination for comfort and an authentic bush experience. Guests sleep on single beds around a large log fire in the center of the enclosure.
For guests, the highlight of this camp is sleeping in the open under the stars and listening to the resonance of an African evening.
DAY 4 - KGOTLA
DAY 5 - TREE CAMP
DAY 6 - TWO MASHATU’S CAMP
DAY 7 - TWO MASHATU’S CAMP
DAY 8 - BACK TO STABLES / RECEPTION FOR
DEPARTURE
Day 1
Meet your guide at the border. Short transfer to the reception area overlooking the Limpopo river, in time for a light lunch.
Enjoy an introductory ride to check you are suited to your horse, before embarking on your first ride out to our Two Mashatus Camp. This will be your first opportunity to experience the beauty of the Mashatu Game Reserve and view the wildlife on horseback. Mashatu Game Reserve is home to the largest herd of wild free-roaming elephants on private land in Africa, and, although there is no guarantee, it is almost assured that there will be great viewing of these incredible creatures.
As evening falls at Two Mashatu Camp, relax in the cool of the thatched rondavel lounge and dining areas, before enjoying a three-course dinner and getting to know your fellow adventurers for the next seven days.
Day 2
Sunrise, with tea or coffee brought to your tent, sounds like the start of your first day. After breakfast, it’s time to mount and depart from the dense woodland that hugs the Limpopo River and head towards the rocky hills that delineate the edges of the great river valley. As the ride traverses the heartland of Mashatu, you will encounter plentiful games: plains game, many giraffes, and a herd of elephants.
Having meandered across the hills with vast views back towards South Africa, the ride arrives at Tree Camp in time for lunch. Overlooking the Majale River, it is possible to see the wildlife from above, coming down to drink at the river.
That afternoon, choose a ride or enjoy your first bush walk exploring the area along the West of the Matabole River, returning to Tree Camp for sundowners.
Day 3
The safari passes through the center of Mashatu to the ancient rock formations synonymous with the Limpopo Valley. Giant Baobab trees continue to scatter the landscape as theyhave centuriess and ancient elephant trails that make for beautiful tracks for long canters through the open bush. While riding alongside the banks of the Motloutse River, discover the old Leadwood ‘Kgotla’ (or enclosure used for the traditional law court of a Botswana village). This open-air enclosure forms the perfect, secure camp for the night.
In the afternoon, we search for the area’s resident lions on a game drive and draw the day’s adventures to a close with sundowners at the ancient “Amphitheatre” rocks. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire. The night is spent with a ceiling of stars and Africa’s nighttime melody to sing you to sleep—a veraciously rare experience that is just about as far away from city life and the modern world as anyone can imagine.
Day 4
The sandstone formations, including the famed Solomon’s Wall, one of the numerous dolorite dykes in the area, are explored on horseback. Some of the oldest civiliation in southern Africa settled in this valley. Archaeological evidence in the area includes middle and late stone age tools, rock art and the legendary Mapungubwe Dynasty. Mapungubwe means “Place of the Jackal” in the Venda language and this dynasty existed around 1220 AD. The Mapungubwe topography itself is ancient and timeless, and combined with marvellous wildlife sightings, it makes for an incredible riding experience. This afternoon enjoy a short drive to the Mmamagwa Hills.
For the most visually stunning and ethereal sundowner, we visit the Mmamagwa Hills.
A short climb up the sandstone ridge brings us to the site of the Mmamagwa Ruins. which is from a period similar to Mapungubwe (13th century). To date these ruins have not been excavated and have been left alone. It is conceivable that similar treasures to those found at Mapungubwe (for example the golden rhino) could be buried here. After a short climb, enjoy sundowners beneath a beautiful baobab tree with a breath-taking view of the area.
Day 5
Take a ride up Elephant Valley along ancient trails stamped into the soil by centuries of migrating elephants, before heading north towards upper reaches of the Majale River.
This area is peppered with enormous baobab trees and is one of the more remote areas of the reserve.
After an exhilarating ride through this timeless countryside, enjoy a relaxing lunch at Tree Camp.
An afternoon ride or bush walk or game drive exploring the northern banks of the Majele, Matabole and Jwala rivers,
Day 6
Today’s riding promises great game viewing from horseback as we explore the Pitsane River Valley. Drinking holes dug by elephants along the course of the Pitsane attract thirsty herds of game. An area where history has it, there was a skirmish during the Boer war that destroyed Bryce’s Store, an old British supply post.
There was a stagecoach line, called Zeederberg’s, that ran from the towns of the Transvaal in South Africa to the newly forged settlements of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Those coaches crossed the broad Limpopo and followed the Pitsane River into Zimbabwe.
The ride returns to the Two Mashatu Camp in time for lunch and a cooling swim in the pool. A guided bush walk to one of the nearby koppies for sundowners is the afternoon excursion.
Day 7
Our ride today meanders its way through the beautiful plains between the Majale and Pitsane rivers, with abundant game and spectacular views into the Limpopo River Valley.
En route, we explore the remains of an old Boer War fort on a rocky outcrop, followed by a ride down into the cooler wetland area where plentiful game enjoy the lush grasses.
In the summer months, which are rain- and water-dependent, it is possible to enjoy cantering through the shallows of the Limpopo River. There is time to relax in camp, before either an afternoon ride or bush walk for your last African sundowner.
Day 8
The last ride in the Limpopo Valley is a great opportunity to take one last picture of elephants and enjoy a long and winding canter through the scattered Mustard bush with your guides.
Arriving back at the stables and reception mid-morning, there is plenty of time for a hot shower and a tasty brunch, before saying farewell to safari companions, new found friends and Horizon Horseback Mashatu.